By Luis Miguel Pascual
Paris, April 15 (EFE).- In the heart of Paris, Olivier Latry, a revered organist, remembers the profound connection he once shared with Notre Dame de Paris, ravaged by fire exactly five years ago.
On the fifth anniversary of the catastrophic fire, Latry, like many others, reflects on the cathedral’s past and anticipates its revival.
With hopes high and emotions stirred, he shares his journey of resilience and faith amid the ashes, envisioning a future where Notre Dame reclaims its former glory.
“Suddenly, the world stopped. I had an unending relationship with Notre Dame and didn’t know what would happen in the future,” the musician told EFE.
Latry became an organist at Notre Dame when he was 23. His days were filled with playing for religious services, afternoons and evenings hosting concerts within the hallowed halls, and early mornings spent rehearsing on its keys.
“I lived the cathedral in every moment, at every hour of the day. And that for almost 40 years. Notre Dame is part of my life and is in my heart,” said the musician, stressing the organ’s significance as “the soul” of the cathedral.
On the fateful day when flames engulfed the temple’s roof, Latry was en route to Vienna for a concert. Upon arriving at his hotel, a devastating message awaited him: “Notre Dame is burning.”
As images of the fire’s destruction flooded in, Latry grappled with disbelief and fear, aware of the potential consequences, given the common risks associated with restoration works in such historic monuments.
“I couldn’t believe it, and at the same time, it was something I feared because many times I thought it was possible. Especially because it is very common that when there are restoration works in a cathedral, accidents occur,” he said.
Despite the distance, Latry felt compelled to witness the disaster firsthand. His arrival at the scene evoked comparisons to a scene from a war zone. “It was like a scene from a bombing.”
Venturing towards the piano he had frequented for years, Latry found it shrouded in dust, yet remarkably intact.
“In my nightmares, I thought it might have burned or that the pipes might have melted from the heat. Or that they had been damaged by the water.”
Miraculously, the instrument located beneath the rose window of the main facade suffered no major damage.
However, the fate of its 8,000 pipes remained uncertain until they were eventually dismantled and sent across the country for restoration.
“I felt relief amidst the desolation for the cathedral. And a certain emptiness inside.”
Fast forward five years and Latry’s bond with Notre Dame has only strengthened. He attributes his resilience to the deep connection he shares with the cathedral, likening his journey to overcoming the loss of a loved one.
“I believe I have been able to overcome these five years because of the close relationship I had with the cathedral,” he said.
“When you lose a loved one, you may feel bad for not having been able to share everything you wanted with them, or be satisfied for having given them a lot. I had more of this second feeling.”
With the return of the pipes throughout 2023 and their recent assembly, Latry eagerly awaits the complete restoration, albeit with a tinge of apprehension regarding its impact on the cathedral’s music.
“When a cathedral burns, one fears that it will lose some of its spirituality.”
He expresses hope that Notre Dame will reclaim its spiritual aura.
“I believe that the acoustics of Notre Dame were somewhat nourished by the strength of the building, as if the prayers of the faithful for centuries were embedded in its walls. I felt that spiritual essence, and I hope to rediscover it.”
As the scheduled reopening on Dec. 8 approaches, Latry eagerly anticipates returning to his post, ready to once again breathe life into the cathedral’s soul through the resonance of its organ. EFE
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