Andre Rieu News & Letters ~ September 2007
ANDRE RIEU FANS & FRIENDS
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Andre Rieu Fans and Friends: Andre Rieu News & Letters ~ September 2007
Friday 07 September 15.19
Hello Fans :
On the Internet site L.1 I read the following;
http://www.l1.nl/L1NWS/_rp_links4_elementId/1_1681321
Hotel and catering industry Vrijthof approaches Rieu.
Entrepreneurs of the Vrijthof in Maastricht will establish a convenient to limit the nuisance during the concerts of Andre Rieu. That is the result of a consultation between the hotel and catering industry entrepreneurs and citizen master Gerd Leers.
Andre Rieu wants no longer organize the open air concerts if there is too much nuisance of the terraces.
The entrepreneurs say the importance of realizing of the concert tradition and want a code of conduct fix.
In this stands that there is no longer served during the actions and that noisy guests are addressed on their behavior
The convenant between entrepreneurs, municipality and Andre Rieu is signed on 16 September.
I think that after September 16, 2007 the tickets are then ready for sale. Watch www.andrerieu.com
Arie
www.myspace.com/abussemakerSally adds: This article also appears at Dagblad De Limburger
I'm glad to see that an agreement has been reached. I am not surprise as I am sure that nobody wanted André to stop his Vrijthof concerts.
This is great news for Us! I hope to go next year!! Kati
Keep in mind, there is no agreement as of yet. Arie believes that we will see more progress soon. *I think so too.
I hope all fans remember to be respectful to the performers.
Hello & Good Morning to Everyone
Remember the prior articles about some café's serving drinks while Andre performed? The noise, a few fans with too much drinking? The above looks like GOOD NEWS.
Kerstin & André have been working diligently to bring us their World Famous Maastricht Concerts. Let's watch and keep hoping for this positive outcome.
*Thanks to Arie for the emailed information.
Andre Rieu's
"RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL LIVE IN NEW YORK"
on Denon Classics in Stores September 11
SANTA MONICA, CA--(Marketwire - September 7, 2007) - Andre Rieu, already one of the top performing and selling classical artists worldwide and a platinum-selling artist in the US, is on course to break all of his previous sales benchmarks with the release of his new PBS special "RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL LIVE IN NEW YORK." Currently airing on PBS stations nationwide, "RADIO CITY" is by far the most successful program for the network so far with over 1000 prime time airings in markets across the country including powerhouse stations in New York City (WNET) and Los Angeles (KCET). Denon Classics will release "RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL LIVE I" on September 11 on CD and DVD. Rieu will embark on another arena tour of the western US in October, which will be followed by his eastern dates in the spring which have consistently sold out for years.
Says Steve Vining, President of the Savoy Label Group: "The unprecedented response to Andre's first US produced special at PBS and his ever growing retail presence will make the commercial release of this extraordinary concert event his most successful to date. His unique gift of delighting audiences is nowhere more evident than the phenomenal live 'RADIO CITY' spectacular."
Andre Rieu has always been an artist who has generated unparalleled excitement within (and beyond) the realm of classical music. His spectacular specials produced around the world have consistently been the #1 performing pledge drive programs for PBS, his last twelve CDs have landed within the top of Billboard's Classical chart with several debuting in the #1 spot, he's won multi-platinum video sales awards for his DVD sets, "The Ultimate Andre Rieu Collection" and "The Ultimate Andre Rieu Christmas Collection," and his tours have grown bigger each year, regularly selling out arenas in the US and landing him in the Top 5 of Pollstar Magazine's top touring acts year after year.
The leading independent classical music label in North America, Denon Classics is a division of the Savoy Label Group, which is the North American unit of Columbia Music Entertainment (formerly Nippon Columbia), the oldest music company in Japan. Newly reorganized and now headed by Chairman Strauss Zelnick, Columbia Music Entertainment has reemerged as a significant force with a stable of newly signed platinum-selling artists.
Thanks for the news on the Maastricht concerts and the RC Music NY concert. Both are nice articles and good news! I'm so happy they were able to come to an agreement about the drinking situation.
