The Pomor Philharmonic has introduced a new tour for tour operators in the Arkhangelsk region called "Northern Gothic," which familiarizes guests with the history of an old church and an unusual musical instrument—an organ resembling a bird of happiness. These tours will be available starting with the 2025 New Year holidays. The regional tourism portal announced this news.
"The hour-long tour includes a tour of the old building, a story about the history of music in the North, and a short organ concert consisting of six pieces: guests listen to masterpieces of Western European and Russian music," the message says.
The church is the former Lutheran Church of St. Catherine, built in 1768. Today, it houses the concert hall of the Pomor Philharmonic. In 1991, a German-made Alexander Schuke organ was installed in the hall.
As the portal notes, the old building is remarkable for both its appearance and its rich history.
"The appearance of a Lutheran church in an Orthodox city was due to the existence of the German Quarter in Arkhangelsk, where foreigners settled and lived. The church survived fires and multiple changes of function—it became a hospital, a theater, a club, a dining room, a home for artists, and even a sports school," the message says.
The spire, Gothic windows, and wrought-iron lace of the porch give the church a mysterious atmosphere and attract visitors.
"We decided to create a special tour for tourists and guests of the city. Understanding that people come to Arkhangelsk for only a few days and see everything from 'Malyye Korely' to the White Sea, we created an adapted tour, without a deep dive into the history of the German Quarter and the specifics of music. We are ready to integrate this tour into existing tours of Arkhangelsk," said Vasily Larionov, director of the Pomor Philharmonic, as quoted by the portal.
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