Reaching the heart of new music – this is what drives organist Wolfgang Kogert: “It is incredibly inspiring for me to know the people who created these compositions. As a result their music reaches me in a much more comprehensive way.” A great number of works have been premiered by Wolfgang Kogert and were dedicated to him trusting in his respectful approach, virtuosity and meticulousness. He spares no effort in visiting composers for joint rehearsals at their working place and in doing so he has gained a well-based overview of musicians from many countries, generations and styles over the past fifteen years. The internationally sought-after musician and teacher at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg has also observed that “music and composer often seem to form a unit – finding it’s expression in the whole personality, in the habitus, in the use of language and of course in the rehearsal work.”

For his album “Horizon” the Viennese-born organist of the traditional court chapel in his home-town has found a coherent series of pieces, a collection that has grown gradually. Without placing a work in the center these compositions created around the year 2000 are (in his view) successful examples of the diversity of today’s music and the tonal possibilities offered by the organ as an instrument. Wolfgang Kogert must find two criteria fulfilled when dealing with a composition: emotion and inspiration. “Does the piece evoke strong emotions in me at first glance and does it inspire me long term in the sense that this music won’t let me go?” With the exception of “Péan IV” by Jean-Pierre Leguay, all works are premiere recordings. In order to ensure the greatest possible authenticity, the performer worked in close artistic exchange with all composers throughout the entire process of creating the album.