February 3rd 2006, Concert in Münster (Germany)

Finally, it was Friday February 3rd, the day I had been waiting for. I got up early that day, my traveling case was already packed and I had breakfast with my daughter Marissa. After that I had a relaxed walk with my dog Roxy. I really enjoyed that morning, because I knew I would see André that night in Germany. I took the bus to the station of Haarlem and there I was right in time to catch the train to Rotterdam.

It took me about one hour to get there and in Rotterdam my friend Thea picked me up to travel to Germany. First I congratulated her with her 3rd grandchild. Just the day before her son Marco became father of his first child. On our way to Coesfeld (that's where our German friend Chrissi lives) we listened to André's music and talked about this and that. The more we reached the east of Holland, the colder it got. We saw rime on the boughs of the trees, it was like winter wonderland. We had a little coffee break and after about 4 hours of driving we reached Coesfeld. Our friend Chrissy and her husband Manfred were already waiting for us and our friend Simone. She is also from Germany and she drove about 3 hours to get there. First we had a glass of champagne to toast on our friendship and right after that there was so much to talk about !!!! We had not seen each other for more than a year, so you can imagine we had a lot of talking to catch up !!! After a few hours we had a delicious dinner and then it was about time to get changed. In fact we already were a little too late to get freshened up and changing clothes....

It was rather cold outside and pretty misty. Chrissi lives in a country house, so there is not much lighting on the roads.... I think we had bad luck, first we had to stop for a level crossing. When we finally left he country roads, there was a truck driving in front of us, he was not in a hurry.... We were loosing time and Chrissy and Simone got nervous. Anyway, when we arrived in Münster, it was already 8 o'clock, the concert had started !!!! We still had not found a parking place and when we found one, it was a long walk to the "Münsterhalle".

My oh my, I was wearing boots with high heels, so I could not walk that fast. It was also a little dangerous to run, because it was kind of slippery on the streets. Our German friends walked faster than we did and we didn't, because we already were too late ... when we finally reached the "Münsterhalle", we had to wait outside the hall where André was playing. Thank God we were not the only people who were too late. We heard him and the JSO playing the last notes of "Entry of the Gladiators". When the song was finished we were allowed to get in. Just imagine ... we had been in a hurry, still wearing our jackets and gasping for breath .... so we came in the Hall and we felt embarrassed to walk to our seats.

We had seats on the first row, so there was no way to slip from André's eyes. Of course he saw us coming and he was mumbling something in German about the late comers. First he mentioned Chrissi and Simone and then he said: "Oh I see, they are the Dutch !!!" There was a big spotlight shining on us and I was out of my depth !!!! Oh my, how embarrassed this was, but of course we had to laugh. The audience started applauding, we rushed out of our coats and sat down. When I saw André's face, he smiled at us and had a naughty look in his eyes. I think he was kind of teasing us !!! The ice was broken, what a night this would be !!! Just imagine, I have been visiting many concerts, but I NEVER was too late ...

André surprised us with a magnificent show. It was great to see the soloists again, though I missed Carmen a lot. She was such a charming young lady with a beautiful face and outstanding emanation. Now there was Kalki Schrijvers singing with Carla and Suzan. I saw her for the first time and I felt a little disappointed. She has not the emanation of Carmen. I cannot give my opinion of her voice, because she didn't sing solo. Of course it will be hard for her to take Carmen's place and of course people have to get used to her. This process must grow, though I really missed Carmen. It was good to see Carla, because last year in Maastricht I heard she also would leave the JSO. There were also the "Platin Tenors". They have great voices but not the looks. We were just a little kidding about them. It was great to see the "blacksmith-act" again. Roland Lafosse is the smith with very sexy muscles (oh ladies ....) and funny Nöel Perdaens (horn) must compete with him. They are such a crazy couple, we had a blast !!!

