The organs of the Cathedral

The Renaissance organ in the triforium

The organ on the high altar

The organ in the transept

The organ in the crypt

In 1805, for safety reasons, the medieval organ, built in 1454 on the back of the Chapter’s tower, was dismantled. Since then, Metz Cathedral is without a great organ but today, it still has four instruments.

The most emblematic is the swallow’s nest organ in the triforium, built in 1537 by Jehan of Trier. It was restored in its entirety in 1981 by Marc Garnier in the style of a Flemish organ coming at the end of the Renaissance period. It is listed as a historical monument.

Behind the high altar stands an organ constructed by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll in 1862. Having been redesigned and relocated, the instrument, nowadays, has thirty registers, ten of which are either completely or partially original.

In 1905, Charles Mutin installed a small four-register organ in the crypt, which had recently been restored by Paul Tornow.

Lastly, in 1970, an organ manufactured by Haerpfer-Erman of Boulay was placed in the southern transept. It is used as an accompaniment during church services and it is unique because it is electrically wired to the organ behind the high altar, which allows both organs to be played at the same time.

Since 2020, Thierry Ferré has been the principal organist at Metz Cathedral.

For further information:
Mail : orguecathedralemetz@gmail.com

Visit the Cathedral organ website

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