How Does Rieu and Company Rehearse?

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ON THE ROAD TO SOUTH AFRICA

Troskompas April, 2010

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How André Rieu and his orchestra prepare for the South African concerts becomes clear in the new road soap which starts on Friday, April 23rd. How does a normal week day take place for this musical group? Troskompas was there during the rehearsals.

On a Monday morning Troskompas arrives at the André Rieu studios located in an industrial area in Maastricht. At this hour it is about 9 AM, we don't hear any musical notes yet since the rehearsal time for the orchestra is 9:30 AM. Still it is rather crowded inside, all of the orchestra members are already there.

"Most of them are here at 8.30 AM, because they like to talk to their colleagues", says Kerstin Cornelis, André's P.R. manager. "André thinks that a good atmosphere in the orchestra is very important. That's why the complete group always departs together from the studios to start on a tour, whether it is a trip to Amsterdam or to Australia."

It is almost 9.30 AM and the orchestra members move into the studio where they'll do the rehearsals. The room is big, but cozy. There are a few pieces of scenery around and from the ceiling hang decorative lamps. André takes place behind his music stand and greets the musicians who are tuning their instruments. Today, amongst others, pieces of music will be recorded for the new CD "Songs for my Mum." (Since then we know that Title has been changed to "You Raise Me Up")
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Listening With a Critical Ear
The orchestra starts with the cheerful "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from the musical “Mary Poppins” (which recently celebrated its European premiere in the Netherlands). In the control room technicians handle the big mixing consoles. After the orchestra played this piece twice, André goes into the control room to listen to the recording in a critical manner. The end of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" did not meet with his approval. "Am I strict? Yes, but in a likable sort of way! If I would tell my orchestra members off, they would run away and never come back" he says laughingly.

A One Hundred Percent Effort
"André is not too strict in a sense, but he is a perfectionist", says cello player Tanja (37) a little bit later. "Everything has to be correct to within the smallest details. He commits himself 100% and that's what he also expects from his orchestra members. Tanja has been a member of the orchestra for 13 years and never wants to leave. The mutual atmosphere, the performances for enthusiastic audiences and the travelling make it a dream job", she explains while preparing herself to go across to the other side of the street to the child care center set up by André, where her son is being cared for while she and the orchestra are rehearsing. "Very handy! Now I don't need to drive all over to drop off or pick up my child".

Different Nationalities
In the meantime lunchtime has arrived. Violinist Frank (39) walks to the canteen to get a sandwich. "Only one evening in my life have I been without work! The day after I finished my musical education André called me and offered me a job. I have been playing in his orchestra now for 16 years. Frank also speaks highly about the mutual atmosphere between the musicians. "It is one great group of friends. That way we always take a little bit of "home" with us on tour. The nice thing is that we do have a lot of nationalities in the orchestra. The new members speak fluent Dutch within three months and are completely integrated. They do not need Dutch orientation courses at all.” One of the foreign musicians is Boris (64) from Russia, who has been a member of the orchestra for 9 years. “What do I like about this job? I can play the kind of music I love".

Three Hours of Playing
The lunch break is almost finished. Near the percussionists, we meet Glenn (18). "As a 15 year old, I was already performing on stage with the orchestra during the summer concerts, and a little over a year ago I came here on a permanent basis", he says. He grew up with Rieu's music, Father Marcel (44) has been a member of the orchestra already for 20 years, also as a percussionist. Says Marcel, "I would not like to play with another orchestra. Previously I played in symphony orchestras, which meant a lot of waiting and counting. With Rieu, I am on stage for three hours, I also play three hours, and that is much more interesting".

Never a Vacation
When the rehearsal continues, Kimmy, a South African songstress who will be part of the tour in South Africa arrives in the studios. "Last night we already practiced a little together. I was brought to tears by her beautiful voice", says André to the orchestra members. Kimmy will rehearse later on this week with the orchestra. But first the pieces for "Songs For My Mum" are up, including one of them which is a "Heintje" classic, named "Mama". (Heintje, aka Hein Simons is a well known Dutch singer who at a very young age captured most of Europe with his wonderful voice.) Again it is recorded, listened to, and so it goes for a while, along with a lot of other pieces.

