The Van den Heuvel organ at the Victoria Hall, Geneva

Victoria Hall, Genève

The Hall

Thanks to the generous support of the British Consul D.F.P. Barton, a prestigious concert hall was erected in Genève in 1894. Hence its name, Victoria Hall. From the beginning this sumptous building possessed an organ of considerable size, which was ingaugurated by the famous organist and composer, Charles-Marie Widor. This first instrument, built by Th. Kuhn (Zurich) was transformed in 1930 by the Tschanun company. In 1949, a new instrument of 82 stops was installed. It was a good example of the 'neo-classical' style in organ building, with a separate console on the stage, and electric action. Rudolf Ziegler and then the Manufacture de Grandes Orgues de Genève were resposible for its building. Later enlarged, with 'en chamade' stops, this organ played an important part in the musical life until September 16th 1984. That night a fire devastated the interior of the hall. The entire organ simply melted and collapsed.
It was soon decided to restore the interior of the hall. as far as possible in the original style, which was flamboyant and heavily decorated. This huge undertaking was carried out with infinite care, including the restitution of the exceptional and well know accoustic qualities of the hall. In order to complete this resoration, it was crusial to build an new organ.

The Organ

A commision of experts, namely Pierre Segond, François Delor, Louis Robilliard, Jean-François Vaucher, Lionel Rogg and George Lhôte, was constituted. It soon became evident that only an organ of the 'symphonic' type could successfully be integrated, either vissually or musically, in this festive framework. For this reason, the experts agreed upon an organ built in the so called 'Cavaillé-Coll' tradition. This tradition has still many supporters and the favor of geat composers like O. Messiaen.

Overview of Grand-Orgue (left) and Positif (right).
Van den Heuvel has at this time finished the organs of Katwijk aan Zee and Paris, which are made in this tradition. Specialy the organ in Paris shows the know how of the firm. It is this organ that made several changes to the original design.

For example: the console was first designed à la Katwijk with mechanical stop- and keyaction, but was changed in a console separated from the instrument facing the hall with mechanical keyaction and electronic stop action.

The organ has four manual divisions of 61 notes and a Pedal of 32 notes. The Grand-Orgue, the Positif and the Récit Expressif have 18 stops, the Bombarde 3 stops and the Pédale 14 stops, altogether 71 stops or 102 ranks.

Some details

The complete stop list including the mixture compositions.

Key- and stopaction

The keyction is mechanical. The keyaction is assisted by Barker levers for the Pédale, Grand-Orgue, Positif and Récit Expressif. For the Grand-Orgue and the Positif they are ad libitum. The stopaction is elctronic and features a combination system.

Internal layout

The internal layout of the instrument is devided on three levels. Fist on the gallery level the console and the Barker levers and in the back of the organ the Contrebombarde 32'. At the next level the windchests of the Grand-Orgue at central position. Behind them the Positif windchests. On the left and right side the windchests of the Pédale. On the third level the Récit Expressif. On both sides (C left, C# right) of the swellbox the chamade reeds.
The windchests of the Grand-Orgue and Positif are both made in three parts: two for the bass (C and C#) and one for the upper part from middle c. The Récit is placed on two windchest one for the Jeux de Fond and one for the Jeux de Combinaison.

Windsupply

In order to be faithfull to the French symphonic organ tradition the organbuilder has given higher pressures to the trebles (37 notes) and lower pressures to the bass (24 notes) of the manual divisions (except the Bombarde division). The pressures are as follows:

Grand Orgue bass: 100 mm
Grand Orgue treble: 115 mm
Positif bass: 95 mm
Positif treble: 105 mm
Récit Expressif bass: 120 mm
Récit Expressif treble: 135 mm
Bombarde: 150 mm
Pédale:
Foundation stops: 102 mm
Reeds: 125 mm

Instruments | Victoria Hall, Geneva