In 2007, a unique musical instrument was installed in the Vitebsk Regional Philharmonic – a brass organ from the German company Glatter-Götz. It is the second organ in Belarus (after the Belarusian State Philharmonic) that is not housed in a religious institution. The brass organ was designed according to an individual project, taking into account the acoustic capabilities of the hall and the architectural features of the Philharmonic building. A distinctive design feature of the Vitebsk Glatter-Götz organ is the combination of the sound of French late Romantic instruments (organ builder A. Cavaillé-Coll) and the German romantic organ (organ builders W. Sauer and F. Ladegasta). The intonation of the Vitebsk organ was carried out by French intoner Jean Francois Dupont.
The Vitebsk organ "Glatter-Götz" is an interesting example of design. The organ is located in the form of two towers at the edges of the stage. The column compartments contain 3,000 wooden and metal pipes, which are an alloy of tin and lead. Beech, oak, birch, and spruce wood was used for the organ body, wooden pipes, and organist's console. The organ has 36 registers, allowing you to perform music of any style and direction. The organist's console has two manuals (58 keys each), as well as a foot keyboard of 30 keys. The air is supplied to the organ from two compressors located in the orchestra pit. The organist's console is equipped with a powerful computer capable of storing up to 4,000 register combinations.
The inauguration of the organ in the hall of the Vitebsk Regional Philharmonic took place on July 6, 2007 in a solemn atmosphere and in the presence of the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. It was attended by Yuri Semenov (Russia, Saint Petersburg) and Igor Olovnikov (Belarus, Minsk). Since that time, the Vitebsk organ has been regularly introducing its listeners to the masterpieces of world organ classics of various styles, genres and trends performed by famous performers of various national schools. Organ concerts have gained popularity and have become an integral part of the cultural life of the city. During the seven philharmonic seasons, famous performers from France, Austria, Germany, Sweden, the USA, Poland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, and Belarus have played on the Vitebsk organ, including V. Benig, E. Matz, I. Geffert (Germany), J.Adamus, R. Vygranenko, and D.Gaidukevich (Poland). A.Isakov (Lithuania), F.Pitrois, E.Oganesyan, A.Beauvais (France), T.Dexnis (Latvia), H.Fagius (Sweden), A.Shmitov, D.Dvortsov, D.Zaretsky and N.Letyuk (Russia), as well as Belarusian organists K.Pogorelaya, K.Sharov, V.Nevdakh, I.Olovnikov.
Since 2007, organ concerts have become a regular part of the program of the I. I. Sollertinsky International Music Festival, an annual prestigious forum of famous musicians, and since 2010 they have been included in the program of the Slavyansky Bazar in Vitebsk International Art Festival.
Performers are happy to leave their feedback, which predicts a happy future for the instrument and meetings with interesting musicians.
"I'm surprised how good the tool is!... I dream that this instrument will change the history of organ art in Belarus for the better" (Rostislav Vygranenko, Poland).
"The instrument has a rich sound palette suitable for music of different styles, a very original constructive concept" (Alexey Shmitov, Russia).
"... the acoustic side of the organ does not cause complaints ..." (I. Olovnikov, Belarus), "... the voices are clear, characteristically defined ..." (Konstantin Sharov, Belarus).
"The organ is wonderful, bright, sonorous. It is very sensitive, which requires the utmost concentration and precision from the performer. It's a pleasure to play it!" (Alexander Isakov, Lithuania).
"This is an amazing organ! It's a great pleasure to play it" (Ronald Ebrecht, USA).
"The organ is great! … Thanks to the organ makers for their precise work and clear sound" (Talivaldis Dexnis, Latvia).
"I had a lot of fun playing the organ. The concept is unusual, unexpectedly successful with this acoustics. It was a wonderful feeling to sit "in the center" of the organ, and feel the organ music from both sides. ... I don't think anything could have been done better for this hall!" (Hans Fagius, Sweden).
In the photo: the Glater-götz organ at the Vitebsk Regional Philharmonic