Festival showcases restored organ

A SPECTACULAR venue and an ancient organ are just the ingredients to attract music lovers and curious visitors to Waterford city this weekend for a unique festival of music and song.

Christ Church Cathedral in the city will play host to a festival of organ music from November 12 to 14, celebrating the restoration of the magnificent Elliot organ in the Anglican cathedral.

Thanks to local generosity, €2 million has been spent restoring the cathedral over the last three years. It is the only Georgian cathedral in the country and was the setting for the Viking marriage of Strongbow and Aoife in 1170.

The organ will be the centrepiece of the festival.

“It was built in 1815 by the renowned master organ builder Thomas Elliot and had not been played for 30 years until it was restored last year,” said Fionnuala Brennan, events co-ordinator. “It is the only Elliot organ in Ireland and of great importance in international terms,” she added.

The programme begins at 8pm tomorrow night with a gala concert by organ virtuoso Peter Sweeney. Admission is free but advance booking is recommended.

Four other concerts will be held over the weekend showcasing the talents of organists such as Colin Nicholls, Eric Sweeney, Malcolm Proud and Jan Van Putten. Two of these will be informal “coffee concerts” at midday, with evening recitals also featuring St Finn Barre’s chamber choir, mezzo soprano Tanya Sewell and three cathedral choirs from Waterford, Lismore and Kilkenny.