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Foreword ... Some friends asked why I was so crazy about this violinist named André Rieu. A few of you might know a bit, but most of you don’t.
Just like a lot of fans, I saw André on PBS. One evening in September 2006 my father was flipping channels and there was some very nice music, but it wasn't until I heard Toselli’s Serenade that I ran out from my bedroom and asked “Who’s playing?” So beautiful! Instantly I Googled André Rieu, bought our Vancouver Concert Tickets, ordered my Homecoming DVD, Googled this, Googled that, totally obsessed.
But my story started quite a while ago .......
My family came to Vancouver from Hong Kong as immigrants in 1990. During the 80’s when we were still in Hong Kong, there was one particular CD that we kept playing and playing. My father took some “audioless 8mm home movies” in the black-and-white era. Most of those movies were so old that I wasn’t even born. When I made my appearance, they were in colour. Still, they were all audioless, so when we played the movie I always played one CD to go with it. For about 24 years now we’ve called it the “Little bird”. There’s just nothing else to make it so perfect for those kind of memories. Even Paul Mauriat, Mantovani, or Percy Faith etc. wouldn’t give that special touch. I have photographic memories seeing my grandmom (who passed away before we immigrated) in the movie with Gold and Silver as background music, or my brother as a kid playing happily with some battery-operated little chicken (he’s now 56), with Bummelpetrus in the background.
As I was reading My Music, My Life … I made a big discovery that almost gave me heart attack. I looked at the back cover of our Serenata and it says, “André Rieu & the Maastricht Salon Orchestra”… WHAT??? We had HIM all along?? Please forgive me as we’re not really familiar with conductors’ name, and Maastricht??? not even English … never heard of it … Music this good, we just didn’t even think the musicians were still alive.
And of course, how many times André surprised me in his DVDs is another story. I was around 5 when I last heard my dad play Persian Market cassette tape in the car before I saw André’s version in the bonus features of Flying Dutchman.
And because of the difficult times that André and Marjorie had to overcome in the early years, how the Serenata became a huge success, especially after the little bird kept chirping in its cage, I felt the Rieu family was like our long-lost friend … no, they’re more like a family.
As soon as I started my Google, I found so much information in Sonja’s Translations website, I read the inspired fans stories, and was amazed in the tremendous effort put in to help promote André in the States, how they wanted him to come back every year ...wish I were there to give a hand ...
Even now, André is BIG in many countries, but not as well-known as he should be in the States or Canada. We still hear “Andre Who??”
And so my dear friends, it’s my chance to do my part, so I thought … “Oh! What the heck!” Mom and dad haven’t been to New York for a long time (28 years??), I’ll just take my days off, coloured my gray hair, pack our bags and set our journey to the Big Apple ........... Alice
5/16/73
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Alice's Trip To The Big Apple
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I thought I would talk about my New York story from the moment we arrive in NY … wrong!We had a late night flight, taking off Vancouver at 11pm June, 14. Though quite sleepy, I still browsed through the in-flight entertainment. Wondering if there’s any André music … then right on the first page under classical, A (as in André) comes first, and what a nice surprise, there’s the orange CD cover of Forever Vienna, the UK version. Oh! Gotta take a picture of it and show the folks in the Harmony Parlor. Miss flight attendant might have found me a bit
strange, as if I had never seen a video screen on the back of the seat. I had to take quite a few pics to get a better one. The meal was more delicious as I played Bolero with my headsets on.
Arrived JFK Airport before 7am June, 15, so when we got to the hotel to drop off our luggage, our room wasn’t ready. We stayed at the Manhattan Centre Hotel which is just 100 yards to Rockefeller Plaza, so we walked around (and around) the blocks, had breakfast at Rockefeller Centre and took some pics there. Thinking we had lots of time, we walked to Central Park (about 10 blocks away) but didn‘t take a stroll inside the park, too many guys came over … Hi, want a city tour? Hi, you speak English, got 2 minutes? I’ll explain the tour…dadadah…dadadah… Hellllo! My head is burning, you made me stand here for 2 minutes and see how you charge me $50 for a short horse ride?? No, thank you… So, we headed back to Radio City Music Hall for a stage door tour at 11:45am. My parents were all good until they had to climb so many steps for the 2nd part of the tour. It’s killing them! When we’re still having breakfast my mom said she wanted wonton noodles for lunch in Chinatown, but then we’re all soooo tired that no one talked about food anymore. It was hot and I needed a shower, so all we cared for was if our room was ready.
