Andre Rieu in Australia Update - May 2008
Andre Rieu in Australia UPDATE ! News from Ovation.
MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND
- With Andre Rieu -
Andre Rieu: Romantic Paradise
Indulge in the spectacle and romance of Dutch violinist Andre Rieu in performance with his Johann Strauss Orchestra.
Saturday 10 May at 7:00pm
Andre Rieu: Live in Vienna
On the square in front of the Imperial Hofburg Palace in the heart of Vienna, Andre Rieu and his JSO are joined by many amazing performers including the Ballet of the Vienna State Opera.
Sunday 11 May at 6:00pm
At Home With Andre Rieu
Leo Schofield pays a visit to Andre Rieu in his hometown of Maastricht in The Netherlands. The show offers a rare insight into the private life of Andre Rieu.
Sunday 11 May at 8:30pm
Andre's fans need not wait until November to get their Andre fix. He will be making a few quick appearances around Australia just in time for Mother's Day!
Sydney:
Andre will be appearing at the Ticketek office at 54 Park Street in Sydney on May 10 from 10:30am signing copies of his latest album 'Waltzing Matilda' (pictured above).
Andre will also visit Brisbane and Melbourne during his brief sojourn May 8 to May 12. Times and locations are TBC.
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A special gift for all Australians from André Rieu!
His new album 'Waltzing Matilda' will be released on April 26th.
Together with Brisbane soprano Mirusia, who now lives in Holland and is part of André’s entourage, his next release is an album called Waltzing Matilda. Given his deep and abiding love for Australia coupled with the fact that he is the undisputed modern “King of the Waltz”, this is a perfect offering. The album includes half a dozen Australian songs, sumptuously arranged for voice (Mirusia), solo violin (André), orchestra and choir – Botany Bay, Waltzing Matilda, I Still Call Australia Home, Home Among The Gum Trees, Tie Me Kangaroo Down... André will be including these tracks on not only the Australian leg of his tour but also in concerts he is giving worldwide and they will form part of a DVD to be released in time with the tour.
André Rieu is coming to Australia!
Come and meet André at a special event and get your copy of Waltzing Matilda signed! Andre will be visiting both Sydney and Brisbane this May, here are the details:
NSW
Where: Ticketek @ Park, Cnr Park and Castlereagh Streets, Sydney
When: Saturday May 10th, 10:30am
QLD
Where: Queen St Mall, Brisbane
When: Friday May 9th, 2pm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~AndreRieuAustralia.com
Has everyone had the chance to see Andre’s ‘Australian’ site?
We’ve been looking at it since it’s launch. A very nice photo of Andre and of course information. J Looks like they will be updating it and that means we have to keep checking it. J
In regards to the visit to Sydney on May 10, we have been told by Ticketek management today 1pm that there will be NO changes to the arrangements that are already in place. Therefore let's just be thankful that André Rieu is coming to Sydney at all and we will have to make the best of the situation. I still think it's a good idea to register online with Ticketek so that they have an idea of how many people to expect.
I'm putting together a survival kit for the day. Any suggestions?????? Thanks
I would just like to remind those going along to see Andre on his promotional visit to Brisbane next Friday (May 9) that the venue has been changed due to the unexpected interest (we knew that!). It is no longer the Queen St mall. It is now REDDACLIFF PLACE (between the Treasury Casino and Brisbane Square)from 2pm to 4.30pm. Cheers. Lyn
I would be interested to hear about other people's experiences with Andre Rieu ringtones for their mobile (cell) phone.
I downloaded "Second Waltz" this morning but a separate message indicated I may have inadvertently signed up for one of those $3.95 per week ringtone services --- clearly something I do not want now that I have the ringtone!
Regards
Paul in Melbourne
Beware Paul, I did that once and they drain your account. Deregister from them now or your phone bill will sky rocket. If your phone is an mp3 player just use one of your tunes as the ring tone - free
What a great idea. Duh me. I’ve never thought of using my music, as my ringtone.
When I first tried to buy a ringtone, I thought it was a one time $1.98, lo and behold, same thing ... They wanted that monthly. No way. Uh huh. Not happening.
Please could somebody tell me the name of the instrument Teun Ramaekers plays
in " Amazing Grace" on the DVD 'La Vie
Est Belle".
Hi Rosie, I just saw him play on Sunday in Miami and you know I guess it was the flute??? I was taking some photos and I am always looking at Andre that I don't notice these other things. I have the video so I would need to look at it. Anyone else know? Hugs
It looks like a concert flute, but as I know little about the different types of flutes, I'm not sure. BTW, I love the Amazing Grace.
