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A new music program has been launched by St. Stephen’s Basilica, entitled “Grand Organ Face to Face.” The 45-minute organ concerts can be heard every Wednesday in a special venue in the basilica’s choir loft, writes Turizmus.com.
The organ concert presentation on January 10 was hosted by Angéla Dedák, St. Stephen’s Basilica’s tourism manager, and organist Gábor Szotyori Nagy.
Angéla Dedák Nagy said that the Wednesday programs will start at 10 and 11 a.m., and the concerts consist of two parts, a demonstration of the organ and listening to the music. In addition, separate English (10 a.m.) and Hungarian (11 a.m.) programs have been created, with Szotyori Nagy as the presenter.
A special experience is that after a short walk up the stairs, guests can admire the organ of the church up close in the basilica gallery, where the organist will tell a story, followed by a 20-minute concert.
The repertoire of the program is also optional, with the organ classics program featuring a selection of well-known works by Handel, Schubert, J. S. Bach, Mendelssohn and Franz Liszt, and the second program, from the Baroque to the Romantic, featuring evergreen melodies by Handel, Vivaldi, J. S. Bach, Fauré, Franck, Liszt, and Guilmant.
The spectacular instrument was made by one of Central Europe’s most sought-after organ builders, József Angster, who honed his skills in Paris at the world-famous Cavaillé-Coll organ factory, from where he returned home with the highest qualifications available at the time.
It was in his factory in Pécs (southern Hungary) that the organ, then with 65 stops, was created in 1905, and in later decades it was expanded and restored several times.
Photo via Facebook/Szent István Bazilika
Szotyori Nagy also drew attention to the special and very uniquely decorated organ case, which is a world rarity and was made in the furniture factory of Endre Thék, based on the designs of József Kauser, a major designer of the turn of the century.
The impressive performance is crowned by a special view of the interior of the basilica, which is still decorated with Christmas lights.
The program price is HUF 9,900 (EUR 26) /person. The maximum capacity is 30 persons (but the special presentation will be held even if only two people apply). Tickets can be purchased online or at the ticket office of the Basilica.
Via turizmus.com, Featured image via Wikipedia