A nationally famous landmark, Chester Cathedral holds active services that make it an important spiritual hub in the city. Over the years, the grade-listed building has also put its undeniable acoustics to excellent use, hosting many music events. This summer, the cathedral will welcome an extraordinary occasion entitled “Battle of the Organs”.
The musical spectacle is part of a special series of organ concerts organised by Chester Cathedral especially for the summer season and will take place this month. The August event will see four accomplished cathedral organists – Alexander Lanigan-Palotai, Philip Rushforth, Graham Eccles and Daniel Mathieson – combine their talents to deliver a light-hearted, one-of-a-kind organ battle, loaded with musical skill and variety.
Chester’s beloved cathedral will receive a delivery containing two digital organs that will join its small in-house chamber organ to combine efforts for the musical extravaganza. These newer models of organ will then challenge the cathedral’s venerable Grand Organ in musical combat. Dating to 1876, Chester’s Grand Organ has a total of 4,864 pipes within its housing and has been played almost every single day for close to one and a half centuries.
The epic event invites all guests and residents with a passion for music to attend. All proceeds from ticket sales to the musical skirmish will be put towards the cathedral’s ongoing organ appeal designed to provide funds for maintaining and repairing the ancient organ.
The Battle of the Organs will take place on Thursday, August 22 in The Nave at Chester Cathedral on St Werburgh Street in Chester.