Finally, we got into our room and of course my parents took a nap, I did a 45 minute one too, but DARN! Later I realized André was there at the Rockefeller in the afternoon, so you could imagine how disappointed I was when I saw his Twitter pic showing us he’s right there. I was there a few times before he was there, and we went back at night after he was gone. Too bad! We were tired like dead pigs and had to prepare for next day’s mission.
June 16 4:35am I heard my dad brushing his teeth, we got up, ate a little but not dare to eat or drink much as human nature wouldn’t cooperate while we’re in the famous line-up. We left our hotel a little late than I’d planned for since I wanted to put all the signs and flags in ponchos. I couldn’t afford to get them wet. Sooo good to see Dan the banner man, we know for sure there’d be a great big banner for André. MaryAnn, Ursula and Peter were already with Dan in the front of the line-up when we got there around 5:35am. Well, at least my parents and I made it to the first 20 people in the line-up. Nice to get big hugs from them before I sweat. Another 4 hrs in the sun you might not want to get near me. I saw people lying on the ground making signs and thought “Nice!”, but those were just Today Show fans who wanna show their family and friends their signs, they’re not here for André. Okay! Fine! I just have to remember that the Today Show does not feature our André only, though to us, it’s always JUST Andre. I didn’t even think there are people who would get there early enough just to say “Hi Mom” thru TV! But then I’m not sure if it was actually the 3 of us who were more crazy to fly 5hrs one way so that we could stick out some assorted paper signs. There’s also free coffee and donuts offered in the little truck parked right at the beginning of the line-up. Dad and mom unfolded their little stools trying to conserve energy. I started to give out little flags but there were not many fans at the line-up.
Later, we saw the RIEU buses coming and stopped right on 48th Street. YEAAAHHHH! They’re here! We waved at the orchestra members as they walked by and entered the plaza.
My parents didn’t have much chance to enjoy their time on the little stools. Soon there’s music as they started the sound check. Not much later we’re allowed to get in, , I didn’t remember exactly what time, maybe some fans would tell, but it’s around 6:30am I think.
The arrangement of how we got to the front spots was a bit confused and disappointing though. We all gathered together until at some point, the crew rearranged the fences and asked us to move further. Huhhh? We were trapped but I found it okay, though we’re apart from the big crowd, we’re standing even closer to the orchestra, and André would turn around and see us anyway. Besides, I don’t need to show some “Hi Mom” sign, I can just say it to her. It’s just that I couldn’t give out the remaining NY flags I brought. And as long as the signs got enough attention, our mission is accomplished. Oh! Did I mention André looked at me and smiled? Well, calm down my friends, it’s because he saw my neon yellow sign without the need of putting on his reading glasses. I have an orange Opa André one, but had to rely on others to help me hold it. I was happy to meet Marsey and a new friend Marilyn, who not only helped hold the signs, but a few fans also helped save my spot while I walked away a few steps to take pics.
There’s one woman in pink shirt who asked if we could let her squeeze in to take a pic as she’s “short”, we’re nice André fans so we just let her through, she asked for a flag as well, but later she stole my mom’s spot and kept it, I don’t think she even knows the man printed on the big apple. Our new friend Marilyn from Central New York stood up for mom. Oh! And it’s mom’s birthday…kind of! When we crossed security check at Vancouver Airport, the officer said “it’s birthday for her soon”. Mom’s passport and IDs have June 16 as birthday, but it’s for lunar year, so we normally celebrate on the lunar year birthday, guess she could celebrate twice this year, but no birthday kiss from André for the 78-yr-old woman. It’s Father’s Day this Sunday as well, but poor dad was so tired after standing there for a while. Standing still and trying to avoid people taking your spot is worse than walking for hours. Again it’s dad who glued and taped together our flags, I only printed them. Good thing we had Dan on the other side with his nice BIG Today Welcomes André banner. And guess what, I saw Mr. Don’t-know-what-to-call-him-anymore security guard (sorry, if you‘re a new fan you might not know my previous episodes). Of course, Johann was there, but there’s no need to mention him anymore. He’s THE one!
