►Click on Picture To See Full Size

Here is the article about André, Pierre and Mayor Leers Welcoming the

Liberators of Maastricht on September 12, 2009. There are photos

below of this gathering ...

A Special Meeting With Rieu

And The Liberators of Maastricht

André Rieu will, at the request of Mayor Leers, welcome the liberators of South Limburg to his Castle on the St Pietersberg this Saturday.

The city of Maastricht, under the slogan of "Liberation and Meeting", is placing a lot of emphasis for the next few days on the fact that 65 years ago this month, the region was liberated from the oppressive bondage of the Nazis.
When the question was put forth to Gerd Leers to welcome the war veterans, he immediately answered with a resounding "YES".

The world famous Maastricht citizen has to pull all his tricks out of the bag in order to arrive on time to his own Castle as he is presently on tour in Germany. After his concert in Saarbrücken, he will go directly to his home. After meeting with the American War Veterans, he will immediately return to his orchestra for a concert that same evening.

For many Americans this meeting will be the highlight of their stay in Maastricht. Rieu is also known in the United States of America as a great performer. Thanks to John for the Translation!

Here is a link to a story out of San Diego, California of one of Six American Veterans that have gone to Maastricht for it's Liberation Day. ►San Diego Vet Goes To Maastricht For Liberation Day

This is a second really nice story of a woman from Florida that has gone to Maastricht also. What an amazing story she tells, including starting the Adopt a Grave Program at ►Margraten just outside of Maastricht. ►Elsa White's Story of Maastricht's Liberation

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.
.
.

Visit With Rieu is More Important Than The Book

UPDATE On: ►Elsa White's Story of Maastricht's Liberation
Elsa Hanöver (White) is certain, "My father built your first violin. He was the owner of the music store in Maastricht", she tells André Rieu.

Even without this knowledge the violinist and orchestra leader admits that he loved the “blackmail" by this 87 year old lady. She wrote Mayor Leers informing him that she was wanting to travel to Maastricht to partake in the 65 years celebration of the liberation, under one condition: that she could meet André Rieu.

Rieu interrupted his Concert Tour in Germany to join a luncheon with the veterans in his Castle.

This weekend a book about Hanöver was released: "Else Hanöver, War years in Maastricht". During the war (1940-1945) she was a secretary to Nazi Party Member and Mayor Peeters and she passed all municipal secrets on to his predecessor Michiels van Kessenich. During the liberation time she showed the Americans "suspected buildings", since she knew where explosives were stored. That's how several bombs were disarmed.The resident of Florida (Hanöver) established a deep friendship with the first American liberator Wilson White.

After the war they kept in contact and married 38 years later. Regretfully White did not live to see the release of her book. Hanöver is very proud of the book, but views André Rieu as the highlight of her visit.

I hope he will soon come to Jacksonville and when he sees me, will say just like Luciano Pavarotti once did very spontaneously: “Hi Elsa!!” ~Thank you to Ineke and John for this ...

Riet's Concert at The Amsterdam ArenA

Saturday afternoon I took the 4 PM train to the Bijlmer-Arena, where I arrived at 5:45. I noticed that the station was not at all crowded, but on the square between the station and the ArenA it seemed like an ants nest of people, all going to the concert. There was a restaurant on the square with an additional floor added, which gave the square more atmosphere. It was not there last year. I grabbed a bite to eat in FEBO's, and although busy everything went smoothly.

Time to meet my Fan friends at our predetermined place. One couple was there already, while the other was still enroute on the bus. Slowly we found our way to the proper entrance, and I looked for my seat inside. My seat was up front, but I did have one of those huge pillars in front of me.Too bad, nothing I could do about that, but with the large screens there, I still had a good view.

At exactly eight o'clock, André marched in, to an atmosphere that was already full of excitement. They played several pieces which I knew and that gave me much pleasure to hear again ... On each of the two ice rinks, an ice dancing couple from "Holiday on Ice" skated to the music of Frank Sinatra's "My way".

At one point it started to become hilarious when Mr. Wijdbeens (André van Duin) entered as a trombone soloist, who also wanted to play a tune.
Of course it did not sound like anything at all, since there appeared to be water in his instrument. He then started to go crazy and wanted to grab the Stradivarius, so he could hit tennis balls into the audience ... André was in a panic. A little bit later he produced a little red (children's) mini grand piano on which he tinkered while the orchestra played along.

As if he did not have enough of the music, Mr. Wijdbeens decided that André was not good enough of a conductor. He left the stage then came back with a large flat box (150 cm X 50 cm) opened it and produced a very small conductor's wand. Mr. Wijdbeens then decided to conduct the JSO, but the music was nothing to be enjoyed, and since they were totally out of tune he appeared to become angry. After a little tantrum he scolded the pianist Stephanie Detry and sent her off the stage.

