Orgue&nd Festival Announces 27th Edition: 11 Free Concerts Across Andorra in 2026
Themed 'Constellations: voices in dialogue', the series pairs historic organs with rare instruments like horn, accordion and modular organ, starting Good Friday in Sant Esteve church.
Key Points
- Orgue&nd Festival's 27th edition features 11 free concerts in Andorra from April 3 to December 29, 2026.
- Themed 'Constellations: voices in dialogue', it pairs historic organs with rare instruments like horn, accordion, and modular organ.
- Kicks off Good Friday in Sant Esteve church; spans parishes including La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, and Canillo.
- Highlights international artists and supports Andorra's organ heritage with voluntary donations.
The Orgue&nd festival's 27th edition, themed "Constellations: voices in dialogue", will deliver 11 free concerts from 3 April to 29 December 2026 across Andorra's parishes, pairing historic organs with rare instrumental combinations including horn, flute, grand piano, accordion and percussion, alongside innovations like a modular transportable organ and the medieval organetto.
Organisers presented the programme on Thursday in Andorra la Vella, joined by Andorra la Vella cònsol menor Olalla Losada, government cultural promotion director Joan-Marc Joval, archpriest Mossèn Ramon Sàrries and artistic director Ignacio Ribas. Losada called it a dialogue between tradition and modernity, turning churches like Sant Esteve into vibrant cultural hubs that strengthen community bonds and project Andorra's heritage forward. She acknowledged support from the Friends of the Organs of Andorra, La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany and newcomer Canillo communes, the government, and Andorra Lírica.
Ribas described the event as a fully established fixture on the international organ scene, delivering conceptual sonic experiences through novel pairings and instruments imported for the occasion. Joval highlighted inter-administration networks, while Sàrries emphasised the organ's role in national artistic heritage, noting a vibrant young players' school and an upcoming book detailing Andorra's organs.
The lineup begins on Good Friday, 3 April at 21:30 in Sant Esteve church, Andorra la Vella, with "Cygnus" featuring Ribas on organ and harmonium plus soprano Jonaina Salvador. Spring proceeds with "Libra" on 9 May at 21:30 in Sant Iscle i Santa Victòria, La Massana—Francisco Javier López, Ávila cathedral organist, and conservatory flute professor Ester Sánchez—and "Orion" on 6 June at 21:30 in Sant Pere Màrtir, Escaldes-Engordany, with Augusto Belau from Castelló de la Plana cathedral and conservatory horn player David Arnau.
Summer features "Boötes" on 11 July at 21:30 in Sant Esteve with improviser Peter Planyavsky; "Lyra" on 5 August at 21:30 in Sant Iscle i Santa Victòria featuring Tarragona cathedral organist Jordi Vergés and soprano Marta Mathéu; and "Gemini" on 15 August at 21:30 in Sant Esteve by the Scott Brothers Duo—Jonathan and Tom Scott—on organ and grand piano, presenting crowd-pleasers like Mozart's *The Magic Flute* overture, Debussy's *Clair de Lune* and Vivaldi's *Summer*.
Autumn and winter include "Virgo" on 6 September at 19:00 in Meritxell Sanctuary, Canillo, with Amores percussion ensemble and Ribas on modular organ; "Delphinus" on 12 September at 21:30 in Sant Esteve featuring Notre-Dame cathedral organist Vicent Dubois and accordionist Marie-Andrée Joerger; "Canis Major" on 20 September at 19:00 in Meritxell with Paolo Oreni's live score for Buster Keaton's *Sherlock Jr.*; "Phoenix" on 10 October at 21:30 in Sant Pere Màrtir by Catalina Vicens on organ and organetto, delving into medieval convent repertoire; and "Pegasus" on 29 December at 21:30 in Sant Esteve with Aleksanteri Wallius performing contemporary pieces including Mussorgsky's *Pictures at an Exhibition*.
The Meritxell events celebrate the sanctuary's 50th anniversary through immersive fusions of music, visuals and arts. All concerts invite voluntary donations.
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