International seminar on Restoration of A.G. Casparini‘s organ

International seminar dedicated for the discussion on the organisational issues regarding restoration of authentic A. G. Casparini’s organ took place in Vilnius Church of the Holy Spirit, on 21st of may, 2010. Mr.Douglas Lowry, the Dean of Eastman School of Music of Rochester University, organ experts from Sweden, Germany, Latvia and Lithuania and representatives of embassies of the participants’ countries took part in the seminar. Minister of Culture Remigijus Vilkaitis opened the seminar together with the priest Robertas Šalaševičius, chancellor of Vilnius Archdiocese and the priest Viktoras Bogdevičius from Vilnius Church of the Holy Spirit. Hans Davidsson, Rimantas Gučas, Romanas Sedlickas and Harald Vogel gave presentations. Short concert with authentic A. G. Casparini’s organ took place during the seminar, Vidas Pinkevičius ir Harald Vogel played the instrument. Discussion on further restoration, and promotion of A. G. Casparini’s organ and also on further co-operation took place in Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency after lunch. The meeting of the Council of Casparini’s organ took place several days before the seminar, and the Council approved the programme of the seminar.

Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency co-ordinates the works of restoration and revitalization of Casparini’s organ in co-operation with Lithuanian Ministry of Culture and JSC „Vilniaus vargonų dirbtuvės“ (workshops of Vilnius organ). The value and significance of Casparini’s organ is acknowledged by most famous experts of European organs not only as valuable Lithuanian cultural heritage, but also as one of the most valuable historical European organs. However, restoration works continue already more than ten years because of the shortage of financing.

The restoration works of the organ of Vilnius Church of the Holy Spirit started in 1993, on the initiative by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania and in cooperation with Swedish experts of historical organs. The restoration conception was prepared, complex investigation was done and the inventory of the instrument was carried out. Since 2000, accredited experts of European historical organs from Lithuania, Sweden, Germany and Italy take part in the process of Vilnius Casparini’s organ research and restoration. Rochester (USA) Eastman School of Music in cooperation with Swedish experts have built in Rochester Cathedral a reproduction of Vilnius Casparini’s organ in October, 2008.