The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has released Casavant Frères’ design for the façade of the new Concert Hall Organ. The instrument is the gift of David M. Rubenstein, and was announced on stage during the National Symphony Orchestra’s season-opening ball September 25, 2011.
Rather than the bronze pipes that patrons have seen since 1972, the front pipes of the new façade will be of polished tin, with gilded mouths. The former façade was removed at the close of the 2011–12 season, and the installation of the new organ began. The new façade will be in place in time for the season-opening ball concert on September 30, 2012, and the tonal finishing and other preparations will be completed by November 27, 2012, when the Kennedy Center will introduce the new instrument with a free concert of repertoire for organ and orchestra, with the National Symphony Orchestra.
The new organ was built by Casavant Frères of St-Hyacinthe, Québec: 85 ranks, four manuals and pedal, 5,000 pipes. A special feature is its “Filene Stop,” a set of 61 pipes retained from the Filene Great Organ. The NSO and the Kennedy Center have been advised by JL Weiler, Inc.
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