The Silbermann-Carrara organ of Ventimiglia Cathedral: the story of a rebirth The centuries-old history of organ building at Ventimiglia Cathedral has been documented since the 15th century; the earliest evidence to date of the construction of an organ refers to the instrument built in 1439-40 by a certain "Magistro Matheo" and positioned on a swallow's nest choir in the intercolumniation of the main nave closest to the apse. From this date "ante quem," Ventimiglia Cathedral saw a succession of restorations, maintenance, and new constructions, along with the relocation of the gallery to the counterfaçade and a succession of organists and choirmasters who gave musical dignity to the numerous liturgical celebrations, uninterruptedly until the 1960s and 1970s. Following a controversial restoration aimed at restoring the aesthetic appearance of the Cathedral's interior to its Romanesque period, it was decided to dismantle the organ still standing in the gallery, built in 1850 by the Tuscan organ builder Nicomede Agati. This imposing 16-foot instrument with 44 stops ended the flourishing history of the Cathedral's organs. Fortunately, after almost half a century of "musical silence", two favorable circumstances were a providential sign for the rebirth: the disposal, by the Municipality of the Principality of Monaco, of an instrument still efficient, but no longer suited to the needs of their new Conservatory, and the munificence of the late Prince Rainier III who wished to contribute to the costs of its installation. The historical roots that link the noble Grimaldi family to our land of Western Liguria are well known, and it is by virtue of these that the promise of significant support extinguished any hesitation and began a project destined to last for centuries. With the decommissioning of the organ built by Xavier Silbermann for the auditorium of the "Prince Rainier III" Academy of Music in the Principality of Monaco, a precious opportunity arose to provide the Cathedral with a new instrument. Following negotiations between His Excellency Mgr. Alberto Maria Careggio, newly elected Bishop of the Diocese of Ventimiglia - Sanremo, and the municipality of Monaco, the organ's owner, the instrument was purchased in 2005 and entrusted to the organ builder Giorgio Carrara of Rumo di Trento for its dismantling, relocation, and the necessary modifications and expansions to adapt the organ to its new location. The Grimaldi Royal Family, represented by the late Prince Ranier III, a distinguished benefactor, also participated in the restoration project with a generous contribution, for which a commemorative plaque was attached to the organ case. However, the problem of its location remained to be solved, given that the Cathedral's baroque gallery had been eliminated during the 1970s renovation. Thanks to the collaboration between the Diocesan Commission for Sacred Art, engineer Fausto Ponziani, and the Ligurian Superintendency for Architectural Heritage, the design of a new, elegant and modern, self-supporting gallery was quickly developed. The structure, made of a metal structure simply anchored to the floor, would support the new organ in the upper section and the entrance box in the lower section. In January 2008, with the inaugural concert of the new organ, attended by H.S.H. Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and the civil and religious authorities of Italy and Monaco, the centuries-old organ and organ building activity of the ancient Cathedral of Ventimiglia began a new chapter, allowing it to continue to enrich future generations culturally and spiritually. This recording, whose program was chosen to highlight the instrument's sound features, is dedicated to the memory of Prince Rainier III and a tribute to H.S.H. Prince Albert II, his successor, and to all those who believed in this project from the beginning. Silvano Rodi

Additional info about this CD
Recording on July 2023, in Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta - Ventimiglia (IM) (Italy)
Booklet 27 pages full colour booklet 
Musicology comment
Artist biography