Nice aritcle about the Radio City concert. I so enjoy reading good articles like this. I'm curious what "Live 1" on the new release is??
If it's different than the one we have? I guess we will find out.
Thank you Arie and Sally for putting up these articles.
Sally, love that picture at the beginning of this page. Interesting.
Thank you Arie so much. Really enjoyed the videos.
Thanks Sally! Hugs to all
great news! Thanks forkeeping us infomed.
Sally,
PBS is running the new Andre show that’s out on DVD Tuesday and they announced Andre will be here at the Woodlands again on 4/22/08! I just about died. Mom and I will be going that’s for sure. It’s not even up on Andre’s website under agenda yet. Just thought I’d let you know.
Michele
Thanks Michele!
Credit to you for this Fantastic News!
Thanks everyone for all the info. I agree about the drinking part - has no business at Andre's/JSO Extravaganzzzzzza's. Also so happy to see I can possibly get the Andre' in NYC DVD. Hugs to all.....
Elephants for a romantic evening
Classic-star André Rieu promises an unforgettable evening of a Viennese
Night on the Leipzig fairgrounds.
Leipzig "music on", somebody whispers. Waltz sounds from a CD resound over
the Leipzig fairground. Through the East door comes a golden coach , pulled
by 6 white Lipizzaners. Shortly after the horse team stops underneath the
bell tower. André Rieu gets off, opens his arms and presents himself and his
coach the photographers. The eyes of the violinist look over the area and
then IT hits your eyes: Rieu´s Tie.
A blue one with pink elephants he chose. "They bring me luck!" , tells the
classic Superstar from the Netherlands Maastricht. Rieu knows that he also
needs luck for his project for which he advertises in Leipzig. For the
night he wants to transform the fairground into Austria's capital. More than
3O,OOO visitors are supposed to experience the Viennese night.
For that Rieu wants to rebuild the original Schönbrunn castle. It is
suppose to be the biggest stage that ever went on tour: l25 meter long, 34
meter high and 3O meter deep. A hurricane sure aluminum construction with 5
huge monitors. In front 2 skating surfaces, fountains, Fiakers (Viennese
coaches), street lights. For the musical entertainment will be responsible
next to himself, the JSO, choir and soloists, 36 horses, the ballet of the
Viennese Staatsopera, 8O Viennese debutantes and skaters shall perfect the
illusion.
A preview of the props is on a screen printed. The 57 year old rocks in the
rhythm when a video with cut outs of his concerts plays in front of the
assembled Journalists." During my last concert in Vienna I was thinking by
myself: too bad that we cannot play here every night. So I got this idea, to
take Schönbrunn with me to the whole world." Why Rieu picked Leipzig next to
Toronto, Paris, Bruxelles and other playgrounds???? "Because that wonderful
fairground is already here!" he is saying, his father-André Rieu senior- was
for a time in the former DDR conducting the Opera in Leipzig.
Here he is standing now the "junior" on the fairground, his hands in his
pockets, chatting jokingly and not at all over the top about his plans,
critics might say it is delusional. Even Roland Temme, the concert
organizer, says: "Towards that are the Stones and Michael Jackson small
fries."
The violinist promises and unforgettable night. On which Sisi will also be
there, she was with Rieu for the press date, a sitting shivering empress,
alias Suzan Erens, Soprano in the coach, her blue dress hiding under a
blanket. One question pops up and again and convincing Rieu has this answer:"
The weather on July 12, will be good, I have that already arranged", but how
he did not say.
Elefanten für einen romantischen Abend
Klassik-Star André Rieu verspricht eine unvergessliche Wiener Nacht auf der Leipziger Festwiese
Leipzig. „Musik an!" flüstert jemand. Walzerklänge von einer CD schallen über die Leipziger Festwiese. Durch das Osttor ruckelt eine goldene Kutsche, gezogen von sechs weißen Lipizzanern. Kurz darauf hält das Gespann unterhalb des Glockenturms. André Rieu steigt heraus, breitet die Arme aus und präsentiert sich und sein Gefährt den Fotografen. Der Blick des Violinisten geht übers Gelände. Und dann sticht sie ins Auge: Rieus Krawatte.
