International Organ Festival in Olomouc celebrates Baroque masters Bach and Handel
Organ music lovers are flocking to the Moravian city of Olomouc for the 57th International Organ Festival, which opened on Monday. The annual event, now a well-established cultural highlight, honors the 340th birth anniversary of two towering figures of Baroque music: Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel.
The historic Church of St. Maurice in Olomouc is once again resounding with the majestic tones of its celebrated Engler organ, one of the largest, oldest and most prized organs in Central Europe. Built in 1745 at the height of the Baroque era, and reconstructed in the mid-20th century the Engler organ is an instrument steeped in history, its voice as commanding now as it was nearly three centuries ago.
The festival’s organizer, organist Karel Martínek, who has overseen the programming of the festival for fifteen years now, says this year’s festival theme was a natural choice and makes a powerful combination.
“Bach is the alpha and omega for organists. And Handel left us a truly magnificent collection of organ concertos. The historic Church of St. Maurice and the Engler organ are perfect for a celebration of their music. In fact Baroque music was already echoing through this space when the Engler organ was completed. ”
The concerts on the celebrated organ attract renowned artists from around the world. On September 1st Ukrainian-German organist Dariia Lytvishko opened the festival with a “jubilee” concert featuring selected works by Bach and Handel. On September 4th Wolfgang Seifen from Germany will showcase the art of organ improvisation. Czech organist Pavel Černý will then place Bach’s legacy in a wider European context, while South Korean performer Shin-Young Lee will bridge Bach’s works with French Romanticism in her recital on September 11. The festival concludes on September 15 with Dutch organist Leo van Doeselaar, who will trace Bach’s journey from his early years to his celebrated tenure in Leipzig.
The Organ Festival also serves as the traditional opening of the Moravian Philharmonic’s concert season, which this year marks its 80th anniversary. The orchestra will resound together with the Engler organ in the inaugural concert.
David Gerneš, director of the newly merged Moravian Philharmonic and Moravian Theatre, says the collaboration enriches the orchestra’s identity.
“We are glad the Philharmonic can connect with such a prestigious festival. I believe this partnership will not only deepen but also expand in the future. It is one of the flagship events of the Moravian Philharmonic Olomouc,” he said.
Deputy director of the Philharmonic Petr Dvořák says the public interest surpassed his expectations.
“The organ is a very specific instrument. That makes me all the more pleased that the interest in these concerts is so high.”
The International Organ Festival is widely recognized for bringing not only top performers, but organ music lovers from around the world to Olomouc. In its 57th year it promises a rich celebration of Baroque genius. Concerts begin each evening at 7 p.m. in the Church of St. Maurice and tickets cost around 300 crowns.
The organ in the Church of St. Maurice is one of the most remarkable cultural monuments in Olomouc and the entire region. Its core is a Baroque instrument built by the Wrocław organ builder Michael Engler, commissioned by the provost of St. Maurice, Francesco Giannini, between 1740 and 1745. The organ survived in its original form until the mid-20th century, when a major reconstruction took place. The number of pipes was expanded from 2,361 to 8,054. The reconstruction was carried out by the Rieger-Kloss company from Krnov under the direction of Antonín Schindler. With 95 registers, the organ ranks among the largest in all of Europe. To mark the completion of the reconstruction, the International Organ Festival was founded in 1969, and over more than half a century it has hosted some of the world’s greatest organ masters.
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