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Additional Information:

Release Date: September 20, 2004


This is the program Andre Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra performed during their May, North American Tour.  It was wonderful.  You can read my report and view my photos at:
Words from the Webmaster 4
 

Andre tells us this CD is to share with us the atmosphere of the Kerkrade Spectacular. This fabulous concert was attended by 18,000 fans who were treated to an almost 4 hour show. Kerkrade Report
 

For information on The Flying Dutchman DVD click here: The Flying Dutchman
 

AndreRieuFans.com
information provided by
Sally Chaney
 

Additional Information:

This is a word for word translation from the Dutch André
spoke at the concert/on the DVD:

ENTRY OF THE GLADIATOR

Good Evening ladies and gentlemen. I’ll tell you a little bit about tonight's program. And that’s me. We talked to the ZDF editorial staff about a venue for a new TV Special. We travel all over the world, so we looked at the globe. And we noticed that all latitudes, longitudes and meridians…convene at one single point, the epicenter of the world: Roda Stadium in Kerdrade.

BLAZE AWAY

People sometimes say to me: Andre, you travel all over the world. You and your orchestra see so much. This is true. But if you spend a whole month surrounded by skyscrapers…and hopping on and off planes…and on and off helicopters…suffering awful jet lag…you really start thinking of our Limburg and how beautiful it is. When we’re in a Japanese restaurant yet again, fumbling with the sticks…our knees aching from sitting at those low tables….we sometimes say to each other: Oh, for a bag of chips with mayonnaise. And we dream of cycling along with river Maas…or walking in Geuldal….or having a coffee at the Vrijthof and watching the pigeons. In other words: We’re awfully homesick. But we never complain. On the contrary. We’re proud of being able to go everywhere…and to make music for people in so many places. And what enables us to do that? Our lovely native country, our Limburg. A place on earth where we can always return…knowing that we’ll always be welcome. Let’s all cherish it dearly: Our Limburg.

INTERMEZZO

Ladies and gentlemen, our next piece is one I am absolutely sure you all know. All 18,000 people in the stadium. But when I tell you the composer’s name, I’m almost sure no one knows him. His name is Rudolph Sieczinsky. Ever heard of him?

VIENNA MY CITY OF DREAMS

The audience in Kerkrade are the most musical audience in the world. And I don’t say that to everyone. Honestly, I don’t.

WIENER PRATERLEBEN

All together now. Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll now play….something from a world famous light operetta: Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss. It’s the most well-known aria from this operetta: Mein Herr Marquis. Why is it so famous? Because it’s about something we all dream of. We all want to be something that we’re not, something out of reach. This aria is about a cleaning lady. She secretly puts on a new gown belonging to the lady of the house….to go to a ball and pretend to be an elegant lady. Don’t you ever dream of being a beautiful princess? The Queen of England? This soprano came all the way from Brazil…to our Roda Stadium She’ll sing in her own inimitable way. A big hand for the singing cleaning lady from Brazil: Carla Maffioletti.

THE LAUGHING SONG

I wish I had a cleaning lady like that. I don’t know if she can clean, but she sure can sing. I was terribly nervous about the weather. But look at that. And I’ll tell you…I’ll tell you how I managed that. I have a hotline with up there. With Saint Peter himself. I went up there and made a deal with him. I said: Listen peter, we’ve got this concert at Roda Stadium. I’d like you to make sure it won’t rain that day. He said: I can do that. What’s in it for me? He’s a tough customer. I said: Well, I could promise you that all of us… in the orchestra and the audience will play and sing a song for you. He said: Oh, I don’t think that’s good enough. I have to go. My next visitor is waiting. Elton John wants to keep it dry too. So I came back down, did some thinking and I hit upon an idea. We’re going to play a song called Bummelpeter. As it happens You’ll know what to do as we go along.

BUMMELPETRUS

 Don’t laugh…..whistle. Everybody take sip. Here we go. Very good….keep going. Watch out, here it comes….another sip….another one, another one. All together now….good. This will go into the Guinness Book of Records. 18,000 people gargling, it must be a first. Ladies and gentlemen, a few months ago, in December to be precise, we had a Christmas concert in Berlin. Afterwards, a little boy came up to me. A two year old called Akim. That’s not unusual. We often have small children in the audience. They sit on their mother’s lap, fall asleep in the second part…wake up at the end with full diapers and have the time of their lives. Not Akim, though. Akim stayed awake the whole time. And he said to his mother: Akim play violin tool. Like Andre. What I’m about to tell you is the honest truth. Two weeks ago I had a letter from his teacher. Yes, that’s right, his teacher. His mum gave Akim a violin. And at the Berlin School of Music he turned out to be incredibly gifted. His talent is skyrocketing and his dearest wish is to play with me and my orchestra. He’s three now. Almost potty trained. And he’s here. Give him a big hand: Akim Camara. ‘ Doesn’t he look great? Fantastic. Those shoes you’re wearing are lovely. Even better than mine. Akim knows a TRICK WITH WATER THAT HE REALLY WANTS TO SHOW YOU. Are there any more bottles, guys? This kid is unbelievable. Would you open this please? Show the audience. That went down really well. Do it again. There’s no stopping him now. OK, let’s play music now. You can do the water thing again later on. Ladies and gentlemen, Silence please. Akim will play for you Ferdinand Kuchler’s violin concertino in G, opus 11.

