The Eden Leisure Group have pledged their support to Din l-Art Ħelwa for the refurbishment of the church’s 18th century organ. This is another milestone in the restoration of Our Lady of Victory Church, reputed to be the first building in Valletta following the Great Siege in 1565.
The exact date of the instrument is not known but studies relate to a payment made to Mastro Pietro Santucci in 1790 when the organ builder was paid 200 Scudi for the construction and installation of the organ. The instrument stood within a baroque wooden pipe organ cabinet in the organ loft above the main entrance, where it will be re-enstated.
Maria Grazia Cassar, DLĦ Executive President said ‘It is most appropriate that the Eden Leisure Group, that caters for modern entertainment should give back to Valletta the organ that provided music in its oldest church’. Din l-Art Ħelwa are most grateful to the Eden Leisure Group who now join the higher echeleons of generous sponsors of Our Lady of Victory Church.
Mr Ian De Cesare, Chariman Eden Leisure Group, has taken much interest and visited Our lady of Victory Church to see for himself the unassembled instrument and meet the restorer. De Cesare added ‘as we own and operate one of the most successful music radio stations, 897 Bay, we could not resist DHL’s request for the restoration of the 17th century organ which in its day must have given much musical pleasure to the Maltese.
Din l-Art Ħelwa has entrusted Robert Buhagiar B. Eng (Hons) with the reconstruction and assembling of this precious instrument which, it is anticipated, will be completed in time for Valletta 2018.
