At the Palace of Fine Arts (Bozar), the iconic concert organ of the Henry Le Bœuf Hall is currently being dismantled with a view to complete replacement. The instrument was heavily damaged by water from fire suppression following a roof fire in 2021. The historic facade of the organ is being preserved and restored, with some original elements being reintegrated according to Victor Horta's plans.
On Monday, January 18, 2021, a fire breaks out on the roof of the Palace of Fine Arts. Fortunately, the fire damage is limited to the exhibition halls and the roof of the Henry Le Bœuf Hall, but the water used to extinguish the fire penetrates deep into the building. The organ suffers the most severe damage. All damage is immediately measured and discussions begin with the insurance company. In May 2024, Bozar can launch the European tender to build a completely new organ to replace the damaged instrument. The costs, 2 M EUR including VAT, are covered by insurance. The contract is awarded in April this year to the Austrian Rieger Orgelbau.
"Building a new organ for Bozar in Brussels, in one of Europe's most important concert halls, is both an incentive and an honor for us. In the more than 180-year history of our company, we have built concert hall organs all over the world. We now want to bring that wealth of experience to Brussels: our craftsmanship, our artistic expertise and our technical innovations. The new organ will excel in versatility and bridge tradition and modernity. It will be not only an instrument for today's artists, but will certainly also provide direction for the future."
- Reiner Schuhenn, Rieger Orgelbau
The new organ will be a contemporary symphonic instrument inspired by the French style and features 67 registers, distributed over 4 manuals and pedal. It combines traditional craftsmanship with the latest technologies, such as an ergonomically adjustable mobile console, the advanced REA control system, and digital functions for maintenance, recording and operation.
Sustainability plays an important role: Rieger Orgelbau produces almost everything in-house using local and certified wood, works with renewable energy and recovers as many usable parts as possible.
Project phasing
The works are spread over four summers (2025–2028), each time outside the concert season. The new organ is scheduled to be handed over in autumn 2028.
- Summer 2025: Dismantling old organ
- Summer 2026: Installation of new organ structure
- Summer 2027: Voicing
- Summer 2028: Voicing and tuning
Thanks to an innovative fiber optic connection with Brussels Cathedral, organ music remains audible at Bozar. Organists can play the cathedral organ live while the sound is transmitted in real time to the Henry Le Boeuf Hall. The first concert with this technology is scheduled for March 8, 2026, making Bozar the first concert hall in Belgium to enable organ music via a digital bridge.