Hi Shirley, the Australian web site is for everyone I guess. I know the tour dates are only for Aust. but they have a guest book and a lot of fans writing in are from America. I guess I just figure that anything I can access is for us. I love that photo of Andre holding his violin. He seems to be hugging his beloved violin. Will work on my report and send the photos soon. Hugs to you
Hi Rosie,
I just noticed this is your first comment on this blog.
Welcome! Participation on this blog will greatly increase your enjoyment of Andre's DVD + you'll be kept up to date on everything that is known or rumored about Andre & the JSO
Hopefully, someone will answer your question about the instrument Teun is playing. I don't know the answer.
Bill in Arizona
~ NEWSFLASH ~
THIRD MELBOURNE CONCERT
Thursday November 13th
Tickets to go on sale May 12th
Tickets for the November 13 Concert will go on Sale
at the Telstra Dome Box Office this Monday (May 12)
www.ticketmaster.com.au ~ 136100
From May 16 2008 till December in Australia, Carmen Monarcha is singing with the concerts of Andre Rieu.
Hi Arie my dear friend. Thank you so much for the information on Carmen. We will probably see her then in Atlantic City and Reading. Really missed her in Florida. It is so nice to see you here on the blog. I hope you will visit often. Your friend, Jeanine Ann
Thank you for the information Arie. I think everyone LOVES to hear Carmen sing. Her voice is so beautiful!
Too Big Article
Acclaimed violinist André Rieu was to make a surprise performance and signing session in Queen Street Mall on Friday May 9, however, due to the level of interest received from the public, organizers have had to relocate the appearance.
Too Big For Queen Street Mall
12:00a.m. 6 May 2008
The man who has achieved the recent record of 50 platinum music awards in Australia has become too popular to hold a personal appearance in Queen Street Mall, with organizers fearing the venue will be too small to accommodate his many expected fans.
The ‘King Of The Waltz’, acclaimed violinist André Rieu was to make a surprise performance and signing session in Queen Street Mall on Friday May 9, however, due to the level of interest received from the public, organizers have had to relocate the appearance to Reddacliffe place located at the top of the Queen Street Mall on Friday 9th May, 2.00pm – 4.30pm
The Casino will play backdrop to Andre Rieu and his special guest Mirusia.
Brisbane Marketing will provide 1,000 chairs, however, seating will not be allocated or reserved so visitors are advised to arrive early to avoid missing out. As it is an outdoor event, precautions against the weather are also recommended.
Of this unexpected change of venue, Rob Sheaf, Group Product Manager of Sanity/Virgin/HMV, had this comment, “Andre Rieu is a true phenomenon, HMV is very proud to be able to assist in bringing Andre together with his fans in Brisbane. His appearance will undoubtedly be an unprecedented success”.
André Rieu’s sales are now in excess of 1 million units, most of which occurred in the past 12 months making him Universal Music Australia’s highest-selling international artist of the past five years.
Tickets for the December 4 Andre Rieu World Stadium Spectacular at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium are still available through Ticketek.
‘Waltzing Matilda’ is available now. Arranged for voice, solo violin, orchestra and choir, the album features songs such as Botany Bay, Waltzing Matilda, I Still Call Australia Home and Home Among the Gum Trees.
Brisbane Fans are ready to turn it on with a huge welcome to our city to Andre and crew tomorrow. Andre and his entourage arrived in Brisbane last night (Wednesday. With Andre are Kerstin, Franz and Pierre and his staff. I think Mirusia arrived earlier and is having a bit of family time but she will be in the square tomorrow. Brisbane is turning on it's very best weather with slightly cool nights and absolutely glorious clear days, so I expect a huge turnout tomorrow. Will give a hot "off the press" report and photo's in about 24 hours.
Hi Grayeme, thanks for the info. I hear Andre will be on the Kerri Ann show again Friday morning, is that correct? I remember the last time he was there he played the beautiful "My Way". I am so glad Pierre was among the group. Look forward to the report and photos. I am so excited for all of you. I am already watching my Australian clock. Hugs
That is correct Jeanine Ann - Andre will be on Kerri-Anne at 9am (AEST) this morning. At the moment in Brisbane we are having a weekend of celebrations to mark the 20th Anniversary of Expo 88 (we will use any excuse for a party). So Many of our National programmes are broadcasting live from the Southbank (old Expo site) over the next few days. He is also on with Richard Wilkins on A Current Affair at 6.30pm tonight on the Nine Network. He also has a host of Radio appearances. It is an absolutely gloriuos morning weatherwise. Cheers
I am writing to you because I need to know which album or concert the performance of "One Day When We Were Young" by Oscar Hammerstein is from. My mother is an avid fan of yours and she has tickets to your Brisbane concert in December of this year. She has just been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer with only months to live and will not make it to the concert. That song and the way you and your orchestra performed it was one of the pleasures Mum has had recently. She heard it on a concert on Ovation but can't remember which on. I hope you or one of your staff will be able to help me. Thak you Kristin
Firstly I must say sorry about my promise of photo's (why is it that camera's only malfunction when you want to use them Grrrr.) However, under gloriuos blue skys Brisbane really turned it on today for Andre and Mirusia. I heard on the radio at 10am that about 4000 people had already gathered at the venue and was with 4 hours to go. I arrived there about 12.30pm and was quite taken by the number of people. I would say that by the time Andre arrived there was somewhere between 6-8000 people there.