Eine blaue mit pinkfarbenen Elefanten hat er gewählt. „Die bringen mir Glück", verrät der Klassik-"Superstar" aus dem niederländischen Maastricht. Rieu weiß, dass er auch Glück für sein Projekt braucht, welches er in Leipzig bewirbt: Für einen Abend will er die Festwiese in Österreichs Hauptstadt verwandeln. Mehr als 30.000 Besucher sollen dort am 12. Juli 2008 eine romantische Wiener Nacht erleben.
Dafür wird Rieu das kaiserliche Schloss Schönbrunn in Originalgröße nachbauen. Es wird angeblich die größte Bühne sein, die je auf Tournee gegangen ist: 125 Meter breit, 34 Meter hoch, 30 Meter tief, eine orkansichere Aluminiumkonstruktion, mit fünf Riesenmonitoren. Davor zwei Eislaufflächen, Springbrunnen, Fiaker, Laternen. Für die musikalische Unterhaltung sorgen nebst dem Geiger das Johann-Strauß-Orchester, Chor und Solisten. 36 Pferde, das Ballett der Wiener Staatsoper, 80 Wiener Debütanten und Eiskunstläufer sollen die Illusion perfekt machen.
Eine Vorausschau auf die Kulisse ist auf einer Leinwand aufgedruckt. Der 57-Jährige wippt im Takt, als ein Video mit Ausschnitten seiner Konzerte vor den versammelten Journalisten läuft. „Bei meinem letzten Konzert in Wien habe ich mir gedacht: Schade, dass wir nicht jeden Abend hier spielen können." So habe er die Idee gehabt, Schönbrunn einfach in alle Welt mitzunehmen. Warum Rieu sich neben Toronto, Paris, Brüssel und weiteren Spielstätten auch Leipzig für das Ereignis ausgesucht hat? „Weil hier nun mal die prachtvolle Festwiese ist", meint er, dessen Vater - André Rieu senior, einige Zeit in der DDR Chef der Leipziger Oper gewesen ist.
Da steht er nun, der Junior, auf der Wiese, die Hände in den Taschen, plaudert humorvoll und ganz und gar nicht überheblich über seine Pläne. Kritiker mögen sagen, das alles sei größenwahnsinnig. Auch Roland Temme, Konzertveranstalter, bekennt: „Dagegen sind die Stones und Michael Jackson Kleinkram."
Der Geiger verspricht einen unvergesslichen Abend. An diesem wird übrigens auch Sissi dabei sein, die Rieu zum Pressetermin mitgebracht hat. Fröstelnd sitzt die Kaiserin alias Suzan Erens, Sopranistin, in der Kutsche. Ihr blaues Kleid hat sie unter einer Decke verhüllt. Eine Frage drängt sich auf, wieder einmal liefert Rieu eine überzeugend vorgetragene Antwort: „Das Wetter am 12. Juli wird schön, das habe ich geregelt. Aber ich sage nicht, wie."
This is very interesting Inge. I wondered why he liked that tie! Isn't Leipzig where Bach played, I think in St Thomas's church. Have you ever seen the fairgrounds there? 30,000 visitors?What a crowd!And isn't Andre the perfectionist?
October 9, 2007
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Toronto (Canada)
~ IN STORES ~ SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 ~
~ on sale ~ dvd & cd ~
Allentown-Bethlehem PBS ran the Live in Radio City concert last night and started to take pledges for the Reading concert next Memorial Day, 2008. It was comforting to know that I made my pledge weeks ago! No matter how many times I have watched it, just seeing it again was a thrill. They showed a little clip of Andre telling us to "waltz to your phone" and make a pledge! Hugs
Hi , long time not been here, too busy with miniatures, sorry. Got yesterday finally the tape from Germany of the romantic Viennese night, that is a night to my hearts content, all the Strauß, Lehár, Cálmán, Stolz, Mozart, the music why my husband and I love the JSO and André, he wants to be the first to play waltzes on the moon, if he continues like this, he might even??
