Last night the angels sang for us.  We joined our friends here in Rüdesheim for dinner and a concert that they arranged for us.  The diner was on the grounds of Closter Eberbach, a monastery that dates back some 800 years.  We had a dish that is traditional for this part of Germany, a dumpling stuffed with goodies and covered with a sumptuous mushroom sauce.  We drank the local Rheingau wine and had a chance to get to know my friend’s family better.

Then we walked across the grounds to an 800 year old Romanesque basilica where we were to enjoy the concert.  The basilica held several thousand people and it was full.  The clean, unadorned simplicity of the massive columns and arches formed the perfect setting for what we were about to experience.

The concert was part of the Rheingau Music Festival and was attended by political leaders and dignitaries from all over Germany.  And we know of three concert goers that came all the way from California.  Our seats were off to the side and we couldn’t even see the performers but that was of no concern.  The music we were about to hear filled the hall to the very ceiling and surrounded you in beautiful harmonies.

The program consisted of three pieces – the Vivaldi “Gloria”, Bach’s cantata “Wer Weiß, wie nahe mir meine Ende,” and Shubert Mass Number 2.  The Munich Chamber Orchestra was joined by four soloists.  The opportunity to hear this wonderful orchestra was exciting in itself but the reason everyone had come from so far away was to hear the Windsbacher Knabenchor.  It would not be an exaggeration to say they are one of the finest if not the finest boys choir in the world.

When the music started I knew I was listening to the voices of angels.  The boys range in age from seven to fourteen and give concerts to rapt audiences all over the world.  Their pure voices filled the hall with with moving, inspiring perfection.  The Gloria was sun with joy and exuberance.  The Bach cantata was given to us with that depth of profound human emotion for which Bach is the undisputed master.  And all I can say about the Shubert Mass was that I wished it would never end.

Yes, too soon the concert came to an end and we walked out of the basilica greatly moved and profoundly grateful for having had the opportunity to participate in such beauty.  We are grateful to Andreas and Barbara and their son Juan for making possible this memorable evening of friendship, food and music.  It is and will remain the highlight of our vacation in Germany.