A historic organ is on the move as construction work begins to turn a celebrated Aberdeen theatre into a £30million office complex.
The original Compton organ from the Capitol Theatre, a venue that played host to the Rolling Stones in 1982 amongst a host of other famous acts, is to be removed from the building piece-by-piece by The Shore Porters’ Society and will be rehomed and restored by Aberdeen Theatre Organ Trust for future generations to enjoy.
The Capitol was opened in 1933 and was initially Aberdeen’s most luxurious cinema, with the Compton organ providing daily musical entertainment for visitors.
Knight Property Group has gifted the organ to Aberdeen Theatre Organ Trust in a move that will preserve its legacy for many years to come.
James Barrack, director of Knight Property Group, said:
“At the heart of the Capitol redevelopment is a desire to bring new life to an iconic but derelict building. The front third of the building is being retained, with the art deco features being restored or, in many cases, reinstated.
“Preserving the organ was an absolute priority for us, but we feel it is best placed in the hands of local experts and in a location where it is easily accessible to the public as a whole. To this end, we are delighted to be gifting the organ to Aberdeen Theatre Organ Trust.”
The organ, which comprises not just the console but eight ranks of pipes, percussions, windchests, electrical relays, a blower and an intricate network of wiring, will be trans- ported to a temporary storage facility.
