ONE of the greatest organ works of all time will be performed at Durham Cathedral in memory of a musician who died in his prime.

James Lancelot, Master of the Choristers and Organist at Durham Cathedral, will play Messiaen’s La Nativite du Seignur on the cathedral’s Harrison and Harrison organ, at 7.30pm on Wednesday, January 18.

Proceeds from the recital will go to the Michael James Music Trust, a fund set up in memory of a former organ scholar of University College, Durham University, who died aged 31 in 1981.

The trust supports organ scholarships at many British cathedrals, including Durham, and it supports music at the Chorister School.

The recital will be a “very personal” experience for Mr Lancelot who once taught Mr James.

Mr James, who was an organ scholar at University College, in the castle, where he trained the choir and played for services in the university’s chapel.

He later went on Wimborne Minster where Mr Lancelot got to know him, when Mr James came to him for lessons.

Mr James, who died following an illness, was an only child. His parents Raymond and Margaret set up the trust in his memory to discover, promote, educate and support gifted young musicians.

Tickets costing £8 (£6 concessions) are available on the door.