Dedicatory Recital

Rensselaer, NY – On May 13th, Mother’s Day, internationally famed concert artist, Hector Olivera, from Argentina thrilled an audience of more than 350 at a dedicatory recital to celebrate the newly rebuilt digital console of the magnificent twenty-ton pipe organ in the choir loft at historic St. John the Evangelist Church on Herrick Street.

Beginning at 3:00PM, on a perfect spring afternoon, bright with warm sunshine and beautiful green leaves recently burst from buds, Mr. Olivera put the organ through all its paces with selections that ranged from pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach to "Claire de Lune".

While introducing "Claire de Lune", which had been featured in the movie “Superman One”, Mr. Olivera evoked the image of Superman flying gently over Metropolis in the loving embrace of Lois Lane. Mr. Olivera said, with obvious delight before playing his climactic tune, "I will have a ball playing the selection for you."

Mr. Olivera, who was trained at both the University of Buenos Aires and the Julliard School of Music in New York, was to go home following the concert after traveling 42,000 miles on a world wide tour. In addition to the United States, he has performed in Australia, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and throughout Latin America.

In prepared remarks printed in the introduction to the program, Rev. Adam Forno, pastor of the newly merged Parish of St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph, stated, "Let us dedicate this great work of art to the immensity of our Gracious God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to the enrichment of our worship life in the Parish, and to the enhancement of the cultural life of the greater Capital District."