Fully occupied city church – Rheine helps Leiria
Rheine. Standing ovations after a wonderful finale by all those involved: the charity concert under the motto “Rheine helps Leiria” was a successful event in every respect. The board of the town twinning association was delighted to see a full Dionyskirche on Sunday, where even standing room was scarce. The audience thanked the musical performers with lots of applause. The program was particularly well received due to its mixture – the idea of a charity event had been conceived just two weeks earlier. Deputy Mayor Fabian Lenz thanked the association for this outstanding example of civic engagement.
“This charity concert is a sign that a town twinning is not a formal document in a drawer, but a living friendship that transcends borders,” says Lenz. This was also evident in the willingness to donate: the visitors donated 3630 euros to “Rheine hilft Leiria”.
You could clearly feel the fervor of the mixed choir Soalbate, the women’s choir Cantus Reni and the folk group “BallyBorne” to make a contribution against the fear and insecurity that has increased since the war in Iran. The atmosphere in the town church was warm and full of compassion for the severely devastated twin town of Leiria.
The audience’s reaction to the performance by the Jekits children’s choirs from the Bodelschwingh and Südesch schools was fantastic. With their carefree manner, they caused a great deal of enthusiasm. Director Ulla Vossenberg sang the Star Song, the Rage Song and the Dream Catcher with the children. They were supported by Peter Kieser, who got the children up to speed on the piano.
The Soalbate choir, conducted by Ulla Vossenberg, had previously opened the concert with the memorable song “An Tagen wie diesen” by Die Toten Hosen. “Only Time” – known worldwide as the anthem after the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 – was intended to express the power of time, commented presenter Beate Löhrmann. The change from the power of the voices to the restrained ending touched the soul.
The trio of the folk group “BallyBorne” from the Dutch twin city offered a contrasting program with music consisting of guitar, vocals, violin and flute. The women’s choir Cantus Reni under the direction of Elina Harbers sang the melody of fantasy in Rainbow Land, sang a song from Botswana about light, bread and peace in the world, and then honored the homeland Rheine with a song written by Ulrike Menke with powerful voices. In times of political uncertainty, the homeland gains in importance.
When all the choirs joined together at the end for the finale with the song “Ich glaube” by Udo Jürgens, the air was burning and the skin was tingling. Never-ending applause and many shouts of enthusiasm were the reward for a unique concert, which also brought comfort and solidarity to the people in the Portuguese twin town of Leiria.
to give comfort and solidarity. A remarkable event ended with the prayer for peace by St. Francis of Assisi.