Historical organ of the Academy restored with an 800 million HUF government grant
As a result of nine years of efforts and cooperation, restored Voit organ of symbolic importance in Hungarian music life, sounded again in the Grand Hall of the Academy of Music on 22 October. Relocation and restoration of the first organ installed in a concert hall in Hungary, after a century of vicissitudes, was an event of significance for the conservation of European cultural heritage as well.
Restoration of the 1907 Voit organ has been achieved with an 800 million govenment grant, and is globally celebrated as a pioneering feat of renewing an electro-pneumatic action organ from the turn of the 20th century authentically in all respects and details. The original instrument has been constructed in the Karlsruhe workshop of the era’s outstanding organ builder company, the Voit & Söhne, and built simultaneously with the Art Nouveau building of the Academy in Liszt Ferenc square. This legendary organ has 4 manuals and 74 registers[PM1] with more than 4500 pipes. Achievements of modern technology – such as computer controlled combination actions – have been used during the restoration without any harm to the original sound.
’This new organ evokes memories of the past and shows the future. It symbolises the depth of European traditions as well as the height of open mindedness and ability of revival that characterises both Franz Liszt’s heritage and the spirit of our Academy’ – emphasised Dr. Andrea Vigh, president of Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music before the inauguration ceremony.
The senate of the Music Academy aimed at restoration and relocation of the organ that had been replaced by a substitute instrument in the late 60s to its original state and place after reconstruction of the main building. The decision was motivated by artistic, architectural, conservational and historical reasons. The breakthrough came in November 2014 with the 1502/2012 (XI.16) government decree that ensured 800 million HUF for the project. As the winners of the international public tender the Johannes Klais Orgelbau (a German company with excellent references) and its Hungarian business partner the Aeris Orgona Ltd. carried out the restoration under the supervision of a committee of experts consisting of teachers of the organ subdepartment of the Academy and technical and economic professionals. Balázs Szabó, most qualified organ expert of Hungary accompanied by László Fassang, head of organ subdepartment of the Academy performed the organ experts’ function with Gergely Lakatos chief engineer as project leader. Being the third restored and working Voit organ installed in a concert hall, this instrument exceeds the ones either in Heidelberg or in Prague in quality, innovation, abilities and capabilities. Its sound evokes the patina of the musical instruments of the turn of the century and the achievements of a fully blown style. Resulting from the size and acoustics of the Grand Hall, the sound is concentrated, energetic and noble. Only two of the world’s academies can boast a historical organ of such quality: the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and the Yale University in the United States.
Restoration of the Voit organ was the most important step towards a collection of organs that meets the requirements of modern educational programs of organ music. Resulting from its size, complexity and location the instrument allows and helps to perform the concert version of the whole organ repertoire including orchestral, choral or chamber works with organ accompaniment. Thanks to this, students of the Academy can master the art of organ playing on the highest level.
At the inauguration ceremony on 22 October works of Erkel, Liszt, Kodály, Richard Strauss and Reger were accompanied with a contemporary piece: organist-composer Zsigmond Szathmáry’s symphonic organ concerto, written on this occasion. The restored organ was sounded by István Ruppert, Balázs Szabó, János Pálúr and László Fassang. Live coverage of the Inauguration Concert was broadcasted by Radio Bartók and Hungarian tv-channel M5. Recorded versions are available on Euroradio and Eurovision.
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Phone: (1) 462 4600/172; Email: sajto@zeneakademia.hu