Barcelona’s Sant Felip Neri Oratory Hosts New Organ

Why this is here: The organ boasts a facade of 16 feet, comprised of 16 five-meter-long flutes, adding a striking visual element to the historic oratory.

Montserrat Torrent realized a 60-year dream Monday as a new organ began to play within Barcelona’s Oratory of Sant Felip Neri. The centenarian artist performed a concert alongside musicians debuting the instrument, built by Albert Blancafort. Roughly 500 people attended the event, including Barcelona’s mayor, Jaume Collboni, and the regional culture minister, Sònia Hernàndez.

The organ features 3,545 pipes and three manual keyboards, designed for baroque and Iberian repertoire. Father Ferran Colàs noted the church has housed five organs since its founding, with this one considered the finest. The oratory itself holds history, having survived a 1938 bombing that killed 42 people, many of whom were children sheltering in the basement.

Construction began in the 1960s but only a small portion was completed initially. The new instrument joins a network of organs across Barcelona, including those at Santa Maria del Mar and the Cathedral. Further restoration and additions to Barcelona’s collection are still possible, as several historic organs remain in other city churches.