After intermission the Maastrichter Staar entered singing with burning torches. And again sang the song "The 12 Thieves". André informs us that the Golden Coach is on its way from Vienna. I thought that Franz Josef and Sissi (Suzan Erens) would be entering, but instead it seemed to carry Mr. and Mrs. de Bok, played by André van Duin and Corrie van Gorp. With a lot of hilarity they entered the stage as André (van Duin) carried Corrie up the steps.

Since André Rieu is well known, HE was to take a photo of Mr. & Mrs. de Bok, and not the other way around. André en Corrie presented André with a golden record for the sales of 50,000 DVD's of Maastricht 3 inside the period of one month.

The musical band "Edelweiss" from Heerlen also performed, as well as a large bagpipe band. It was a phenomenal concert! I laughed a lot and really enjoyed it.

There are many photos below of the concert to see ...

Riet Holmer-Jansen
(Translation © by John)
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Steve Goes To André's First Concert

In Sydney 2009

All in all, a fantastic concert, which ran for 3 hours. Audience participation and enthusiasm were terrific. Some of Andre's monologue was new and he spoke quite a bit about having been on Stage giving concerts for 30 years ... he said music was healthy and in all that time he'd never been sick. Had been to the doctor recently who had told him a remarkable discovery - that Andre's
heart beats in ¾ time. And of course the BEST audience of all the audiences around the world is in Australia.

When he asked how many were from Sydney about half the audience raised their hands, and he started counting, "One. two. three." The he asked how many were not from Sydney and almost as many people put their hands up!

Michael Jackson Tribute came unannounced. The Orchestra started playing "Ben" with pic's of MJ on monitors. After Andre spoke about Jackson and introduced the Earth Song by Carmen.

With Espana Cani he used the same routine of talking about bulls and the colour red. Then spotting a woman in audience wearing red and suggesting she take it off!!! The bull comes down aisle, spots her and gives chase. Well received. "The next song will be about elephants" got big laugh and applause.

André said when he arrived after 24 hour flight, he went straight to friend Alan Jones and asked him to sing on the show. The song was "I am, You Are, We Are Australian". André stopped the Orchestra once during the song and let the audience take it. A lot of people know this song.

The Blue Danube had the aisles absolutely crowded with dancers. Terrific turnout. (I saw Margaret waltzing with Maria over the other side and was going to go over and cut in, but by the time I'd taken some photos the aisles were packed, so I gave up the idea). Best turnout I've seen since the Maastricht concerts.

For a a couple of minutes when Radetzky March started I thought Margaret was going to be the only one in the mosh pit. Slow start, but by the time I put my camera away and got myself together it was already starting to fill up. It was crowded down there. Again audience participation was great.

Dame Edna Everage was very popular. Her routine was mainly around her "engagement" to Andre, (which was a secret to his wife). Best part of this act was when he introduced his "grandson" Rupert, who looked about 9 or 10, he did a pretty good job with Hungarian Dance # 5.

I was surprised that a lot of people didn't seem to know all the words to Australia Fair, but I did notice that almost everyone stood up for it. He even gave us a reprise of Waltzing Matilda, and that was the end, almost exactly 3 hours.

PROGRAMME 2009 ANDRÉ RIEU AUSTRALIA

01. 76 Trombones
02. Carmen Overture
03. Intermezzo Sinfonico from Cavalleria Rusticana
04. La Danza
05. Return to Sorrento (w Platin Tenors)
06. Gold and Silver Waltz
06a. Tribute to Michael Jackson Pt 1) Ben
06b. Tribute to Michael Jackson Pt 2) Earth Song (with Carmen Monarcha and Boys Choir)
07. Espana Cani (woman in red being chased by bull)
08. Titanic
09. I Could Have Danced All Night (with Mirusia & soloists)
10. With a Little Bit Of Luck (with all soloists)

INTERMISSION

01. Clog Dance
02. Music, Music
03. I Am Australian by Alan Jones
04. E Lucevan le Stelle (Tosca) with the Platin Tenors
05. To Maxim's (with Platin Tenors)
06. Volga Song
07. Memory (Cats) with Mirusia
07a.Waltzing Matilda with Mirusia
08. Blue Danube
09. Ode to Joy with Soloists

ENCORES

10. Radetzky March with balloons
11. Strauss & Co
12. Libiamo with Soloists
13. Australian Medley: Bananas in Pyjamas, etc.
14. Dame Edna Everage "comedy routine", including her singing "I Still Call Australia Home" (now THAT was funny).
15. Dame Edna introduces "grandson" Rupert (?), about 9 or 10 years old who played Brahms Hungarian Dance # 5, with Andre & Orchestra.
16. Dame Edna and everyone sing "Neighbours".
17. Advance Australia Fair with everyone
18. Adieu Mein Kleiner Gardeoffizier with everyone
19. Andre leads off Waltzing Matilda joined by Orchestra and everyone.

