Sometime in August, I received an email from Kathleen Glenn, a Phoenix resident & a person I met at last years concert, sent me an email asking if I would like to join her & 2 other ladies in the VIP seats, 3rd row in the center section + get a ticket to a pre-concert "Meet & Greet" that would convene 2 hours prior to the actual concert. Silly Question! Of course I was supremely ecstatic

About the same time I received an email from a friend in Brisbane, Australia telling me she would be attending the Phoenix concert. The Aussie internet friend would later become a real life friend that I would meet at the concert & dance with. More about this later

In early September I made my final decision to as to which photos that I took at the 2006 concert would be added to my photo T-shirt. The photos were added.

About this same time, I placed an order for some bumper stickers that I'd been thinking about for a while. I wanted to unveil them at the concert.

About this same time, Denon announced their "Official Andre Rieu Ambassador" program. Thanks to Sally, my application was accepted by Denon.

In late September, I decided to get my eyes checked, I wanted to see the concert with 20/20 vision. sigh......I was told I had cataracts in both eyes so around the middle of October I had the left eye surgery, which was successful.

After the left eye surgery. sometime near the end of October, I decided I wanted to Waltz with someone, anyone at the concert so I enrolled in private dance lessons to learn to Waltz & polka. I wanted to Waltz with winkle toes & do lots of the professional variations.

Bridgette was my dance instructor for the first 6 private lessons which were interrupted by my right eye cataract surgery in early November, which was also successful.

Middle of November, I received my "Official Denon Andre Rieu Ambassador" 3" button & flyers. I proudly wore my button to my dance lessons. I loaned Bridgette & Carolyn, my 2 dance instructors, the Schönbrunn DVD. They were both thoroughly impressed with the production, loved the music & the dance routines. Now they understood why I was so enthusiastic toward my dance lessons.

Tuesday evening, 2 Dec, I met with Kathleen Glenn, who gave me the 3rd row, isle seat, center section ticket & the pass for the 'meet & greet'.

Carolyn was my dance instructor for the final 6 lessons, the last lesson was Friday 7 December, the evening before the concert. I felt really confident about my ability to show off my Waltz & Polka dance steps.

Everything was ready, the Tshirt, the bumper stickers, my Denon flyers & button, & my ability to dance The only fly in the ointment, was that I still didn't know where my friend from Brisbane, Madeline. would be sitting, didn't know when or how I'd be able to move her into what I figured would be a better seat. I'd given her my phone number but had not heard from her.

8 Dec 2007 CONCERT DAY & NIGHT 0800.....my eyes snapped open, I sprung out of bed & began all the last minute preparations. You ladies don't have anything on me when it comes to preparing for an Andre concert.

Lets see; camera loaded with film, camera battery is fresh, extra roll of film, get backpack out & load it with the Denon flyers & bumper stickers, lay out my outfit, put my tickets & pass in pants pocket (didn't want to forget them), kept looking at the time. 1400.....my god where has all the time gone. As I'm showering, & getting dressed, I realize I'm going to have to go prepared for rain. The day was overcast & threatening all day.

I figure Andre & the JSO stayed overnight in Las Vegas, the location of their 7 Dec concert, so they could play the slots & enjoy some of the night life. I wonder if they all paid their taxes (lost money), or if any got lucky, financially!. I figure they must have gotten out of bed sometime around 0600, ate, packed, hopped on their busses & have been spending the morning & part of the afternoon on the bus trip from Las Vegas to Phoenix. This is certainly a long day & night; & their Phoenix concert is going to be their 8th concert in as many days. I wonder how they do it, night after night. And they have 3 more concerts before they get a day off. However they probably don't really have a day off. Even though they won't be performing for a couple of days, surely Andre has them in rehearsals for the Toronto concerts 1630.....I arrive at my parking place in downtown Phoenix & walk to the hotel where I know they are staying, hoping to see, meet & talk with them. I do not, go inside the hotel. No luck at seeing any JSO members outside the hotel! 1705.....I arrive at the U.S. Airway center, where the concert is to be performed. I'm required to check my backpack, but permitted to take my camera & a pocketful of bumperstickers which I will distribute at the "meet & greet" & to people around me prior to beginning of the concert. 1715..... I'm admitted to the very exclusive "meet & greet" No one seems to know who or when from the JSO will appear. They don't even know what any of the JSO members look like, let alone their names. The "meet & greet" doesn't officially open till 1730, so I have 15 minutes to meet & talk individually with:
..........Greg Giczi, PBS Channel 8 General Manager ..........Brian Fergus, Channel 8 Major Gifts Officer ..........Gary L. McMahan, Channel 8 Associate Director of Development Philanthropic Gifts

