"Our Lady of Peace" Chapel has
finally the pipe organ that it deserves.
It is thanks
to the generosity of George Balkhausen and his family, that
the over one hundred year old organ has been restored
and donated to the chapel of Notre Dame Center.
In
February 2011, George Balkhausen himself spent two weeks of hard
work to supervise the installation of 650 pipes of the
instrument and made sure it sounds as it should –
beautiful!
The inaugural ceremony of the St.George organ (the organ
has been named and inscribed as Saint George in honor
of the Methodist Chapel of origin and the donor) took
place on Easter Friday, 29th of April, 2011.
This unforgettable evening commenced by the Holy Mass
co-celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop Antonio Franco and
Father Juan Solana, charge of the Holy See for the
Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center. The donors ,
Barbara and George Balkhausen were present and took active participation
in the Mass during offertory, which had a symbolic meaning.
The choir of Notre Dame
Center led by Veronica Grace had a privilege to sing
the Mass de Angelis being accompanied by Wolfgang Siegenbrik and
Thiemo Dahmen, two well-known organists from Germany.
The Holy Mass was followed by the solemn blessing
of the organ.
The inaugural concert of the new pipe
organ was opened by Father Juan Solana with a short
introduction of the instrument and special thanks to its donors.
His words were followed by
the presentation of gifts by His Excellency Archbishop Antonio Franco. The
nuncio as well expressed His gratitude to the Balkhausen Family.
Mr. Balkhausen gave a short speech
in German, that was translated into English by Father Eamon
Kelly.
Than he played the organ
sharing with everybody his love to music and demonstrating the
ability of the instrument.
At
that point the official concert started.
Wolfgang Siegenbrink and Thiemo Damen
pleased our ears with an Organ Recital.
The chapel of Our Lady
of Peace resounded with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach
(Concerto in G major ) .
The Jerusalem Oratorio Chamber
Choir conducted by Ronen Borshevski – one of the leading
young conductors in Israel today, performed Requiem in D minor
(Opus 48) from Gabriel Faure'.
Later on The "Laudamus Te" Choir and Orchestra from Stuttgart
led by Monica Meira Vasques performed The Gloria from Antonio Vivaldi.
The music feast was followed by a reception at the lobby
of Notre Dame.
See more and listen on Youtube