.

.

IN THE GARDEN of The Castle “de Torentjes” at the base of the St Pietersberg, thick cables strewn about. Technicians run back and forth. The beautiful building serves as office/residence of André Rieu, who last week was named as the most selling male artist of the world, regarding the sale of concert tickets.

The day after the release of this big news, Rieu’s house was transformed into a TV-set. No, not to conduct for yet again another interview: today the residence is changed into the set of “Flikken Maastricht” [Cops-Maastricht] Episode 3 can be viewed effective 30 October. Rieu plays a guest roll in the successful TROS series, as himself.

In between the scenes, Rieu appears in the kitchen. Boxes with vlaai are found on the kitchen counter, while son Pierre is preparing the coffee. “I find this extremely interesting to be doing”, says Rieu about the acting. The learning of lines was no obstacle for this particular artist. “For my own shows I too have to prepare for my text. I am pretty good at that” he says with confidence.

.

Neighbours
Members of the recording team walk in and out; all in all it gives the Rieu home a hospitable atmosphere. “We are respectful of one another” says Rieu, who when he heard about the idea, immediately said “Come on over this way”. And so he has to go to the next scene.

SON PIERRE ADDS: “It was entirely the TROS’ idea, and we immediately thought it to be a good idea. André has also played a role in Neighours. During our tour in Australia, at the end of each concert we played a medley of Australian songs, amongst them the theme song of Neighbours. It so happened that the producer of that series was in the audience. He found it all to be very exciting and asked if André would do a guest appearance. Now, that was something!! There too he played himself: a resident of Ramsy Street surprises his wife, after a quarrel, with an appearance of André.

The Rieu family did not really know too much about “Flikken-Maastricht”. “We are seldom home and when we are, we do not watch a lot of TV” says Pierre. “But I happen to obtain the first two series, and viewed all the episodes right away. I found them to be very exiting”.

He is very brief about the role of his father. “I am not allowed to reveal too much, but one of our employees, Bruno, played by Victor Braends, is supposedly involved in a case. Part of the story takes place during our Vrijthof concerts”. The recordings are still very fresh in the mind of Victor Rieneir. “At a certain moment the director was on stage giving directions to the public. Unbelievable, so there you are than with 14000 extras. But this for Rieneir was an absolute must in order to be able to record an episode with Rieu. “He is world renowned and belongs to Maastricht. Just like the time when I thought there had to be an episode of Baantje (jobs) around AJAX. And that eventually was also successful”.

About last week’s news: so pronounced; not U2, or the Rolling Stones

"No, Rieu sells the Most Concert Tickets."

To the actor, Flikken is a more challenging role that “Baantje.” “Because you can get deeper into the characters. With “Baantje” everything was clear from the very beginning. It always started with a corps and in the end “De Cocque” always solved the mystery. Fledder will never solve a case. That was an excellent formula, and as an actor you can do more with the character of Floris Wolffs. I find the second series of Flikken-Maastricht more interesting then the first. You grow more into your role and the balance between the characters is better. Besides, the first series was more of a police plot, whereas the second involves more around people.”

On the set it seems that André has been part of Flikken-Maastricht for years. At lunchtime he pleasantly joins the crew at the mobile canteen, where eating is done on simple fold-up benches and tables, out in the open. After the meal, the long awaited vlaai appears.

.

Specialties
Angela Scheijf, who plays the role of Eve Dongen, is openly enjoying the recordings around the Rieu home. “These specials are always very welcome. Maastricht is sort of a playground and we regularly have action scenes with stunts and guns. I find it extremely nice to be working with André Rieu. He is extremely professional even though forty people invade his home. I played myself once in a VPRO-series for channel 7, and I know how difficult that is. He does it very well”.

According to Rieneir, Flikken-Maastricht can be around for a long time. The crime is unfortunately inexhaustible. There are so many variances. One of the permanent roles will not survive. No, not mine nor Angela’s, but cannot say more. I find it a good choice, and it affords us more possibilities.

*NOTE: Vlaai (pronounced Fly) is a pie or tart consisting of a pastry and filling. Originally Vlaai was created in Weert, Limburg and is therefore also known as Weertervlaai. It is a typical product from the southern regions of the Netherlands, but nowadays generally available all through the country and in parts of Belgium and Germany near to the border of the Netherlands. It is available in many different varieties of fruit fillings (cherry, apricot, plum, gooseberry, apple with raisins), a crumbled butter and sugar mix ("kruimelvlaai") and a cooked rice and custard porridge ("rijstevlaai").

Thank you as always, for John's hard work in ©Translating this for us and to Ineke and Ruud for sending it!!

►Click on Postor To See Full Size