When Suzan was arriving in her beautiful black dress, I got goose-pimples all over. The way she sang "Don't cry for me Argentina" was more than beautiful. She got a well deserved standing ovation. Goose-pimples were also there when Frank Steijns played "Concierto de Aranjuez" with his carillon. So beautiful to see all this when your seat is so close to the stage. His competition with Marcel Falize was also great. Every time we got surprised. What a shame that none was waltzing on "The blue Danube". Anyway .. I only saw a little girl dancing on her own, I think she was on ballet-lessons, and she did a great job !!!

Every show André asks where people are coming from. First he asked if there were people from Münster in the Hall. Then he asked some people where they live. Then he asked Thea where she was from and she said : "Rozenburg". André (with a naughty look in his eyes again) just pretended not hearing what she said, so he asked again. Then he pointed in my direction, but I thought he meant my neighbor .... "And where are you from" ?? he asked. He really overwhelmed me and I said : "Me"??? Thea started to laugh and she nodded. I started laughing too and I couldn't speak one word, but I really wanted to say Haarlem !!!! Then André said : "HOLLAND"!!!!!! Oh my, he really was in splendid form.

You don't wanna know but we got too late in the Hall again after the break. When we heard the gong, he almost started to play again !!! Many people got too late into the Hall and thank God (!!!) we already were back in our seats. When they came passing by, André pulled faces and pretended them. I have never seen him doing that, he was so naughty, ha ha !!!!

Anyway, we were waiting for the encores, because we were very close to the stage. When André started the encores me and Thea started the polonaise. A few people followed, but not that much. In Holland this is different, more people like the polonaise and also waltzing. Though we had fun. The balloons came down and we saw Pierre making photos. He was funny looking, wearing his hair in a tail. He seemed very relaxed and I could see the proud look in his eyes when he was watching Suzan and André. I think I was moving too much during making the photos, because a lot of them were blurry !! But for heavens sake, who can stand still during André's music, ha ha !!!!

When André ended the encores, we already rushed into our coats to get to the buses outside. We saw some members of the orchestra. I had a nice chat with Suzan. She is so cute and adorable. I gave her a big compliment about the black dress and also her perfect make-up. She told me the girls do their own make-up and she also told me that she would remove that "stuff" on their way home in the bus. She was smoking again, what a shame ... When I asked her for the ring that Pierre gave to her, she proudly showed it to me.

Carla was also on her way to the bus and I made a photo of the two of them, such a sweet couple of friends. And finally there he was, our André !!! He was kind of relaxed, but a little in a rush. He gave his fans a card with autograph and I was the last one who got one.

Pierre was also willing enough when I wanted to make a photo of him. Then I saw Ronald Gerards standing apart waiting for someone. Franco Vulcano came outside and I called him for a photo. How nice all these people are, never saying no for a photo.
 

The buses were leaving and we waved goodbye. Because it was pretty cold, we walked back to the parking place. On our way back we heard a car hooting. We saw Franco and Ronald in the car waving at us. We waved to them and Franco was opening his window. I was just kidding and I said "Hey, we still have some wine and pizza left, do you want to join us ??" The car was on the opposite of the road, so we could not reach them. Again we heard the hooting and they were waving again and suddenly they were gone. That was a shame, it would have been fun to spend a few hours with them !!!

After getting back in Coesfeld, Manfred was waiting for us with a bottle of champagne and of course we had to tell him all about our adventures. It got pretty late before we all went too bed and I had a terrible headache the next day. I know ... it was my own fault, ha ha !!! After having a huge breakfast, we started to get ready for our way back home. It was hard to say goodbye again, because it will last another year before we see each other again. This was the third time in Münster and it's already a tradition to visit one of André's concerts there.

Like always it was a great adventure again, but every time is different and this was a funny experience. Until now I have to count 5 more months before I see André and the JSO again in Maastricht, his beautiful hometown. Who knows we will meet if you go there too. I would like to meet you !!! See you ... it was great writing a report again !!!

Love from Holland, Monique XOXOXO