Prague’s St. Vitus Cathedral to Get a Majestic New Organ At Last

St. Vitus Cathedral, located on the grounds of Prague Castle, is due to get a new organ, one more befitting the most important church in the Czech Republic, next year.

Production of the grand model will begin this year—the new organ will be played for the first time in October 2019.

It will purportedly stand on the balcony below the rosette in the western part of the cathedral.

“The construction of a large organ in St. Vitus Cathedral is a unique challenge for us,” a Gerhard Grenzing representative told the publication.

Part of that challenge includes the problematic moisture levels within the cathedral which may eventually require regulation in order to protect the new instrument.

In what is being considered one of the most prestigious European projects of its kind, the making of the new organ will cost an estimated 70 million CZK.

Since completion of the Neo-Gothic cathedral in 1929, the construction of a more powerful organ was expected but never realized due to adverse political circumstances and years of war and postwar conditions in the country.

A smaller Mölzer organ from 1932 currently stands within the cathedral; the new organ should have some 5,300 pipes compared to the Mölzer’s 4,500.

“With the construction of the new organ, we would like to contribute to the glory of St. Vitus Cathedral and the famed musical tradition of our nation,” said Cardinal Dominik Duka.