The orchestra rehearsed and played a few pieces: America the Beautiful (just for sound check), Radetzky March, Strauss Party, Libiamo, Chianti Song and more, but we wouldn’t know how many songs were for the real show. Laurie has already posted details in the guestbook as to which time slot they played, so I won’t repeat here.
After sound check, the whole orchestra had to get changed, so when they appeared again they’re all in beautiful costumes. One woman in the front brought some CDs for André to sign and she was successful as André walked over to her. He told us to clap when they do Radetzky March. André, did you not know that we ALWAYS clap for Radetzy March….maybe just being André the perfectionist! They played, we clapped, they stopped, we waited, they played, we waved, the real thing was put on at 8:30am. At one time mom was too excited that she didn’t even realize she had the Opa André sign upside down J . One fan said my dad was too nice that he’d given all the space to the ladies and not fight for it to show the Vancouver banner he made. Someone came over to ask if anyone could go out to dance….hmmm….sorry, not us!
strange, as if I had never seen a video screen on the back of the seat. I had to take quite a few pics to get a better one. The meal was more delicious as I played Bolero with my headsets on.Arrived JFK Airport before 7am June, 15, so when we got to the hotel to drop off our luggage, our room wasn’t ready. We stayed at the Manhattan Centre Hotel which is just 100 yards to Rockefeller Plaza, so we walked around (and around) the blocks, had breakfast at Rockefeller Centre and took some pics there. Thinking we had lots of time, we walked to Central Park (about 10 blocks away) but didn‘t take a stroll inside the park, too many guys came over … Hi, want a city tour? Hi, you speak English, got 2 minutes? I’ll explain the tour…dadadah…dadadah… Hellllo! My head is burning, you made me stand here for 2 minutes and see how you charge me $50 for a short horse ride?? No, thank you… So, we headed back to Radio City Music Hall for a stage door tour at 11:45am. My parents were all good until they had to climb so many steps for the 2nd part of the tour. It’s killing them! When we’re still having breakfast my mom said she wanted wonton noodles for lunch in Chinatown, but then we’re all soooo tired that no one talked about food anymore. It was hot and I needed a shower, so all we cared for was if our room was ready.
Finally, we got into our room and of course my parents took a nap, I did a 45 minute one too, but DARN! Later I realized André was there at the Rockefeller in the afternoon, so you could imagine how disappointed I was when I saw his Twitter pic showing us he’s right there. I was there a few times before he was there, and we went back at night after he was gone. Too bad! We were tired like dead pigs and had to prepare for next day’s mission.
June 16 4:35am I heard my dad brushing his teeth, we got up, ate a little but not dare to eat or drink much as human nature wouldn’t cooperate while we’re in the famous line-up. We left our hotel a little late than I’d planned for since I wanted to put all the signs and flags in ponchos. I couldn’t afford to get them wet. Sooo good to see Dan the banner man, we know for sure there’d be a great big banner for André. MaryAnn, Ursula and Peter were already with Dan in the front of the line-up when we got there around 5:35am. Well, at least my parents and I made it to the first 20 people in the line-up. Nice to get big hugs from them before I sweat. Another 4 hrs in the sun you might not want to get near me. I saw people lying on the ground making signs and thought “Nice!”, but those were just Today Show fans who wanna show their family and friends their signs, they’re not here for André. Okay! Fine! I just have to remember that the Today Show does not feature our André only, though to us, it’s always JUST Andre. I didn’t even think there are people who would get there early enough just to say “Hi Mom” thru TV! But then I’m not sure if it was actually the 3 of us who were more crazy to fly 5hrs one way so that we could stick out some assorted paper signs. There’s also free coffee and donuts offered in the little truck parked right at the beginning of the line-up. Dad and mom unfolded their little stools trying to conserve energy. I started to give out little flags but there were not many fans at the line-up.
