Riga Dome pipe organ restoration gets donation

  • 2000-07-13
  • By Vineta Lagzdina
RIGA - The newly founded Riga Dome Organ Restoration Fund received its first donation of 10,000 lats ($6,000) from Proc-ter&Gamble Marketing at an official reception in the Dome Cathedral on July 7. For Procter&Gamble, it was also in celebration of five years' successful marketing in Latvia.

Managing director Egons Plavnieks marked the occasion with a donation placard confirming the donation toward restoration of the organ's unique decorative woodwork as a first-stage project. The 17th century woodwork is in a critical condition, as there has been no restoration work done for more than 100 years.

Astrida Pantele, chairwoman of the fund, said 120,000 lats need to be collected to complete all the necessary work. She said there is a specific collection box for the organ within the church. Eighty percent of Latvia's organs are in churches with the most unique and famous being Riga Dome's romantic-style organ built by the German firm Walcker & Co during 1883-1884, although the framework and woodwork originated in 1601. Riga's mayor, Andris Argalis, invited the public and guests to further donate and support the organ, because Riga Dome has a special place in the history of Riga and Latvia and has always been a place of offerings and gifts. Donations also built the original organ.

For more information, call Astrida Pantele at (371) 7213213.