In conversation with Greg Giczi, THE question ----"Since Andre will be in Australia this time next year, when will Andre be returning to Phoenix?" Answer "Since we require a minimum of 9 months lead time, Andre won't be returning to Phoenix until 2009, we're shooting for a springtime concert in 2009". I thanked him for his candor & he complimented me on my photo Tshirt, then asked me if I'd taken the photos. He broke out into the biggest smile you can ever imagine when I told him, I'd either taken the photo or had my photo taken with the JSO members & then proceeded to identify each by their full name, the instrument they played & a little something about each. I asked Greg if he could identify any of the JSO members & he shook his head. I then told him to stick close to me, that I'll introduce him to each & every JSO member that arrives. Greg began to ask me a question about a dark haired soloist that sang a song that brought tears to the eyes of an old man. I was laughing hysterically by the time he'd finished his very vague description. "Carmen Monarcha" will be part of the concert tonight, she will be singing the same song, "O Mio Babbino Caro", that she sang on the Tuscany DVD." At this point Greg was hyperventilating, grinning from ear to ear & thanking me for telling him something that he'd been dying to hear. At this point it was clear, to me, that Greg would now be receptive to the idea. I asked, "do you know how to waltz?", to which he sheepishly answered by shaking his head, no.

      "Won't you please consider offering a Learn to Dance, option to those that buy a ticket to the 2009 concert?" "For an optional $10-$15 surcharge, offer to hold group lessons, to teach people to waltz & polka". "Surely you must remember last year only 1 person got up to prance all over the floor, by herself. "Imagine how many people in the audience must be just like yourself, dying to want to get up to dance, but not knowing how?" There must have been 15 seconds of silence before he spoke. "That's is a grrrrreat idea, I don't know why we haven't offered that option, it's something we really want to seriously consider." "Please contact me & help us develop the idea":, Greg was heart & sole enthusiastic to the idea. And he again profusely thanked me for telling him about Carmen.

Brian & Gary introduced themselves to me & inquired about the photos. I offered to introduce them to any & all JSO members when they arrived & can call each JSO member by their full name. I promoted the same idea to both, Each enthusiastically agreed to endorse the idea & to see what they can do to get the idea off the ground. And both also admitted to not knowing how to waltz.

1730.....precisely, 3 JSO members appeared at the entrance, Mirusia ( Mee-roo-sha) Louwerse (soprano soloist), Frank Steijns (violin) & Sanne (Sun-uh) Mestrom (saxophone). I aggressively stepped forward & called out to all by their full name. All 3 looked up, surprised & smiled at being recognized. I thanked Mirusia for sending me her autographed photo & told her that I had no idea where her Australian friend, Madeline, was or where she would be sitting. She had no idea where she would be sitting either. I told Mirusia , that if I find Madeline, I can move her to a really good seat & she thanked me. I asked if the 3 of them would mind having their photo taken with me, & they agreed. As we were moving over to a well lighted area, I asked Sanne for her birthday....23 February. I didn't ask for Mirusia or Frank because I already knew their birthdates. I wonder if Sanne knows that Frank's birthday is 25 Dec? <snicker> The 3 then proceeded to spend the next 30 minutes circulating among all the other "meet & greet" invitees. .

1755.....Kathleen, her sister Barbara, & Yasmine arrived, just as the 3 JSO members were making their departure.

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There was a lot of food, coffee & drinks, however, I was simply too excited to be hungry. I dashed out to buy a program which was only $10.00. Has the price been reduced? I thought they were $20.00. Upon return to the 3 ladies & looking over the program I was ecstatic to see the #2 song was Tritsch Tratsch polka, something I could get up & dance to.

1900.....The light dimmed & an announcement was made encouraging us to head for our concerts seats. Channel 8 presented everyone with a gift, your choice of a CD or a DVD. I reached my concert shortly while the ladies made a pit stop. Grrrrreat seats, 3rd row, center section, isle seat. While standing I began conversing with anyone & everyone that was already seated nearby, distributed bumper stickers, & little slips of paper with Sally's website. Most were quite intrigued by my photo T-shirt which now had added photos of Tanja (cello) & Margriete ( cello), Belá (Tenor), & Arthur (oboe). The ladies arrived & we were ready.

At some point I felt someone tapping me on the shoulder & calling me by name. I turned around & see a lovely tall lady & asked Madeline! Indeed, it was! We exchanged hugs as she told me that she saw me standing with my photo T-shirt, was sitting nearby in a side section where she could see the orchestra & view the monitor by turning her head 80 degrees to the right, screwed up her courage & hoped it was me. Excitedly, I introduced Madeline, from Brisbane, to Kathleen, Barbara, & Yasmine who wanted to hear all about her friendship with Mirusia & her family in Australia.

