The recital in July 1997 included several major works from a variety of schools, and showed the very rich variety of sounds that can be produced by this the largest cathedral in Britain (the fifth largest church building in the world) with the largest organ in Britain also.  The building contains no triforia or aisles, making its sense of  spaciousness quite enormous.

  The concert included memorable performances of  Bach's great B Minor Prelude and Fugue, Franck's E Major Chorale, Listz's Fantasia and Fugue on BACH, and Glazunov's Fantasia in G Minor, giving interpretations that were unforgettable for the structures revealed, the great dynamics of tension given, and the extraordinary sounds of great beauty that probably had never been heard from that organ before.  The captivated audience gave him a tremendous reception at the end of the recital.

  The organ can be played from two consoles.  One is beneath the north choir case, and the other a mobile console in the central space, used for recitals.

    The organ has five manuals, the fifth being for the tuba division, containing the famed 50" Tuba Magna.  The Choir is divided into a romantic enclosed division and a strong positif.
The Pedal has a substantial enclosed section that includes a full reed family in addition.  The Solo has many exquisite families.  In all there are 145 speaking stops.  The organ was finally completed in the mid 1920s, when only the chancel and choir transepts had been built.  That the organ stills fills the fully completed cathedral with a magnificent sound tells much of the genius of Henry Willis III and his conception.