~ ANDRE IN OREGON ~

Before The Concert

I could hardly contain myself. I tried to do my daily activities as if it were just another day. Even before the concert, my mind was not on work; it was on Andre and seeing him again. In the past year the anticipation built with every passing day. Then, like the year had been a blur, the time was here...IT'S HERE!! This would be my 3rd Andre concert, and the excitement was as much as the first!

To make things more exciting I was meeting with Sally, Ruth, Jim, Gerda and Juanita for lunch on concert day. What a wonderful time that was! The anticipation was almost as much as the concert! I loved meeting with everyone and to put a face to the email and voice was very special indeed!  We sat for over 3 hours talking Andre and other very interesting topics. I will remember this day for as long as I live. If you haven't done anything like this, then it should be among the top ten things you ever do! Thank you, all of you, for such a fantastic time!! You are all wonderful! My brother enjoyed meeting you very much too!!

Now...The Concert!

Before the concert started, Ruth (thank you Ruth) introduced me to Dan, the banner man. I VERY MUCH enjoyed meeting him and his wife. His banners have become synonymous with Andre’s concerts. If you read this Dan, I very much enjoyed meeting you! While we were all standing around talking, Franco walked up and Dan introduced us to him. I LOVED meeting Franco. Every since I saw him in "Live in Tuscany" wearing that outfit where I thought he looked so Italian…nice! And he was so nice, what a pleasure to meet him.

Sally and Ruth and the others sat in incredible seats, I asked if they wanted to switch with me - I wasn't as close but I had GREAT seats too. Yes, I finally have a good seat to see Andre!! The "Entry of the Gladiators" begins and Andre comes up the aisle, followed by the JSO. Everyone is clapping and the excitement has begun.

This was an INCREDIBLE concert. Andre looked fantastic as he always does…he looked rested and was full of energy and humor and music and he was set for a concert that was the best I could ever have imagined.

As Sally and Ruth mentioned, at the very beginning of the concert there was this little white haired lady standing right up front and center of the stage, Andre was looking at her and they said a few words and then I heard Andre say "You came to see me?" It truly was hilarious…Andre got a chair from the orchestra and two men immediately ran up from the audience and Andre handed down the chair and they took it. The little lady sat on it, and had the best seat in the house at that moment!

There was beautiful music, the atmosphere was excitement and energy, and happiness all rolled into one. There were so many enjoyable, humorous moments, the JSO and their antics …Andre’s humor is wonderful, his comments with the audience as they go back and forth is priceless!

Favorite Moments

Some of my favorite moments with the music…there were twenty songs and 9 encores…all of them were favorites, but the ones that give us goosebumps are the ones we must cherish in our hearts and souls.
"Concerto d’ Aranjuez, "Ode To Joy", incredible, "Don’t cry for me Argentina", Suzan was beyond words, what a glorious moment listening to her sing this song! And then there was Andre’s incredible version of "America", oh how beautiful this is! Violin solo by Andre, yes, goosebumps! The lighting and Andre’s expressions, makes one literally wish for time to stand still.

The Conga line was one of the BEST I’ve seen! Ruth’s husband Jim was the first, then Ruth joined, then Sally, then someone from the audience, then another, then another…I saw people literally running up to the line to join it…there must have been at least 50 people in that line! I’m sure Andre was very pleased.

When Andre plays "Lullaby", it’s always a happy/sad moment for me, happy because of his incredible violin solo of this song. You close your eyes and the sound goes right to your heart. Sad, because when Andre plays this song, we know that it’s the end of the concert.
Please, don’t go Andre! More! Please!

It’s over, and now what? Do we have to leave? Can’t we just stay? Maybe he will be back; this isn’t over is it? We resign that it’s over…

Total Anticipation Of The next Andre Concert!

To anyone who thinks the dvd’s are sufficient to see Andre perform, there is nothing like a live performance. The "moment" of seeing Andre up there in person, right before your eyes, performing his magnificent way, can never be compared to a dvd. But, dvd’s will do until the next time Andre comes to town! I'm waiting for the moment already.

Seattle and Andre Rieu in Concert Again

Seattle...what an incredibly beautiful city it is. Mountains that remind
you of being in the Swiss Alps, the incredibly beautiful Puget Sound a
stones throw away...lakes everywhere, and snow-capped mountains that peer at you as though to say "my magnetism will always draw you in". There's more to Seattle than the beauty of the countryside; there's the Space Center, an incredibly fun place to be, Pike’s Market, a world famous shopping area and marketplace that draws people from all over the world.

There is another kind of beauty that Seattle was honored with this last weekend, the beautiful sounds of music. A special kind of music that only Andre Rieu can bring. I met Chris T. from Idaho, it was a pleasure to meet you Chris! In addition, I saw Franco walking the outer area of the concert hall before the concert. I shook his hand again, and that was nice. I talked to Dan the banner man again, I wanted to switch seats with him too!

As I sat in the audience waiting for that magic moment, I watched people as they took their seats one by one. All were anxious, after all, they too were waiting for that magic moment. Almost a year had passed since Andre Rieu graced our beautiful city.

Soon, "Entry of the Gladiators" began to play, everyone turned, they knew that Andre would be walking through the aisle followed by his wonderful JSO orchestra. The magic moment was here!

It’s very hard to choose which songs are favorites, which songs touch you deep in your soul. The Tenors and their version of "Torna a Surriento" is beyond words, Carla Monarcha, in her traditional dress as she sings "Juliska of Budapest" is very entertaining and her incredible voice fills the air with life. The Anvil act is hilarious and very fun to watch. "The White Horse Inn"…I love that song so much, especially the portion that Andre does his violin solo, you close your eyes and you can truly feel the moment. Frank’s incredible "Concerto d’ Aranjuez" played on the carillon is so beautiful. Andre…his violin solos are beyond words…how can one describe sounds that go to your heart and soul and give you goosebumps? "America" and "Lullaby", "The Blue Danube"…always a favorite, and watching the audience enjoy it is worth so much, it’s so fun to watch people dancing in the aisles. "Ode to Joy"…if all men on earth could FEEL this song in their heart, then truly…ALL men WOULD be brothers! When Suzan sings "Don’t Cry for me Argentina", it’s as though the earth has stood still for a few moments, what an incredible voice!

It’s fun watching Andre…don’t you enjoy watching him play his violin and making people happy? His humor is priceless and his energy level is contagious! I was flying high for days afterwards. What an incredible man he is, bringing such wonderful entertainment to the world…city after city…he graces us with his charisma.

For Almost 3 hours and 29 Beautiful Songs & Melodies Later

The audience was not ready to end the evening. We wanted more and more…and more! Why must the beautiful moments end? Can’t they go on forever? I know that’s not reality...but...for about 3 hours we set aside reality and step into a world...a world of Andre Rieu and his beautiful music.

Thank you Andre for bringing us the happiness you have in your heart. Whatever we have, it’s never enough of you…PLEASE come back to the beautiful Northwest and grace us again with your music…the music of life…the music of happiness! For you truly do make us happy!

 Next Year, I Will Get Good Seats
I Will Have My Camera Aimed And Ready!