Madeline & I gathered up her things & got moved to a really good isle seat only 7 rows from the front of the stage. Andre & the JSO would walk right past her when they entered. She could easily see the stage by looking to her right 15 degrees & easily see the monitor by looking 15 degrees to her left. It was almost time for the concert to begin so I headed back to my seat.

THE CONCERT BEGINS 1930.....precisely, the lights dimmed, then the sun came out, the music began, the crowd stood, & the orchestra made their entrance down the isles waving to everyone, full of enthusiasm & energy.

Here is the complete concert:

1. Seventy-six Trombones .......... M Wilson
2. Tritsch Tratsch Polka .......... J. Strauss
3. Rosen aus dem Süden .......... J. Strauss
4. Chianti
5. Nessun Dorma .......... G. Puccini
6. Eljen a Magyar .......... J. Strauss
7. Song of the Wolga .......... F. Lehar
8. Besame Mucho .......... Laura Engel, Soloist .......... C. Velasquez
9. Silent Night .......... J. Mohr
10. The Holy City .......... S. Adams
11. White Christmas ..........  I. Berlin
12 Jingle Bells .......... J. I Pierpoint

~~~Intermission~~~

1. Gold & Silver .......... F. Lehar
2. Granada .......... A. Lara
3. The Girls from the Chantant .......... E. Kalman
4. Emperor's Waltz (Kaiserwaltzer) .......... J. Strauss
5. O Mio Babbino Caro ..... Carmen Monarcha, Soloist, .......... G. Puccini
6. The Beautiful Blue Danube .......... J. Strauss
7. Concerto Pour une Voix...Mirusia Louwerse, Soloist .......... C. Saint-Preux
8. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
                                         .......... Mirusia Louwerse, Soloist .......... A. I Webber
9. Bolero .......... M Ravel
10. Radetzky March .......... J. Strauss

~~~Encores~~~

I would dearly have loved to dance to the polka & asked numerous people prior to concert, however, everyone told me they didn't know how to dance a polka. Not a single person or couple in the audience got up & danced a polka. <sigh> I was ready, willing, & able, however, I didn't want to get up & prance around by myself. <sigh>

I marveled at how the orchestra could continue to play song after song to an unresponsive audience. The only audience wide standing ovation was when André presented the JSO orchestra. Then & only then did everyone stand up & applaud.

Laura Engel, soprano soloist, gave an enthusiastic rendition of Besame Mucho. It was the first time I'd heard Laura's strong & beautiful voice, truly she earned & deserved the center stage & she gave it all she had. Laura had been part of the choir last year. Laura's effort, was worth the price of admission, by itself. Sadly, the audience applauded & only 5 or 6 people stood up while applauding. I could not believe it. Incidentally, Laura has trimmed down & looks great

Natalie Bolle (flute) is another who has really trimmed down & is in the process of returning to her former svelte self And she has a new & very becoming hair style.

Applause is the only acknowledgement the audience gave at the end of each number, didn't make any difference whether it was the orchestra, the Tenors, or a soprano soloist.

Carmen Monarcha, sang her signature rendition of O Mio Babbino Caro & gave it everything she's got & I mean everything. Here is a lady that brings audiences to their feet all over the world with the same song. I should add, that Carmen is the first person I saw while channel changing in 2005. It is Carmen that captured my attention and tonight was her first appearance, live & on stage here in Phoenix. I would have paid $150 just to see & hear Carmen by herself. Sadly, only 30 - 40 people stood while applauding at the end. <sigh>

Thank you Carmen , for coming to Phoenix & singing so beautifully. I'm dying to see the photos I took of you which will be added sometime this weekend.

Mirusia (Mee- roo- sha) is an entire concert, unto herself. I have listened to her CD for many, many hours of enjoyment, however, seeing & hearing Mirusia sing, live, is so much more than can possibly be captured on a CD.

Mirusia sang 2 songs, one right after the other. Only 6 or 7 people got up & out of their chairs to applaud after her first song. The lack of audience response to her first song did not seem to take anything out of her, in fact, she seemed even more determined to win over the audiences heart with her 2nd number. For a young lady & a relatively young professional singer, she handled things like a seasoned pro. Thank you, Mirusia , for sharing your emotion, voice, & talent with us, here in Phoenix. You are everything that André could want in a soloist. Your performance was truly enchanting. And your bow after the end of each number has improved, you are much more flexible than in New York.

The JSO continued to perform with energy, fun, excitement & enthusiasm, nothing seemed to deter, or slow them down. I have no doubt André personally thanked each individual member for persevering in front of stones. Emotionally, this had to be one of the toughest concerts, ever; however, the unresponsive audience did not appear to diminish or take anything out of the concert performance in any way. Amazing!

