Inaugural Concert of the Restored Organ at the Waldensian Temple

An organ returns to sing in Torre Pellice

The Inaugural Concert of the Restored Organ at the Waldensian Temple took place on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 9:00 PM, at the Waldensian Temple on Via Beckwith 4 in Torre Pellice, in the province of Turin, in the heart of the Piedmontese Pellice Valley. Titled "The Rediscovered Sound," the evening celebrated the return of the historic instrument to its full voice following a major extraordinary maintenance and acoustic restoration project.

The history of the instrument

The Waldensian Temple of Torre Pellice was inaugurated on June 17, 1852, and since the early 20th century, the pipe organ has been part of the community's musical history, accompanying psalms and hymns. The current grand organ was installed in 1921 by the Berutti firm of Turin; over the decades, the instrument was reworked several times, culminating in the significant intervention by the Pedrini firm in 1976, which changed its character to make it more versatile. Thanks to recent work, the organ has returned to resonate in all its richness, restoring one of its sonic treasures to the city.

The evening's program

The star of the concert was organist Walter Gatti, who teaches organ, organ composition, and harpsichord at the "Arcangelo Corelli" Civic Musical Institute in Pinerolo, and organ and music theory at the Intercommunal Music School of the Pellice Valley. The program alternated between the instrument's solo voice and choral singing:

• Music by Dietrich Buxtehude, with the solo organ highlighting the rediscovered sonorities;
• The famous Deutsche Messe by Franz Schubert, performed by the Waldensian Choir of Torre Pellice, conducted by maestro Daniele Griot and accompanied by the organ.

An evening for the whole community

The concert, with free admission, was promoted by the Waldensian Church of Torre Pellice in collaboration with the Waldensian Cultural Center Foundation. The event was part of the rich cultural life of Torre Pellice, the historic capital of the Waldensian world, where music, memory, and faith have been in dialogue for centuries within the temple on Via Beckwith.

Torre Pellice and the Pellice Valley

Nestled at the end of the Pellice Valley, in the province of Turin and the Piedmont region, Torre Pellice is known as a reference point for the Waldensian community. Its temple, archives, and museums, preserved by the Waldensian Cultural Center Foundation, make the town a destination for those seeking cultural tourism away from the most crowded circuits, amidst mountains, history, and musical traditions.