Later, we saw the RIEU buses coming and stopped right on 48th Street. YEAAAHHHH! They’re here! We waved at the orchestra members as they walked by and entered the plaza.
My parents didn’t have much chance to enjoy their time on the little stools. Soon there’s music as they started the sound check. Not much later we’re allowed to get in, , I didn’t remember exactly what time, maybe some fans would tell, but it’s around 6:30am I think.
The arrangement of how we got to the front spots was a bit confused and disappointing though. We all gathered together until at some point, the crew rearranged the fences and asked us to move further. Huhhh? We were trapped but I found it okay, though we’re apart from the big crowd, we’re standing even closer to the orchestra, and André would turn around and see us anyway. Besides, I don’t need to show some “Hi Mom” sign, I can just say it to her. It’s just that I couldn’t give out the remaining NY flags I brought. And as long as the signs got enough attention, our mission is accomplished. Oh! Did I mention André looked at me and smiled? Well, calm down my friends, it’s because he saw my neon yellow sign without the need of putting on his reading glasses. I have an orange Opa André one, but had to rely on others to help me hold it. I was happy to meet Marsey and a new friend Marilyn, who not only helped hold the signs, but a few fans also helped save my spot while I walked away a few steps to take pics.
There’s one woman in pink shirt who asked if we could let her squeeze in to take a pic as she’s “short”, we’re nice André fans so we just let her through, she asked for a flag as well, but later she stole my mom’s spot and kept it, I don’t think she even knows the man printed on the big apple. Our new friend Marilyn from Central New York stood up for mom. Oh! And it’s mom’s birthday…kind of! When we crossed security check at Vancouver Airport, the officer said “it’s birthday for her soon”. Mom’s passport and IDs have June 16 as birthday, but it’s for lunar year, so we normally celebrate on the lunar year birthday, guess she could celebrate twice this year, but no birthday kiss from André for the 78-yr-old woman. It’s Father’s Day this Sunday as well, but poor dad was so tired after standing there for a while. Standing still and trying to avoid people taking your spot is worse than walking for hours. Again it’s dad who glued and taped together our flags, I only printed them. Good thing we had Dan on the other side with his nice BIG Today Welcomes André banner. And guess what, I saw Mr. Don’t-know-what-to-call-him-anymore security guard (sorry, if you‘re a new fan you might not know my previous episodes). Of course, Johann was there, but there’s no need to mention him anymore. He’s THE one!
The orchestra rehearsed and played a few pieces: America the Beautiful (just for sound check), Radetzky March, Strauss Party, Libiamo, Chianti Song and more, but we wouldn’t know how many songs were for the real show. Laurie has already posted details in the guestbook as to which time slot they played, so I won’t repeat here.
After sound check, the whole orchestra had to get changed, so when they appeared again they’re all in beautiful costumes. One woman in the front brought some CDs for André to sign and she was successful as André walked over to her. He told us to clap when they do Radetzky March. André, did you not know that we ALWAYS clap for Radetzy March….maybe just being André the perfectionist! They played, we clapped, they stopped, we waited, they played, we waved, the real thing was put on at 8:30am. At one time mom was too excited that she didn’t even realize she had the Opa André sign upside down J . One fan said my dad was too nice that he’d given all the space to the ladies and not fight for it to show the Vancouver banner he made. Someone came over to ask if anyone could go out to dance….hmmm….sorry, not us!
Happy musical reunion didn’t last long. André Rieu performance was over. Thank you for watching…. We fans had to say goodbye … but here came Pierre, he’s so nice to have talked to us, though from the picture it looks as if MaryAnn and Pierre were slapping each other‘s face, he was just telling us the twins are doing great. We fans hugged each other again. I had to go as I had to head back to the hotel, get some pics done, packed our luggage and checked out.
And eventually did it rain? Yes, but only drizzle after the whole performance was over and just when the MAN, Pierre, Kerstin, and the entire G-Force team got on the RIEU bus. Thank God St. Peter’s hotline was still reserved for André!
And eventually did it rain? Yes, but only drizzle after the whole performance was over and just when the MAN, Pierre, Kerstin, and the entire G-Force team got on the RIEU bus. Thank God St. Peter’s hotline was still reserved for André!
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