ORGANIST Martin Setchell doesn’t expect any earthquakes when he plays in Albury tomorrow, but his “home” organ at the Christchurch Town Hall in New Zealand is still a concern for him.
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The damaged town hall has been closed since the 6.3 magnitude February earthquake that killed 181 people and won’t reopen until 2013.
His recent inspection of the splendid Rieger pipe organ encouraged him to believe that the Christchurch Council can preserve it.
“Some pipes were toppled or ejected by the earthquake and aftershocks,’’ he said.
“But we are delighted with the lack of damage and the organ’s condition — top-class workmanship is a great help.”
Mr Setchell practised on the St Matthew’s pipe organ yesterday ahead of his 2.30pm tomorrow concert featuring works by Handel, Saint-Saens and other composers.
“It’s a wonderful organ and Albury is very luck to have it,” he said.
The English-born musician has played organs in some of the world’s most famous venues, including St Paul’s Cathedral in London, St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Oliwa Cathedral in Poland, Guangdong Xinghai Concert Hall in China and the Musashino Civic Cultural Hall in Tokyo.
He is also a composer of organ and choral music, a conductor and university lecturer.
“I was teaching at university in Christchurch when the earthquake happened and really shook the place,” he said.
