contraviolone
-
Posts
352 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by contraviolone
-
-
6 minutes ago, DaveHarries said:
Do you have a link to that picture please?
Meanwhile more things circulated on social media this morning, 16th April through the "Organs of Paris" Facebook group.
At around 0715 BST the vicar-general of the Archdiocese of Paris, Mgr Benoist de Sinety, was quoted as saying: "L’orgue de Notre-Dame de Paris est « pratiquement totalement détruit » but that contradicts the more positive words from Monseigneur Aupetit, Archbishop of Paris on BFMTV: "It is possible that the great organ is saved."
More encouraging words, however, have since emerged from other sources. BFM TV ran a report which said that the great organ is in a relatively good state.
But easily the most important, and best, quotes come from four other sources which have been quoted on the FB group:
Michel Picaud (Friends of Notre Dame, a US-based foundation dedicated to fundraising for the Cathedral's reconstruction work), confirmed on NBC that the roof had been destroyed but added: "The fire started up near the roof top, while another fire started in the north bell tower. All damage seems to be up high and did not go into the lower part of church or touch the organ or stained-glass windows."
(I have heard on media here in the UK that all 3 of the main rose windows in the cathedral survived the blaze. One of them sits behind the great organ so if the organ had been lost then the west rose window would likely have followed it.)
Philippe Lefèbvre, one of the organiste titulaires of Notre-Dame de Paris, has been quoted as saying: "The organ is there but as long as no one gets into it we won't know if the heat, water or vault debrits will have deteriorated the instrumental part."
There is indeed a god!
Dave
All very encouraging. I would also like to see that photograph!
-
13 minutes ago, David Surtees said:
The French word Franck Riester used was « atteint », which implies the organ has been affected, or reached by the fire. “Achieved” is an odd translation in that context.
Also just seen on social media:
According to Mgr Benoist de Sinett, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Paris, the Notre-Dame organ is “practically completely destroyed.”
Photographs of the interior would suggest that most of the stone vaulting has survived. The stone structure of the cathedral itself, together with most of the furnishings in the quire as well as hopefully the west end gallery, appears to be intact.
No doubt the grand organ has been affected by smoke and water, but let's hope it can be rebuilt. How long this will take is anyone's guess? Either way the rebuilding of the cathedral and restoring the interior furnishings, including the restoration of the grand organ, will take a very long time.
Will any of us hear this organ play again?
-
16 minutes ago, handsoff said:
If, as we all hope, the organ were to be saved I imagine that it would have to removed from the cathedral to allow for the fabric of the building to be properly assessed and repaired. With this in mind it will be many years if not decades before it will be heard again. I have just played the Solstice recording of Pierre Cochereau's improvisation in the minor key on La Marseillaise which he played in 1977 for the funeral mass of Pres. Giscard d'Estaing. It seemed appropriate...
Amd what has Radio 3 just played? Go on, guess. [Clue - it's not an improv by PC]
Perhaps the funeral mass was not for President Giscard d'Estaing, as that former President is still alive!
-
23 minutes ago, keyplayer said:
I'm afraid that video from the Independent site leaves no hope that the grand organ has survived.
The aerial photograph of the cathedral is quite incredible. The entire roof has collapsed, and the internal fabric is just a fireball, with everything seemingly destroyed. And yet the walls of the nave, transepts and chancel are still standing. This must be due to the strength of the flying buttresses.
But as you say all the furnishings, including the two organs, appear to be completely destroyed, as well of course much of the medieval stained glass windows.
-
They may well save the west end towers but a significant majority of the cathedral has been destroyed.
Given the smoke and flames were directed toward the west end of the cathedral by the prevailing wind, and with all the water poured onto the towers, I cannot see how the grand organ may survive.
-
With the flames reaching the west end towers, no doubt the grand organ will be totally destroyed.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Notre Dame
in General discussion
Posted
They certainly don't! The stone vaulting is obviously very strong and has clearly saved the cathedral!
More news that the organ has survived the fire, as confirmed by the Deputy Mayor of Paris:
https://slippedisc.com/2019/04/paris-latest-cavaille-coll-organ-has-survived-the-fire/