Očić, Ljerka: Croatian Organ Music IV

The fourth and final CD from the “Croatian organ music” cycle is dedicated to the organ at the concert hall Vatroslav Lisinski in Zagreb. Although the bond between this instrument and churches is strong and enduring, organ has also been abiding in concert halls for decades. The content of the CD reflects the intention to present the coloring and the sound of this instrument in an entirely secular space in which organ serves not only for solo, concert performances, but also for performances in which the instrument is in harmony with a large symphony orchestra. At times its coloring merely supplements the orchestra, but sometimes it sparkles with powerful sounds, stronger even than the mighty and rich sound of a large symphony orchestra. 

The organ at the concert hall Vatroslav Lisinski was built in 1974 and was, at the time, one of the top-quality instruments in Croatia. It is considered one of the most important works by the German builder Werner Walcker from Ludwigsburg who died in 2000, without leaving a noteworthy successor in his art workshop. In 1855 the same workshop enriched Croatia with a four manual organ for the Zagreb Cathedral - one of the most beautiful Croatian Romanticist instruments which, unfortunately, could not be included in the recording cycle representing the national organ music due to poor maintenance and inability to use it for concert performances or recordings.

The Zagreb concert hall, completed and opened towards the end of 1973, was built using the then latest architectural and acoustic knowledge, and was enriched with a four manual organ with sixty-four stops. Its disposition was created in 1962 by Albe Vidaković, composer and musicologist, and Anđelko Klobučar, composer and organist, bearing in mind the opening of possibilities for interpretation of different music styles, as well as the demands such an instrument would have to satisfy in a concert venue. In 2007 and 2008 the Art workshop Heferer from Zagreb did a thorough restoration of the organ, and has continued to maintain it and has provided care for its condition so that the instrument could keep up with the sound of a large orchestra and at the same time universally suit the performances of a most varying music repertoire.