Organ Restoration at St. Florin Cathedral

The organ at St. Florin Cathedral was donated by the Peter Kaiser Memorial Foundation (1793–1864) in honor of the Liechtenstein composer Josef Gabriel Rheinberger (1839–1901) and is currently undergoing extensive restoration. The goal is to ensure the instrument’s musical quality for the long term and to restore the organ to full playability.

The organ at St. Florin Cathedral is a central musical and cultural element in the heart of Vaduz. It was built in honor of the Liechtenstein composer Josef Gabriel Rheinberger and has shaped the church and concert music scene for many years. Between 2011 and 2013, the instrument underwent a fundamental renovation in a restorative reconstruction using historical materials.

In recent years, however, technical problems have arisen that have increasingly impaired the organ’s playability and reliability. In particular, the action proved to be stiff, which limited musical expression and made regular use of the organ difficult. To carefully identify the causes and find a sustainable solution, external experts and the Office of Culture were consulted.

Technical Assessments

The expert assessments concluded that replacing the existing mechanical action and stop action with a modern electronic system represents the most sensible solution. This measure enables significantly improved playability, greater operational reliability, and state-of-the-art technical equipment without compromising the organ’s heritage value.

The Vaduz Municipal Council has therefore decided to proceed with the restoration of the organ.

Execution by a renowned organ-building firm

The firm Rieger-Orgelbau GmbH from Schwarzach (Vorarlberg) was commissioned to carry out the organ construction work. The company is one of the internationally recognized organ builders and has many years of experience in the restoration and modernization of sophisticated instruments. The company’s high level of technical expertise and meticulous work methods make an important contribution to the quality and sustainability of the project.

In the first step, the organ was precisely measured and individual components were prefabricated. The actual on-site renovation is expected to take around eight weeks and should be completed by the end of June 2026. In a later step, the intonation and a possible deep cleaning of the organ will also be examined.

With this restoration, the municipality of Vaduz is ensuring that the organ of St. Florin Cathedral can continue to fulfill its significant role in cultural and church life in the future.