Cycle d'Orgue de Roanne

An exceptional organ heritage

The large family of Roanne's organs constitutes one of the city's heritage riches through its diversity, a precious element for its tourist and cultural appeal. The jewel of this heritage is the organ in the tribune of the Saint-Étienne church, an instrument built in 1841 by the builders Daublaine and Callinet to serve as the choir organ for Notre-Dame de Paris. In 1857, architect Viollet-le-Duc entrusted it to the diocese of Saint-Étienne, and the instrument was installed in Roanne in 1861. Classified as a Historic Monument since 1881, it has undergone several interventions: refurbishment by Merklin-Gutschenritter in 1909, electrification by Dunand in 1955, mechanization and addition of a case organ by Micolle/Simon in 1983. The last major restoration, carried out in 2012-2013 by Michel Gaillard (Aubertin manufacture) for an amount of 241,000 euros, has restored the instrument to its full splendor with its 1,700 pipes, 56 keys, and fully revised pedalboard.

Two churches, two organs

The Cycle d'Orgue primarily invests two emblematic sites of Roanne's heritage:

• The Saint-Étienne church (Place du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny): a Flamboyant Gothic style church, the oldest parish in Roanne mentioned as early as the 11th century, which houses the historic organ from Notre-Dame de Paris.
• The Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church (Place des Minimes): the largest church in Roannais, in Neo-Gothic style, with 56 remarkable stained-glass windows and a grand organ that also hosts concerts of the cycle.

A partnership serving music

The Cycle d'Orgue is the result of close collaboration between four cultural players in the region:

• The City of Roanne (cultural department): general coordination of the event.
• The Conservatoire de Roannais Agglomération: offers concerts combining organ and choir, notably with the Ensemble Vocal de Roanne, and showcases students and teachers from the conservatory.
• ADAMUS (Association d'Animation Musicale): organizes concerts with renowned guest artists, combining the organ with various solo instruments (trumpet, oboe, saxophone).
• ARENOR (Association pour la Renaissance des Orgues du Roannais – Amicale des Organistes): founded in 2014 on the initiative of Hervé Desarbre, now chaired by Gilles Barnaud, this association works for the restoration, promotion, and renewal of organs in Roannais, and organizes organ recitals and cinema-concerts.

A rich and varied program

Each edition of the Cycle d'Orgue offers between four and six concerts spread from June to November. The diversity of repertoires is at the heart of the project: Baroque music (Bach, Buxtehude, Krebs), Classical (Mendelssohn, Tournemire), Romantic (Franck, Widor, Vierne), Impressionist (Satie, Fauré, Duruflé), and Contemporary. The ensembles are just as varied: solo organ, organ and trumpet, organ and oboe, organ and saxophone, organ and choir, organ and barrel organ. Concerts are usually held on Sundays at 5 p.m. or Saturdays at 8:30 p.m.