Dagmar Koller is a nice girl to sing in Vienna, had seen her many times when she and I were younger.
Karl Moik as usual his charming Viennese songs about the Heurigen, even Barbara Wussow and her darling husband in the audience, the people seemed to be sooooo happy , I loved the hole Viennese pomp from the old Austrian-Hungarian Monarchie!
It does say something about a time when the world dressed up for an event, when all the special things were done for each person. A concert to top all concerts. I think the most recent Vienna concert was the most beautiful by far.
What a beautiful country.
Shirley, I have been in Leipzig, have a friend there, but there are more interesting things to look at than that fairground especially when it is not occupied, might be better with the Schönbrunn castle on it. As far as I know, Bach is born in Leipzig, there is the Thomaner boys choir in St. Thomas, almost like the Viennese choir boys. That fairground is perhaps known through the big fairs in Leipzig every year about the newest in technique.
Sally <~~ Still dreaming of the Lotto and taking all of us on an extended vacation to enjoy the world.
Hi Inge, so nice to hear from you. Missed you but I figured you were busy with your miniatures which you do so beautifully. So glad you enjoy the Vienna night. It must have been beautiful. Someday I hope I will be in Vienna following Maastricht. It is only a dream right now but Andre dreams and look what he has accomplished. You know it would not surprise me if he would be the first to play on the moon. I wish that would be possible for him. I always wish him only the best, the happiest and the possible!
Hugs
TORONTO CONCERT!
Just to let you know that Ruth Morgan and I will be working on a fan dinner at the concerts in Toronto in December.
More details later but first we need to know how many would like to attend the dinner. Please email me: weathergirl052@comcast.net or Ruth at ruthmorgan@charter.net
Hope to see many of you there. Hugs
Dear Fans & Friends, Here is an article from The Netherlands I found about Andre's concert at Het Gelredome.
Voetbalstadion deint in Weense walssferen
What do fans think of concerts held in large halls and stadiums such as this above? If you are not in the front, but have seating in the very rear of the hall, is the experience different than it is for those up front? Do you watch the Jumbo-Screens? The performance? Both?
The Gelredome is extremely large. I probably would not be comfortable sitting a mile from the stage. It would be almost like I was listening to the radio. I prefer the up-close and personal smaller venues. The "experience of the moment" is so momentary...this "experience", it just doesn't last long enough...for there to be any room for...say...trying to see over the heads of the person seated ahead of you...or trying to hear a beautiful melody that's played 14 miles away.
Now, I know Andre and JSO cannot play for a room of 20 people only, all over the world, however, an arena holding 5-7 thousand people, is acceptable to me.
I've sat in seats all the way to the other side of the floor area, and I've sat up close to the stage area.
The experience up close is much more intense and exciting for me, I wouldn't trade it for anything. When far away, I don't care to watch the large screens because it's just like watching tv, and I can do that at home. However, when I wish to see Andre up close, then, of course I watch the screens. Sometimes you cannot see all that is happening on stage, therefore the large screens are important.
The performance is more exciting up close when you can see all the movements and smiles and their hair and eyes...their grins and details of clothing, instruments, how they walk and move when playing their music.
The end result, I'm happier up close, but if I have to sit far away, I'll watch the screens for detail. And overall, I'm there for a purpose and that's to see Andre and the JSO play their music.
I will therefore enjoy the concert and go home happy.
Dear Web mistress Sally and André Rieu Fans and Friends,
The issue of the suitability of a location for a concert is one that I have wanted to address for a few months now. Prior to this spring the only places where I have attended music concerts have been facilities designed specifically for music and theater events. I saw my first live classical music concerts, played by the Shreveport Symphony, in the auditorium of a local high school. Subsequently I have attended numerous concerts, most given in buildings designed for the performing arts. The only two André Rieu concerts that I have been to were likewise held in a facility designed as a theater, the Nokia Theater in Grand Prairie, Texas. The Nokia is a really nice theater from my perspective.
