Les Mardis de l'Orgue in Les Gets
Concerts featuring the aeolian philharmonic organ
As part of its winter and summer musical seasons,the Mechanical Music Museum of Les Gets presents Les Mardis de l'Orgue,a serie of concerts held in theChurch of Les Gets..
Every Tuesday, these musical events invite audiences to discover an exceptional instrument through performances in both manual and automatic mode,offering a unique listening experience.
A diverse musical program
The concerts feature renowned organists,sometimes joined by singers or instrumentalists (trumpet, flute, violin, hurdy-gurdy, Alpine horn, and others), presenting programmes accessible to all audiences.
TheAeolian Philharmonic Organ,on which Maurice Ravel performed in 1921has welcomed many distinguished artists, including:
– André Isoir
– Michel Chapuis
– Louis Robillard
– Brice Montagnoux
The museum also seeks to showcase local artists,contributing to the richness and diversity of these concerts.
A unique instrument
The Aeolian Organ is distinguished by its dual mode of operation: :
- en Manual performance,like a traditional pipe organ
- en Automatic performanceusing perforated paper rolls. from an extensive musical repertoire
This unique feature allows visitors to experience the full richness of mechanical musicthrough faithful and spectacular performances.
An immersion inside the instrument
Following some concerts, audience members are occasionally invited to enjoy a rare experience: visiting the organ loft to discover the instrument's inner workings.
Explanations are provided on:
- The paper-roll reading system
- The electro-pneumatic action
- The organ stops and swell shutters
- The The bellows and tubular chime
- The The instrument's nearly 1,000 pipes
This behind-the-scenes visit offers a deeper understanding of the complexity and richness of this exceptional instrument.