The Sounds of the Organ of Zagreb’s Cathedral

A concert cycle, “The Sounds of the Organ of Zagreb’s Cathedral”, which started last year, continues to offer fans of this musical instrument the opportunity to enjoy concerts by excellent Croatian as well as foreign organists at Zagreb’s Cathedral on every first and third Sunday of the month.

On every first and third Sunday of the month, throughout the months of July, August and September, top class musicians from Croatia as well as abroad will perform on the organ of the Zagreb Cathedral. This is part of the continuation of the concert cycle, “Sounds of the Organ of Zagreb’s Cathedral”, which began last year and takes place throughout the year. Apart from Croatian performers, this year’s international organists’ festival will feature excellent organists from Germany, Austria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Australia, who will delight audiences with a total of around twenty concerts. The concerts at the Zagreb Cathedral are organized to draw public attention to the value of its organ, and each of the concerts features one piece by a Croatian composer.

The organ of Zagreb’s Cathedral is extremely valuable. It is one of the biggest organs in Europe, and is considered to be among the ten most beautiful organs in the world. It was built in 1855 by the German company E. F. Walcker, and it is nowadays protected as a grade zero cultural monument. It has four manuals, a pedal, 78 registers, and 6068 pipes. The pieces that have been preserved since its first day of use are what make it so special. This includes an original keyboard mechanism from 1855, which can be played by mechanically treading the bellows. It also includes a 1939 keyboard mechanism, located in the side room, as well as the original, so-called American Setzer combinations, the only authentic example in Europe. Keyboards from 1855, with the original “Agram” sign, have also been preserved.

This very valuable organ was last restored in 2005.