I didn’t really know how nice the Nokia was and how appropriate a location for a music concert until this Spring when I attended a Celtic Woman concert in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The concert was held at the Baton Rouge River Center in the facility known as the “Arena”, a multi-purpose facility mostly suitable for sports. Why it was not held in the “Theater For The Performing Arts” adjacent to the Arena I’ll never know. Our group of four got the $65 tickets, which bought seats high up in the “bowl” to the right and far back from stage right. From that vantage point we had to turn our heads almost 90 degrees to the left to be able to see the stage. By intermission my neck was so stiff and I was so uncomfortable that I decided to skip the rest of the concert, and went back to our hotel room.
Well, it turns out that André will be in Louisiana again in April 2008, and will be appearing at the Cajundome on the campus of USL. This is another multi-purpose facility designed primarily for sports. I won’t be there. My next André/JSO event will be in a REAL theater, hopefully they will return to the Nokia.
(added later): Let me clarify the REAL theater part.... A real theater has seating that meets two criteria: 1. All seating is such that when seated you are looking almost directly at the stage, and 2. the seating is tiered, so that the person in front of you is seated lower than you are and you are not having to look around him to see the stage, and the person in the row behind you is on a higher level so he can see the stage instead of the back of your head. The floor level seating in the multi-purpose arenas is all one level, everyone gets a great view of the head of the person in front of him.
Moderator Lawrence
I agree with you heartily Lawrence. Give me a theater setting anytime. I'm afraid the Nokia has spoiled me for other venues.I think that place is very well designed, comfortable seats and really not a bad seat in the house. I don't care for the arenas or stadiums, I'd just as soon sit home and have the best seat in the house. I think the experience from up front is definately different from way back.Love tiered seating too, I think of one concert I attended where the seats were on level, the pictures I took were mostly of a lady's green beret, and every time I would move my head to see, she would move hers. The theater setting might not hold as many numbers but it's much more enjoyable.
Hi Lawrence & Shirley, and all of you NICE Wonderful Andre Rieu Fans:
I've been thinking the same thing Lawrence. I don't know why but if the venues are too big, I wouldn't be comfortable. And for anyone who has not seen Andre in a Real Theater, they are missing out on something special.
Every seat is a good seat. Chairs are soft, plush & comfortable. Sound Acoustics are great. Arriving, parking, getting to one's seat with 12 thousand is far better than parking in the lower second block, hoping there is a tram, and then getting to one's seat in the 3rd level at some stadium dome with 30 thousand others. I worry about that.
To be fair, most venues are a long ways from Holland and touring must get tiresome. Yet, I would rather paid a little more for my ticket, then sit in row ZZZZZZ, level EE, on the far side of a stage.
IMHO ~Sally~
The first Andre concert I attended here in Phoenix in Dec 2005 was at the Dodge Theatre, specifically designed for music with theatre, tiered style seating, meaning each row is elevated so you don't have to look around the person sitting in front of you
Last year & this year the concert is in a sports arena, larger seating capacity, with the drawback of having to look 90 degrees to the right or left.
I have & hadcenter section tickets, but I do have to look around past the person in front of me. The chairs are the metal unpaded ones.
I do enjoy the concerts here in Phoenix & won't travel because of the hassles. I will go to see Andre as long as I get a good center section seat. I won't buy the cheaper side view type seat Lawrence referred to.
I do have all of Andre's DVD & some of his CD's.
I would prefer to attend an Andre concert here in Phoenix at a 'THEATRE' type venue instead of the sports 'arena'
Thanks Lawrence for bringing this venue thing to the blog. I met you in
Dallas in 2004 at the lovely Nokia Theater and have been totally spoiled since that performance. All my other concerts since then have been in "arenas" Not nearly as good even with fairly good seats. I am going to two this year, Tucson & Phoenix (both arenas, and probably my last). Great seats in Tucson and so-so in Phoenix. After those I plan to enjoy every new DVD on my huge screen TV. Travelling is becoming such a hassel I'd rather stay home. Andre/JSO are selecting bigger and bigger venues which do not have anything close to a theater atmosphere and, for me anyway, it lessens the overall experience. I am so happy to remember the Nokia Theater concert and all the dear fans I met there. My good wishes to all fans, Cheers, Barb in Tucson.
