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An injury to linebacker John Reger in the season opener against Philadelphia led Russell to enter the lineup to fill in and never left.

The Reger was a marvelous example of musical ekphrasis — i.e., poetry about art.

Noseda later described the piece’s “long state of ecstatic beauty,” and in its glowing, sustained textures, you can detect Reger’s life as an organist.

The exercise of taking a single-verse chorale melody and turning it into a brief, often elaborate prelude, was followed by composers including Robert Schumann, Max Reger and Anton Webern.

Phil cellist and Cal State Long Beach faculty member plays pieces by Bach and Max Reger in this virtual recital.