The historic organ, a singular 16th-century masterpiece, was celebrated in a concert at the Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás, performed by organist Juan de la Rubia under the direction of ADDA Simfònica led by Joseph Vincent. The event marked the return of the instrument to public life after a careful restoration funded by the Alicante County Council. The program featured Saint-Saëns’s Organ Symphony, presented in its first full symphonic outing, filling the temple with an audience that appreciated both the music and the organ’s restored grandeur.
The restoration project drew praise from public officials, including Carlos Mazón, president of the Alicante Provincial Assembly, who described the moment as unusually meaningful. He noted that the organ of San Nicolás has recovered its vitality after a painstaking conservation effort and highlighted its significance as a symbol of Alicante’s cultural patrimony. The instrument stands among the oldest of its kind in the Valencian Community and is counted among the most venerable in Spain, a reminder of the region’s long-standing musical traditions.
Joining the celebration were prominent church and civic figures, including the honorary bishop of the Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante, Jesús Murgui, and Ramón Espejo, the Dean of the Co-Cathedral, who also serves as President of the Provincial Council. They spoke of the organ as a repository of regional culture and art. The restoration was not just about the instrument itself; it was framed as a communal achievement that preserves liturgical rituals for parishioners and opens new experiences for visitors and music lovers who can now enjoy a complete cycle of organ concerts that had not been imagined before.
Restoration work spanned roughly eighteen months, carried out by a seven-member team from the Desmottes organ workshop. The operation involved more than twelve thousand hours of meticulous labor and required an investment of 497,000 euros. The instrument, dating from the 16th century, features around 2,900 pipes, some towering more than four meters high, with a total of about 25,000 components that had to be measured, cleaned, tuned, and reassembled to return the instrument to its former sonic brilliance.
Beyond the physical repair, the project included the restoration of the Plateresque organ case, a decorative and historical centerpiece. The Alicante Provincial Assembly supported the production of a documentary directed by José Pérez. Through the department responsible for imagery, the film documents the complex, precise steps taken to rescue the organ and highlights the interplay of crafts such as technical drawing, carpentry, metal forging, casting, and even early computational methods used to map tonal behavior. The story underscores a collaborative process that blends art, engineering, and cultural stewardship to safeguard a cherished symbol of the region for future generations.