After nearly 30 years of silence, the Toledo Museum of Art's E. M. Skinner Opus 603 pipe organ will once again resound through the Museum's Peristyle on Friday, April 22, at 8 pm. The Museum and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra will present organist Aaron David Miller performing Poulenc's "Concerto for Organ" and Saint-Saens' "Symhony No. 3."
The organ's history parallels the museum's. In 1926, Sarah Miller Libbey and Alice Libbey Walbridge commissioned E. M. Skinner to create Opus 603 in memory of their brother, Museum founder Edward Drummong Libbey, resulting in Skinner's largest roll-playing organ, with 62 speaking stops. Organist Lynnwood Farnam performed the inaugural concert in 1927.
Over the years the organ's leather systems deteriorated, and in 1978 the organ fell silent. Thanks to major grants from the Joseph G. Bradley Charitable Foundation and other individual donors, Opus 603 was recored, by A. Thoompson-Allen Company LLC of New Haven, Conn.
In addition to the inaugural concert on April 22, the Museum and Symphony present a Family matinee at 11 am on April 23, followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of the instrument. An encore presentation of Aaon David Miller's concert takes place at 8 pm on April 23. Concert tickets are available through the Toledo Symphony at 419/246-8000.
The Museum can be reached at 419/255-9000; www.toledomuseum.org.
February 2, 2005
Toledo Museum of Art
