The Ukrainian Magnum Opus of Gebrüder Rieger, from 1933

Szostak, Michał

The Ukrainian Magnum Opus of Gebrüder Rieger, from 1933

Abstract

National and local organ culture is a function of many determinants like the level of wealth, physical possibilities, determination or consequences of socio-political circumstances. Following the path of the description of the Eastern Europe organ world, I would like to present the opus magnum built by the Rieger-Kloss company in 1933 in one of the most interesting historical buildings in Lviv. Today Lviv is an important city on the map of Western Ukraine. Since its origin, the organ has been witnessing many historical turbulences, thousands of great concerts and still serves as a milestone in creating organ culture in this region. Having the great pleasure to perform several recitals on it (2018, 2019, 2021), I would like to provide – not only a theoretical description of its history and physical features but also – a practical opinion based on my own experience. Dominicans built the first chapel of St. Mary-Madeleine in 1600 as a second church building in Lviv, thanks to the noblewoman Anna Pstrokońska. At the end of the 17th century, Dominicans significantly expanded the church and the adjoining monastery, according to the design of a prolific architect Marcin Urbanik (died 1764). The consecration took place in 1758. In terms of architecture, the dominant styles were Renaissance and Baroque. The pediment of the church was crowned with two towers and decorated with figures of Dominican saints. Inside, the main altar and nine side altars were built. The main altar, still existing until today, is covered with stucco from around 1608, depicting scenes from the life of St. Mary Magdalene. In 1784 the monastery became the property of the State Religious Fund, which in 1841 sold it to the Galician Police Fund. First, there was a home for improvement and forced labour in the monastery, and then it was transformed into a prison for women. As the state took over the monastery buildings, a presbytery was erected in the church’s vicinity at the city’s expense. At the same time, the Austrian authorities seized the oldest part of the church chancel, separating it with a makeshift wall from the rest and thus creating an internal prison chapel. Finally, the church was given to the Archdiocese of Lviv and served as a parish church. After World War I, the prison in the former monastery building was liquidated and handed over to the Lviv Polytechnic (Department of Physical Chemistry). In 1927 restoration works were carried out. As a result, the altar mensa made of marble and alabaster was erected on the platform according to the design of Tadeusz Obmiński (1874-1932) with sculptures of angels by Janina Reichert-Tothowa (1895-1986). In addition, a new baptistery decorated with frescoes by Jan Henryk Rosen (1891-1982) was created. In the interwar period and during World War II, the pastoral service in this church was still performed.

Citation

Szostak Michał, "The Ukrainian Magnum Opus of Gebrüder Rieger from 1933", in: "The Organ", No 398, November 2021-January 2022, Musical Opinion Ltd, London, ISSN 0030-4883, pp. 4-15.