“He is a virtuoso of world class… I’m astonished at his bravura; nothing fazes him … and he plays
-Chris de Souza on BBC Radio 3’s “CD Review”
with such élan, and with such passion, such commitment”
Organist Emeritus of Bath Abbey, Peter was Director of Music at the Abbey from 1986-2016. Under his direction the Abbey Choir visited France, Germany and Holland, and released eight CDs. In 1997 Peter started a Girls’ Choir at Bath Abbey; it quickly established itself as one of the finest in the country. Together with Nicolas Kynaston, Peter was responsible for the design and installation of the Abbey’s Klais Organ. His DVD and twelve CDs on the new instrument have been highly acclaimed by the critics. A CD of works for Organ & Orchestra with BBC National Orchestra of Wales, including the Poulenc Concerto and the Respighi Suite has been particularly singled out for praise, being the recommended recording of the Poulenc Concerto in “Building a Library” on BBC Radio 3’s CD Review (Dec 2015); also “Editor’s Choice” in both BBC Music Magazine and Gramophone which describes the CD as “a disc of real distinction… leaves the competition standing… even reluctant converts are likely to be overwhelmed by this thrilling disc. The sound of the Bath Abbey Klais organ matches the life-affirming playing of Peter King. The whole recording is filled with a love of making music.”
Peter was Assistant Chorus Director to the CBSO during all of Sir Simon Rattle’s reign as Musical Director. He plays on Sir Simon Rattle’s EMI recordings of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony and Symphony of a Thousand. Concert engagements have involved work all over Europe; highlights have included recitals at Cologne Cathedral, Hamburg Michaeliskirche, Dresden Hofkirche and Essen Philharmonie (Germany), ’s-Hertogenbosch Cathedral, Haarlem S Bavo, Alkmaar Grotekerk and Breda Grotekerk, (The Netherlands), Ghent Cathedral (Belgium), the Grand Organ Festival at Westminster Cathedral, King’s College, Cambridge, St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, an opening recital on the new organ in Palacio Euskalduna, Bilbao, and Birmingham, where he played at the opening of the new organ in Symphony Hall. Other engagements have included concerts in Washington National Cathedral and in St Thomas, 5 th Avenue, New York, solo appearances with the CBSO (Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony) and The Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields (Poulenc’s Organ Concerto). His recitals at the Bath Mozartfest have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3. 2024 sees concerts in Blackburn, Durham & Norwich Cathedrals and a Große Orgel Nacht in the Monastery of St Florian (Austria) as part of the Bruckner bicentenary celebrations.
Peter King is a past President of the Incorporated Association of Organists and of the Exeter District Organists’ Association. He holds the honorary degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Bath. In his spare time Peter is a volunteer tour guide at Exeter Cathedral with a special interest in the work of Thomas of Witney (fl. 1292-1342).
Follow Peter on Twitter: @PeterOrganKing
Peter King 