Discovering the Hidden Gem of Organ Music in St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is a city that's full of life, with sunsets that never fail to leave me in awe. The way the light dances across the sky is like music to my ears – it's a perfect harmony of colors and sounds.

Music to my Ears.I've been waiting for what feels like an eternity to get my hands on an organ, and finally, in January 2023, I made it happen. I've been jotting down notes in my journal about all the amazing places to visit, and this organ is going to be a game-changer in my musical journey.

I live in St. Petersburg, a city that's full of life and beauty. There's no need to rush here – we take our time to appreciate the little things, like the stunning architecture and the vibrant cultural scene.

Tsarskoe Selo Park for my soul, The Hermitage – a feast for the eyes, and the cultural behemoth that is St. Petersburg, The Marble Palace – a dream come true. I'm sitting here, gazing up at the ceiling, and then I start writing about the stories that come to me from the marble above.Getting here is a breeze – just take a stroll down Nevsky Prospekt and you'll find yourself at the Petrikirche, also known as the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the European part of Russia.

Address: 191186 St. Petersburg, Nevsky Prospekt, 22-24.

Organic musicThere's something special about St. Peter's Church in St. Petersburg – it's got a unique, ethereal vibe. The church itself is small and visually pleasing, especially against the backdrop of a bright blue sky.St. Peter's ChurchInside, you'll find mysterious alcoves, vaulted ceilings, intricate architectural details, and ornate staircases. It's like stepping back in time, with the organ and the eternal music that fills the air.As for me, I'm a huge fan of this kind of music – I listen to almost everything, from aggressive rap-rock to pop and ambient. Classic music is always a treat, but it's the music that touches my soul, that makes me feel like I'm seeing right through to the very heart of things. It's the kind of music that's raw, powerful, and life-changing. I've found my spiritual home in organ music.I can only truly appreciate it in grand, atmospheric venues with soaring ceilings – one of my favorites is the Petrikirch in St. Petersburg, which hosts not only worship services but also concerts and events featuring the world's most talented organists.

They come up with incredible ideas like organ battles: Bach vs. Mozart or Bach vs. Bach, symphonic concerts, and the author's project 'Battle of the Organs' by Amadeus Concerts.

They play a mix of genres, from Johann Sebastian Bach's Nur BACH! – organ and harpsichord music to big and small organs, harpsichord, and classical pieces by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and more. Don't miss it!

I'm also a fan of Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' performed in the candlelight, with the lights dimmed and candelabras set up on the stage – it's incredibly relaxing. The music just fills the space, from the ceiling to above.

The Petrikirch also offers guided tours of its catacombs and hosts city-wide art exhibitions.

All events are marked 6+, and kids under 14 get free admission.

I grabbed my tickets for the concert on Afisha, Yandex, and the box office in St. Petersburg, as well as on the Petrikirche-Spb website.

The cost of the tickets ranged from 599 to 1299 rubles.

About the concert we attended.

Program.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Symphony from the cantata Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal in das Reich Gottes eingehen («Many sorrows must enter the Kingdom of God»), BWV 146

Johann Sebastian Bach – Edward Elgar

Fantasy and fugue in minor, op. 86

Edward Elgar

Sursum corda («Lift up your hearts»), op. 11

Robert Schumann

Overture, scherzo, and finale, op. 52

Alexander Gillyman

Final alla Schumann, op. 83

Camille Saint-Saëns

«Bacchanale» from the opera «Samson and Delilah»

«Cypress and Laurel», op. 156

Blown away! The performance was 100% and more, with soul, love, and an unimaginable level of beauty.

The Governor's Symphony Orchestra of St. Petersburg

Conductor – Maxim Alexeyev

Soloist – international competition laureate Olga Kotlyarova, organ

I was blown away by the organ solo – it was like a ray of sunshine. The musician was like a musical angel in a golden jacket. The sun was streaming in through the windows, warming my head, and the music of 'Sursum corda', op. 11, was just incredible.

It was like being in a different world. There were so many young people and ladies in crinolines, and the silence in the hall was palpable. You could almost smell the verbena and my husband's Memo Tiger's Nest – it all felt so perfectly in place and stuck in my memory. The parterre was packed, and the balconies were full – we were all comfortably seated in row 4, with a perfect view.

Concert started right on time, lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes. I have to say, the seating was super comfy, and the sound quality was great. Before the show, I took some time to appreciate the venue's architecture – those white ceiling domes, the columns, the frescoes, the sunlight streaming in through the windows, and all the musical instruments on display. Check out the piano, the music stand, and the beautiful harp – it's a real showstopper, and the trombone, which is a pretty brutal instrument, and the double bass with its four strings.Organic musicClassical musicFor a full 1 hour and 15 minutes, you're completely immersed in the music, soaring under the vaults, and then settling back into your seat.The music flows beautifully, with violin, cello, viola, octobass, and of course, the organ, which gets to play a solo. It's a small organ, but it's still amazing.

History:

The history of Western European music is impossible to imagine without the organ. Dubbed the 'King of Instruments', it was a dominant force in the 17th and 18th centuries, and a staple of festive and formal events, concerts, and church services that were an integral part of everyday life.

The organ's popularity among composers, who often entrusted it with solo virtuosic pieces and individual parts of multi-genre compositions, was due to its unique timbral capabilities.

Starting from the 19th century, thanks to the more advanced construction, the organ gained a wide range of colors and a new artistic interpretation – as an instrument capable of creating large-scale soundscapes.

The concert program will feature compositions by composers from Austria, Germany, France, and the UK, ranging from baroque to late Romanticism, which are undoubtedly outstanding examples of music for the organ and symphony orchestra.

Concert. The Verdict.This is a symphony of pipes. The energy is pouring in. The organ is roaring and shattering the aorta.

I felt like nobody was breathing. All the listeners held their breath.

The organ is singing in a secret language of music.

And I... I was barely holding myself back. I kept my composure and my legs too. I wanted to stand up. And applaud endlessly, for a long time, and scream 'Bravo!'.

I was almost conducting to the Final alla Schumann, op. 83, barely holding myself back..

Organ music. And Bach is a virtuoso, his music is eternal. You become eternal too. At least for a moment, for an hour. Something deep inside you stirs; something that's unshakeable; something that's been etched in time.

I highly recommend it!

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Thanks for your attention!

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