Documentary
After eighteen months of restoration and twelve thousand operating hours, and following a substantial investment nearing half a million euros, the organ of the sixteenth‑century Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás in Alicante will shine again this Friday. It will be unveiled in a public concert featuring a renowned organist and a great orchestra. Musicians from ADDA Simfònica, under the direction of Joseph Vicen, will accompany the Barcelona-based organist Juan de la Rubia. This recital marks the instrument’s first major public performance in its renewed state and signals the potential for many future musical evenings at the Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Alicante. Source notes attribution: Diputación de Alicante.
Although the organ has already been used during ritual practices and De la Rubia has previously given a recital during the epidemic period, Friday’s extraordinary concert is held in memory of the restoration work. The public act begins at 17:00 and will be the official opening and presentation in a public setting. Source notes attribution: Diputación de Alicante.
The program features a mix of solo and orchestral pieces, including Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor for organ solo, BWV 582, and Saint-Saëns’s Organ Symphony No. 3. These selections promise an experience described as heavenly music, a sentiment echoed by Ramon Egio and the temple’s dean in their concert presentation. The Provincial Council is acknowledged for fully funding the restoration, which amounted to 497,000 euros. Source notes attribution: Diputación de Alicante.
Vicen’s performance will highlight the organ’s beauty, with Saint-Säens’s repertoire interpreted for this instrument—a composition rooted in bright tonality that feels like a dialogue with the divine, beginning in C minor and evolving to C major in a journey of grandeur. Source notes attribution: Diputación de Alicante.
One official described the piece as extraordinary, noting that its uniqueness requires a special setting and a specially tailored accompaniment. With the organ now restored, audiences can enjoy it within the framework of Alicante’s Co-Cathedral, which is celebrated as one of Spain’s finest organs and an icon for the province. Source notes attribution: Diputación de Alicante.
Juan de la Rubia is photographed with the organ of the Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás. This image captures a moment of the instrument’s renaissance and the sense of awe that accompanies its renewed voice. Source notes attribution: Diputación de Alicante.
Culture official Juan de Dios Navarro emphasizes that undertaking the restoration of this Renaissance work was a significant honor for the provincial institution. The instrument stands as a cultural patrimony of the Valencian Community, regarded as one of the most important musical assets in the region. Source notes attribution: Diputación de Alicante.
Ejio notes that beyond liturgical duties, the organ will serve as a cultural platform, bringing together believers and non-believers who wish to enjoy a fine concert. It is envisioned as a touchstone for the city and the state of Alicante. Josep Vicente also promotes future collaborations between the co-cathedral and ADDA as part of this ongoing vision. Source notes attribution: Diputación de Alicante.
In a 28‑minute documentary titled Spirit of the Wind, prepared by the Provincial Image Department and directed by Jose Perez, viewers can see the meticulous restoration process. The documentary chronicles the work led by master organ builder Frederic Desmottes in Landete (Cuenca) with a seven‑member team. Source notes attribution: Diputación de Alicante.
The exhibition also shines a light on the Plateresque ebony organ case from 1590, the oldest in the Valencian Community and among the five oldest in Spain. The reconstruction involved renewing the internal structure and a wide range of disciplines, including artistic design, acoustic drawing, carpentry, forging, metal casting, physics, and computing, as described by the dean. Source notes attribution: Diputación de Alicante.
In the documentary, Desmottes is shown reassembling three keyboards and a pedalboard with forty stops, about 25,000 components, including roughly 2,900 metal tubes and many wooden ones, some exceeding four meters in length. This extensive rebuild expands the instrument’s tonal palette, enabling a broader repertoire. Luis Egio, the organist of San Nicolás, highlights the improved playability and quality, noting that the instrument now opens up opportunities for concerts and guest organizers that were not possible before. Source notes attribution: Diputación de Alicante.