During the intermission, I went over to retrieve Madeline, who was giddy & & brimming over with happiness. It seems, after Mirusia's first song, Madeline waved sufficiently to capture Mirusia's attention, who acknowledged Madeline's presence in a way close friends communicate without uttering words. Don't you just know Mirusia was singing to Madeline all during her 2nd song. Kathleen, Barbara, & Yasmine & myself thoroughly enjoyed Madeline's presence during our ever so brief encounter. Madeline came a long way to see & hear her friend, Mirusia . She'll have a lot to tell her friends & family when she returns to Brisbane.

As Andre began to announce the Blue Danube, I went over to Madeline & asked her to waltz with me; she accepted. We were the first couple to head toward the stage. The music began & was beautiful. We danced, we didn't waltz. In time, 10 - 15 other couple got up to waltz. This was the only dancing during the entire concert. As I was returning to my seat & walking past the stage, I looked to my right & there she was, Agnes (violin) Walter, flashing that world class smile at me.

Marcel Falize, percussionist, was perfect, during his moment in the spotlight during Bolero. I have a photo of Marcel , it is the best photo I've taken of any JSO member, ever. Marcel & his drum completely fill the negative, nothing will be cropped. Even the background members are recognizable & wearing smiles. I've tried to take photos of Marcel the prior 2 years, & there always seemed to be something wrong. Marcel's photo will definitely be added to my photo T-shirt. Thank you Marcel. Incidentally, Marcel loves to wink & flirt with the ladies during concerts.

When the concert ended, I slowly made my way over to where Madeline was sitting, however, she was long gone. Mirusia & Madeline had made plans to meet each other after the concert. During the intermission we exchanged phone numbers, so I expect to meet with Madeline again over a meal later next week.

The four choir members, Judith, Resi, Kalki, & Karin Haine were too far away to get a good photo of. Last year André brought the choir up to the front of the stage, but I'd run out of film & didn't get a photo. I was hoping for a 2nd chance this year, I can not imagine a concert without the choir. Resi, 2nd from the left, was wearing her green gown & is now sporting red hair. Every time I looked up at Resi & I saw 2 images; her big smile & the hair curlers captured during the Road to NY DVD & an image of Resi when the camera repeatedly focused on her during the Schönbrunn DVD song that Carl Moik sang, #16 Heut' Kommen. Resi was singing the same words as Carl.

Klaartje (viola) made her first appearance at this concert & occupied her usual spot between Nadia & Linda Yes, I did get a good photo of Klaartje.

Jennifer (violin), aka Jenny, was sporting a new & becoming hairdo & I have a grrrreat photo to prove it. Jenny first appeared in the Schonbrunn DVD, right smack dab in the middle of the orchestra, a high profile location; she sits between Cord & Agnes , in fact Jenny & Agnes go way back as friends long before they started playing for Andre. Jenny also just have some medical experience having been the one to help Sanne recover with her sudden weakness attack during the filming of the NY DVD. Jenny also has a cousin named Rebecca who lives in Oklahoma.

Lin (violin) has a new gown & different hair color & I have a photo to prove that too

Sanne (Sun-uh) saxophone, is now also playing bassoon. Keep your eye on Sanne, she is multi talented; the bassoon is hard to miss.

Suzan Erens (soprano), was in Phoenix, however, she did not participate in this concert. You were conspicuous by your absence, Suzan.

A concert isn't a concert without the Tenors, Gary, Belá, & Thomas. A couple of days ago I was watching 100 years of Strauss, the orchestra was playing Libiamo without the tenors.....& it just wasn't the same. Something was missing, of course, it was The Tenors.

I captured great photos of Boris (violin) Goldenblank, with a really big smile & Linda (viola) Custers really up close & personal. She is another member of the orchestra that loves to flirt with the audience.

After the concert, I retrieved my backpack & distributed the full color flyers Denon had given me. Yes, they were distributed outside & after the concert. They literally flew out of my hand, eager concert goers snapping them up with unbridled enthusiasm.

In conclusion, this was the best André Rieu concert I've personally attended.

And next year, I'll have a dance partner with me so we can waltz & polka. Hopefully, we'll be joined by hundreds of other dancing couples I checked my mail box after I returned home & was pleased to discover Andre's latest DVD had arrived. I set it aside, preferring to relive every single second of the concert I'd just attended. I'm never able to go to sleep after a concert, so I simply enjoyed a quiet surrounding, began to put pencil to paper to compose this report, while things were so fresh in my mind. I'll watch & listen to the DVD in a day or two..

Go here, if you want to attach JSO names with faces. This is the best photo show of the Johann Strauss Orchestra. Hopefully, the correct pronunciation of JSO members first names will be added & many new photos will be added over the next month.