Czech organ festivals and restoration projects underway

Several organ music festivals and restoration projects are underway in the Czech Republic. The 45th International Organ Festival Olomouc will take place from September 3 to 17, hosted by the Church of St. Maurice. This year’s edition honors the legacy of composer and virtuoso Marcel Dupré. The program includes a Czech premiere of David Briggs’ ‘Messe pour Notre Dame’ by the Žerotín Academic Choir and features performances by notable musicians such as Karel Martínek and Jean-Baptiste Robine.

In the Vysočina region, the sixth annual Varhanní Vysočina festival is set to begin in mid-September. A central focus of local efforts is the restoration of the 1899 organ in Vysoké Studnice. Alfred Habermann, founder of the association ‘Život pro varhany’ (Life for Organs), is leading a campaign to raise 6.3 million CZK for the project. The restoration involves replacing wooden pipes damaged by woodworm with replicas and repairing the playing mechanism. Supporters can participate through a pipe adoption program, offering various benefits for donations ranging from 1,500 to 50,000 CZK.