Known throughout the world, this musician inaugurated this new organ in Calvados

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“It was a wonderful musical moment“, exclaimed François Hamel at the end of the concert inaugural of the organ given on Sunday October 27, 2024 in the church of Bernieres-Le-Patry (Valdallière), in Calvados.

Deputy mayor of this municipality, but also organist, it was he himself who purchased an Oberlinger organ in Germany in 2021 with his own funds.

The 18-stop Oberlinger organ, dating from 1975, was originally built for the Sankt Georg Church in Sankt Augustin, near Bonn, Germany. It was reassembled by volunteers, restored and harmonized by Jean-Christophe Debély and Ronan Vasseur, organ builders. And a new oak stand was made by Eric Béchet, from the Valdallière commune workshop.

The deputy mayor wished dedicate the concert to André Gosselin, mayor of the town from 1995 to 2008, who “worked a lot for the church”.

Specially from Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin), where he works, Jean-Christophe Debély explained how he used his knowledge as an organ builder to help François Hamel to complete your project.

A certain number of things had to be improved regarding the piping. It was a bit like restarting a car that was fifty years old.

An international musician to perform the inaugural concert

Holder of the great Cavaillé-Coll organ of the abbey churchAbbey of Men of Caen and the great historic organ of Notre-Dame-de-Guibray in Falaise, Erwan Le Prado is an organist who enjoys international fame.

He has already performed in very famous places: Notre-Dame of Paris, Westminster Abbey in London, Suntory Hall from Tokyo…

He is also invited abroad for master-class and regularly acts as a professor at universities as well as for juries. Since 2023, he has been a “Guest Professor” for the university and the Birmingham Higher Conservatory in Great Britain.

It was he, on Sunday, who made the organ sound for an hour and a half.

Today, there are many of us and positive people to take advantage of this moment of inauguration. I hope that this energy does not drop for the next concerts and that there will be many of you to enjoy together, to take pleasure, in search of art, in search of pleasure.

An association will be set up

The organist performed pieces by John Stanley, Heinrich Scheidemann, Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Felix Mendelssohn.

His brilliant interpretation made it possible to highlight the performances of the instrument, both from the point of view of its register what about power.

“We wish pursue this cultural adventure and let's set up a association“, concluded François Hamel before inviting the public to share a glass of friendship.

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