"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