Stefano Perrotta - Gli Organi Storici Di San Severo (2025) Hi-Res

“Gli Organi storiche di San Severo” was born with the aim of promoting two ancient local organs, expertly restored by the hands of Francesco Zanin. These two instruments, located respectively in the churches of Carmine and San Lorenzo delle Benedettine, have been preserved intact over the centuries, giving us today the opportunity to take a dip into the past to admire the beauty of these instruments.

The first part of the album takes place on a positive organ by Francesco Cimino from 1740. Francesco, son of Felice, was therefore part of an illustrious family of organ builders living in Giugliano (Naples) and strongly influenced by the Neapolitan organ school. Preserved in the church of San Lorenzo delle Benedettine, it is an instrument of great value, which recalls the extraordinary singing vocation of the “Signore Monache” of San Lorenzo and the famous musical chapel of the monastery, which boasts an important manuscript collection. Originally positioned on the central women's gallery in correspondence with the main altar, following the very recent restoration it was placed on a mobile platform with a base. The instrument was restored by Francesco Zanin in the sound part and by Maria Elena Lozupone in the wooden part.

The second part of the disc concerns the Onofrio organ of the church of Carmine. The history of this organ is certainly more complex as it originally replaced an ancient organ sold by the brotherhood to a church in Lucera in 1838. A year earlier, in fact, a contract had been signed with the Molise native Pasquale d'Onofrio of Caccavone, now Poggio Sannita, who had undertaken to create a new instrument with ten registers, two aviaries and two trumpets. The organ was completed in 1839. Only ten years later, however, the “new organ, which is embellished with gilding and painting” was completed in all its components, thanks to the intervention of the Neapolitan artist Agostino Manzo.