A Basel organ and charity concerts in Basel and Daugavpils

5 September 2025

The organ removed during the renovation of Basel’s Stadtcasino is finding a new home in Martin Luther Church in the Latvian city of Daugavpils (Dünaburg). The Verein Basler Liedertafel 1852 is supporting this extraordinary project with a charity concert on 20 September at the Stadtcasino.

The impressive instrument was carefully dismantled and stored with the intention of possible future use. Donors from Basel and the Latvian cellist Gunta Abele developed a plan to donate the organ to the cathedral in this Latvian city. The organ has now arrived at its destination.

However, further efforts are still needed before it can be reassembled and made ready to play. The Basler Liedertafel and renowned musicians plan to contribute to the financing of this project with a benefit concert.

Under the concert title ‘Ode to Hans Huber’, it will perform on 20 September in the Hans Huber Hall of the Stadtcasino Basel, which has also been renovated and is dedicated to the Basel composer.

Huber (1852–1921) and his pupil Hermann Suter (1870–1926) were closely associated with the Basler Liedertafel, and both wrote compositions for the choir.

Incidentally, the Basler Liedertafel 1852 is not the only Basel choir committed to preserving the old Sacher organ: the Männerstimmen Basel will also be giving a benefit concert at the Martin Luther Cathedral in Dünaburg on 4 October as part of their European tour.

Flag of the Basler Liedertafel 1852, 1868. Historisches Museum Basel

The Verein Basler Liedertafel 1852

The Verein (Association) Basler Liedertafel 1852 is one of the oldest male choirs in Switzerland. The choir cultivates and promotes the song repertoire and choral music of various eras.

The association was founded in 1852. In 1898, the Reveille-Chor was established as a section of the association, followed by the Veteranen-Chor in 1927. In 2017, the Jung Tafelrunde and, in 2022, the women’s ensemble Singvoll were incorporated into the Basler Liedertafel as sections.

Finally, in 2023, the Basler Liedertafel association was restructured. The three male choir sections (Basler Liedertafel, Reveille-Chor and the Jung Tafelrunde) were divided into two choirs: the Jung Tafelrunde and the ‘neue’ Reveille-Chor, which also give performances with the other two choirs (Singvoll and Veteranen-Chor).

(Source and further information: Basler Liedertafel 1852)