Small children loving Mozart

Tonight was hilarious.

I had dinner with some friends tonight; one couple brought their three small children, ages seven, five and two, along for the ride. This particular family just came from the States a few weeks ago, and are adjusting accordingly. For some reason I am good with kids, so I found myself adopted ("MOM! I'M GONNA EAT WITH THIS LADY CAUSE SHE'S COOL!") and the recipient of all kinds of questions: "What's your favorite color?" "Who's your favorite princess?" "Which castle in Germany is your favorite?"

"Neuschwanstein," I said.
"Oh, I like that one," the oldest girl said. "We went and saw it. We went to Austria, too, to that place where Mozart lived. Do you know who he is?"
"Yes, he's one of my friends," I said, perfectly shameless.
"He can't be your friend 'cause he's dead. But he can be your imaginary friend," she replied.
"How do you know about Mozart?" I asked, curious.
"Oh, I read a book all about him," she told me. "It's called Moonlight on the Magic Flute. They help Mozart write an opera. Do you know what opera is?"
By this time I was just cracking up. "Tell me."
She drew herself up. "It's where they sing really loud, and there's this Queen of the Night lady, and she sings like this." And she proceeded to sing Die Holle Rache, loudly and off-key.
"I like that one a lot," I said.
"I have the book if you want to borrow it," she said kindly.