Thanks Lawrence for bringing this venue thing to the blog. I met you in
Dallas in 2004 at the lovely Nokia Theater and have been totally spoiled since that performance. All my other concerts since then have been in "arenas" Not nearly as good even with fairly good seats. I am going to two this year, Tucson & Phoenix (both arenas, and probably my last). Great seats in Tucson and so-so in Phoenix. After those I plan to enjoy every new DVD on my huge screen TV. Travelling is becoming such a hassel I'd rather stay home. Andre/JSO are selecting bigger and bigger venues which do not have anything close to a theater atmosphere and, for me anyway, it lessens the overall experience. I am so happy to remember the Nokia Theater concert and all the dear fans I met there. My good wishes to all fans, Cheers, Barb in Tucson.
To Sally, Shirley, Barb, Marlene, and Bill....
Thanks for your input. I'm glad to know that I'm not alone in my preference for a real theater setting. I know that Andre has tremendous expenses presenting his concerts and from his perspective the bigger the better, the more the merrier. Bigger means more seats and more paying customers.
Sally, Shirley, and Barb, we really did have it good at the Nokia, didn't we. The concerts were great but more than that we had so much fun being together at the fans dinner and then sharing the concert experience. And, by the way, Barb, it was May 1st 2005, not in 2004 that we shared the Andre/JSO fun.
Lawrence
André Rieu, Beverly Sills and Pavarotti, join Joshua Bell on Billboard's Classical Chart.
PlayBillArts
Der Mitteldeutsche Rundfunk präsentiert:
EINE WIENER NACHT MIT ANDRÉ RIEU IN LEIPZIG
Am 12. Juli 2008 ist Star-Geiger André Rieu gemeinsam mit dem Johann
Strauss Orchester auf der Leipziger Festwiese zu erleben. Bei MDR 1
RADIO SACHSEN-ANHALT können Sie Karten für dieses Konzertereignis
gewinnen.
Große Dinge werfen ihre Schatten voraus! Denn mit der größten
transportablen Freilichtbühne der Welt kommt André Rieu mit dem Johann
Strauss Orchester im kommenden Jahr nach Leipzig. Das hat die Welt noch
nicht gesehen: Schließlich wird das Schloss Schönbrunn in Originalgröße
nachgebaut. Für Leben im und vor dem Schloss sorgen nicht nur
leuchtende Kristallleuchter, die goldene Kutsche mit Kaiserin Sisi &
Kaiser Franz Joseph, Wiener Fiaker mit Pferden und Lakaien, sondern
auch das Ballett der Wiener Staatsoper, 80 Wiener Debütanten, berühmte
Eiskunstlaufpaare aus der Donaustadt und viele bekannte Solisten. Das
alles in einer Komposition aus historischen Kostümen und Wiener Walzer.
Wiener Blut pur also am 12. Juli 2008 um 20:30 Uhr auf der Leipziger
Festwiese! MDR 1 RADIO SACHSEN-ANHALT präsentiert zusammen mit den
beiden anderen MDR 1?Programmen aus Sachsen und Thüringen das
Konzertereignis des Jahres 2008. Dazu gab der Meister der Inszenierung,
André Rieu selbst den Startschuss mit einer Pressekonferenz auf
besagter Festwiese.
Gewinnen Sie Karten für André Rieu!
Hören Sie MDR 1 RADIO SACHSEN-ANHALT und gewinnen Sie mit etwas Glück
Karten für diesen Sommerabend auf Schloss Schönbrunn in Leipzig. Die
ersten Gewinner wurden am 13. September ermittelt. Herr Wiedemann aus
Wolfen darf sich über die ersten zwei Karten freuen.