Andre arrived right on time with Mirusia, Kirsten and Pierre all with him. I heard one gentleman say he had never seen so many Grandmothers gathered in one spot in his life. ha ha.
After introductions and a few words from Andre, he and Mirusia played and sang "I Still Call Australia Home' and then "Waltzing Matilda". After this Andre and Mirusia began signing Autographs etc. and this went on for almost 2 hours. At one stage the line-up wound right out of the venue, along George St and right down past the front of the Treasury Casino, at least 400 yards long. Andre was his normal wonderful self, just what we have all come to love about the man. I must say I was particularly impressed with the way Mirusia handled the occasion, she has grown so much in the oast 12 months.
Pierre stood in front of the stage the entire proceedings taking photographs and talking with fans and really seemed to be enjoying himself. And of course, Kirsten was there doing what only Kirsten does, she is such a beautiful person. Earlier in the day Andre and Mirusia made a grand entrance to a press conference at Suncorp Stadium in a carriage drawn by 6 horses. He truly is the perfect showman. Finally it all came to and end and we all left to now eagerly await our concerts in December, bring it on. As I write Andre is now leaving Brisbane for the flight to Sydney for tomorrow and then on to Melbourne. Andre has announced a third concert for Sydney as well as Melbourne, I also think it highly likely that a third concert will also be announced for Brisbane. It is also expected that when the figures come out tomorrow that Andre and Mirusia's new CD "Waltzing Matilda" will be No.1 on the Pop Charts, displacing Madonna's latest album. Now that is really something for our "King of the Waltz".
Cheers From Beautiful Brissie.
I might just add that Andre is really starting to ring up some very impressive numbers with his Australian leg of the World Tour. With Melbourne and Sydney now both having 3 concerts and Brisbane very likely to have 3, Adelaide 2 and Perth 1. Even with the allowance for the massive staging, all of the venues are still catering for between 30,000 and 45,000 fans at each concert. Thats some very impressive numbers.
It was a wonderful day in Brisbane. When my husband and I arrived at Reddacliff Place our dilemma was to decide whether to sit and watch the performance or join the signing queue which was growing longer by the minute. Although I was hopeful of getting my copy of 'My Music, My Life' signed and my husband had a lovely magazine photo of Mirusia he was hoping she would sign, we opted to sit and watch the performance first and take our chances on the signing queue later.
Andre's arrival was heralded by the crowds bursting into the words of 'Waltzing Matilda' as he was getting out of the limo. Andre's and Mirusia's performances were just beautiful as always but were over much too quickly.
By the time it was announced that Andre would start signing, the queue stretched away down the mall as far as the eye could see and we were despairing of getting his autograph. But Andre and his entourage obviously have the knack of getting the queues moving along down to a fine art and, just as we were about to give up and go home, we realised that the queue had grown much shorter and there was still sufficient time to have our book and magazine signed before Andre and Mirusia had to leave to catch their flight to Sydney. I will treasure my book always. Cheers. Lyn
We saw Andre in Maastricht July 2008
and took many 'photos of the various stars but had my camera stolen . Has anyone any photos of the concert in Maastright?
I would like to know whether patrons attending the Telstra dome on 15th Nov 08 are allowed to bring their cameras and videos for the performance of Andre Rieu please.
Hi Annesley, I have always taken a camera to Andre's concerts. He does not mind photographs, however as far as camcorders I do not know. It all depends on the venue but I feel sure everyone will have a camera in hand. You can call the Telstra Dome and confirm whether or not cameras and camcorders are allowed. I hope you have a wonderful time at the concert and please come back and tell us all about it. Hugs
I want to purchase an Andre Rieu pennant (or scarf) such as I see displayed on almost all his DVDs but can't find out where and how much. Can someone help me please?
Hello John. Welcome to AndreRieuFans.com
The scarf and other apparel is available in Andre's Boutique at www.andrerieu.com
Andre also has those items available for sale at his concerts.