CONCERTINO G-MAJOR – OPUS 11

Folks, should he play some more? He’s really excited about what he’s doing now. OK, are you going to play along with everything?

TRIUMPHAL MARCH /LIGHT CALVARY OVERTURE/ SNOW WALTZ

You were terrific!!!

PART 2

EN NOE de Hennekes de loch In Ladies and Gentlemen, on our travels across the world we found a friend for life in Dublin. He’s here tonight to play for you. Give him a big hand: The lead violinist of the Dubliners, John Sheahan.

IRISH WASHERWOMAN

Give him a big round of applause ladies and gentlemen.

THE WILD ROVER

Tell me something. I think you’re a choir. The Kerkrade Virgin Mary Choir, perhaps. Give me an A. Jo. OK the basses. More sopranos than basses, I guess. Now altogether. Everyone.

HABANERA

Music theory, ladies and gentlemen. That wasn’t very good, was it? OK, stop. Oh dear. What a pity. It was going so well. We were prepared for that. It’s difficult with such a big choir. We have a singer who can translate that beautifully for you. She’s from Brazil. Here she is in person: Carmen Monarcha. Ladies and gentlemen, I have a fantastic orchestra, as you’ve probably heard. The singers are very young although most of them already have kids. A very fertile audience. That’s right. It’s got nothing to do with me. What you are now about to see, ladies and gentlemen, Four percussionists from one family…who will play this four-man xylophone. Our unsurpassed percussionist Marcel Falize…and his three sons, Glen, Dean and Colin. Give them a big hand.

VOLARE

We had a singer from Brazil…. And another singer from Brazil… One was from Sao Paulo and the other one from Rio de Janeiro. Now we have another singer. Guess where she’s from? From Limburg. She has a completely different voice than the other two. Very innocent, very delicate, very pure. The first time she sang for me, with her beautiful big childlike eyes I was deeply moved. And I’m sure that when she sings for you in a moment…you will all lock her in your hearts. She will sing a song for you from the fairy tale The Wizard of Oz. Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Give her a big hand. Suzan Erens.

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

Ladies and gentlemen When our orchestra travels around the world we usually play European music. We bring that to all the countries. But sometimes we love the music of a country so much…that we play it ourselves. That happened in Japan. This is such a beautiful song. I would love to play it for you here in Kerkrade. It’s about an old castle. It’s called Kojo no tsuki: The old castle. It has three verses. The first verse is about the sun glistening on the glasses. The ladies are beautifully dressed. There’s a party at the castle. The second verse is about the sun glistening on the swords…because there’s a war, and the knights are covered with blood. The third verse: The moon glistens in the ruins of the castle. When we play this in Japan, the Japanese are very moved….because basically, that’s the history of Japan. The history of a lost culture. It’s a beautiful song. I’d like to play it for you with the orchestra. Kojo no tsuki.

MOONLIGHT/KOJO NO TSUKI /A CHILD’S WORLD

 Ladies and gentlemen, I have another surprise for you. A big round of applause. Here he is from German: Otto! He speaks Dutch. I have the same hairdresser as Herman van Veen. Hello, Kerkrade. Hello, Otto. I’ve heard you’re the world’s fastest sketch artist. Is that right? I’ll need some paper. I can draw ottiphants. Do we have any paper? Is this big enough? A big hand for the paper supplier. I’m going to draw an animal. And the audience has to make the right sound. This is a cow.

OLD MACDONALD

And What’s that? What’s this? This one isn’t so easy. It’s a goat. A goat. Here is a…This one is difficult. What’s this? This is a funny animal. ANDRE This one is fun. Does it really exist? OTTOPHANT Come back, Otto. Give him another round of applause.

IN THE SALOON (COUNTRY MEDLEY)

Ladies and Gentlemen they’ve been performing for you all night. They always do so with all their heart and enthusiasm. They give it everything they’ve got, every night. Wherever we play, they always play with all their heart and enthusiasm. Ladies and gentlemen, a big hand for the Johan Strauss-orkest. Tonight we’re performing together for the very last time. Orchestra, choir, and soloists in an impressive composition. In this piece, someone sings about the goddess of fate. And what do we want to say to you with that, dear audience? Just one thing. Whatever fate has in store for you during your lives always try to believe in the strength, the enchantment of music. Music will always be with you in your lives. And I’m sure that music will help you through the difficult times. Always try to believe that. I wish you all the very, very best and lots of music of course.

O FORTUNA
THE LAST ROSE
THE LIMBURG ANTHEM

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Andre presented this concert during his 2005 North American Tour.  To read webmaster's report click here: Webmaster Words 4

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