Greetings from sunny Florida! Last year my husband David and I had the night of our lives in Orlando, Florida. We had been fans of Andre and the JSO for quite some time, watching every TV show we could. One night as we were watching we realized they were selling concert tickets. I remember rushing through the house to find a phone and a credit card and calling out to my husband "I don’t care how much it costs we are going!" Moreover, we did, the first night of our lives that was repeated again this week.

This year we were more prepared as we did not know that Andre does not mind photographs, so armed with three cameras we were ready!

We had centre aisle seats row D. at the TD Waterhouse/Amway Center. My friend from England flew over just for the concert and she had lower bowl seats. When we were seated, my husband commented later that I was rather ‘bouncy’ and excited with the others who were seated around us. I just wanted them to know how happy I was to be there and that I would be taking photographs and hoped they would enjoy the concert.

Seventy six trombones I just love it, I play it so loud in my old Volvo that the wing mirrors shake! In marched some of the most important people in our lives, yes really, they bring so much joy and happiness. They took their seats and so it began. Our cameras went into action, yes we still had time to enjoy everything.

Andre was of course his wonderful self, I felt the orchestra were all in a relaxed mode thinking only one more concert to go before the end of the tour, they all seemed happy. The audience, well I felt they were hard to get motivated, they seemed slow in responses, yes most were elderly, I don’t know if that is just Orlando or anywhere else. I was always the first on my feet to applaud, yes, they deserve standing ovations! Sometimes I was the only one, then others followed.

Mirusia is a true angel on stage; she is such a wonderful addition, with her voice and beauty. What delight to see Suzan wearing the dress. I hope you can see from my pictures how lovely she was. Laura I felt was perhaps a little shy I do not know, certainly her voice is also lovely. She seemed more animated when she was with the tenors.

The Platin Tenors of course are so impressive, and so funny, the goulash, kangaroo tail and sausages was hilarious.

To me Ravels Bolero was the highlight, the orchestra was so totally focused on Andre conducting, that piece of music can seem to go on forever, but it seemed to be over so soon, wow it was powerful.

As always, the concert was over too soon. The Radetsky March being the last on the program. Incredibly, people started to leave. We did not see this but friend who was seated higher did. How rude! Was it so important to be the first one out of the parking lot? I am sure there are people that notice things like this, will they want to come back to Orlando with that sort of behavior?

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Well it was their loss because there were so many encores, I am sure it was for at least another 20 minutes, perhaps longer. They played so many things including America the Beautiful and Manoe on her bagpipes. It was a wonderful end to the evening.

I hope you enjoy our photographs, although for copyright reasons they have my initials on many were taken by my husband.

Our best regards to you all and thanks to Sally for all her hard work in making this web site possible.

David and Wendy Keighley

Cocoa, Florida

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