Inzoli-Bonizzi Restores Historic Salò Cathedral Organ, a Lake Garda Jewel
Recently, the Inzoli-Bonizzi company of Crema restored the Antegnati-Serassi organ of the stunning Salò Cathedral, one of the architectural «jewels» of Lake Garda.
The first organ of the magnificent Salò Cathedral dates back to June 5, 1489. According to historical documents from that period, when Salò was the seat of the Magnifica Patria under the dominion of the Venetian Republic, it is recorded in the contract made between the cathedral’s workshop and the master organ builder Baldassare Teutonico that the organ was commissioned by the members of the commission through a secret vote by the introduction of balls into designated urns (balotte in busola).
All members agreed, and the balls were placed in the white urn (busola alba), with none in the red urn (busola rubea). Fifty years later, following the rise in prestige of the Magnifica Patria, which was rivaling the city of Brescia, the members of the Salò Cathedral workshop commission, aiming to imitate that of the Old Cathedral of Brescia, contacted Giovanni Antegnati, the craftsman of the splendid instrument.
Contacts and agreements for the organ
It was Moretto, the renowned painter, who was «summoned» to facilitate the contacts between the master organ builder and the then-parish priest of Salò, Donato Savallo. However, the artist was unable to reconcile the two parties. Another sixteen years passed before an agreement was finally reached, which was made between the Comune di Salò and Antegnati, rather than with the religious authority.
It was agreed that the work would be completed by Pentecost of 1547, but due to technical issues, Antegnati delivered the organ to the residents of Salò the following year. Disputes arose, especially as construction defects became apparent.
The Comune di Salò refused to pay the thirty-six gold scudi stipulated in the contract. Antegnati reacted promptly with irritation and indignation towards the municipality, and the «dispute» was settled ten years later only after full payment was made to the master organ builder of the agreed amount.
Modifications and renovations of the organ
Many decades followed during which the organ underwent modifications carried out by skilled master organ builders such as, for example, Thomio Megliarini from Brescia, Graziadio Antegnati, Giovan Andrea Fedrigotti, and Giovan Maria Cargnoni.
By 1861, with the organ in dire condition, a radical refurbishment was decided. The delicate restoration work was entrusted to the Serassi brothers company of Bergamo, considered at that time to be the best family of organ builders nationwide. The work was completed in 1867, but following that major restoration, in 1880, a further intervention was necessary, carried out by the acclaimed Pacifico Inzoli company.
Additional interventions took place in 1905, 1917, 1924, 1926, and 1931. Finally, the recent restoration was performed by the Inzoli-Bonizzi company of Crema.