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Around 12.30 PM the rehearsals are finished and the orchestra members return home. But not André, he still has a lot of items on his agenda. "Later on I have a meeting with a producer for a TV "Special" in Germany. Afterwards the choir will come to the studios to record the vocals for the new CD and tonight we are going to rehearse with Kimmy". The rest of the week is also fairly well filled up for the violinist and orchestra leader. And before he and his orchestra depart for South Africa, there is still a short tour to England.
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"You ask whether I ever have a need for a vacation. The nice thing is that I do not consider my work as work since that is what I love to do most of all, so I do not need a vacation. Indeed I think I would be very, very bored!"

Thanks to Ineke for sending this article to us and John and Ineke for ©Translating it.

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From Your Harmony Parlor Hosts Sue and John
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.The Harmony Parlor began back in August of 2007 as Fansite for 'Current News' of André Rieu, his Johann Strauss Orchestra and Singers and is run by your hosts, Sue Berry and John deJong. Here is a little background history about The Parlor and how it evolved to what it has become today ...

Within those first weeks in August, John joined me and together John and I have worked hard to make it a site where all English speaking fans from around the world can come and read the best of the most current news there is on all things André ...

John who lives in California, is originally from the Netherlands (and also lived in Germany) finds most of our European news and does all the translations of Dutch and German news into English for The Parlor. Running an American Fansite, for a Dutch violinist would just not work without Johns' Translations.

The Parlor has grown from those first weeks back in 2007 of a few hundred hits a day to the current status of 2,000 to 5,000+ hits a day from all over the world, depending on what André is doing and where he is performing. Not too bad for what started out as a little blog about the man with a violin. :)

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We want to thank the fans from around the world who send us their photos and concert experiences, another feature that without them, the Parlor would not be what it is.

Then there are our good friends ... Ineke and Ruud in Holland with their Movie Site and Jann in Australia with her Aussie Fansite. These three sites have worked hand in hand ... together we have created a circle of the best and most up to the minute news of André Rieu for all English speaking fans.

The Parlor is here for all to enjoy and we only ask that you respectfully do not remove photos posted that have been sent to us by fans, our graphics, or John's Translated Articles which are copyrighted, without our permission.

John and Sue ~ Your Hosts of The Harmony Parlor

Alice’s Novel

André and Friends in Vancouver

CAUTION (again?) This One Isn't Much Shorter Than The Ottawa Novel as It’s Not Just About The Concert.

Vancouver was not on the tour map in 2008, but I certainly won’t forget my experience for 2009. It might seem complicated so please bear with me.

Background Info:
To rewind the story a little bit, I bought my tickets once they’re released last October. Several months ago Mrs. Ed (it’s a nick name of Edwina) from Australia said she’d be coming to Vancouver with her husband. We finally met for the first time Apr 30, and I got an extra big hug from Jann. The couple was off to Alaska for 35 days.

The price of a VIP package excluding ticket dropped from USD1500 to USD1250. I got some tax refund and was thinking back and forth and decided to go for it. Deadline was May 12, I’d been waiting for the US dollar to drop so I could save a lunch or two. I even had my order form filled out with credit card number but didn’t get full details from ticketing office so I never sent it. I just couldn’t figure out a proper way for my parents and friends to get to the concert venue and to get home. I’d also have to leave work much earlier if I was going to a sound-check, so I finally had to give up the chance of meeting our dearest André and have a photo taken. Oh well!! Maybe I’ll see him in Australia and have a photo taken for free?? Dreaming ...
To celebrate André’s 30th Anniversary of delivering beautiful music, I custom-made a Canada stamp sheet which I wanted to give him as a souvenir from Canada. I was very surprised to read from the Parlor, just 2 days after I received the stamps, that the Netherlands would have André stamps available in July, so my Canada stamps hatched a little earlier.

So now that I’ve saved over a thousand dollars, I could spend it in some other ways. I wanted to get some souvenirs for the whole André crew but didn’t know what’s proper. They still need to travel, so it has to be light and small, but then I wasn’t sure how many people there were. I finally decided to get those breathing puppies that I sent to Pierre last year. I bought 3 different puppies as their travelling companion in US/Canada tour. A Pug, a St. Bernard and a Chihuahua, and I named them RIEU 1, RIEU 2 and RIEU 3.

More friends bought tickets for the concert since some good seats were released last week, but when the Row 1 seats were released for just $159 each, I wish I had more friends. My S.O.S. message in the guestbook attracted at least one fan. Beate flew over from Germany just to see this concert (and she was already so fast in sending Sue some pics). THANK YOU BEATE!

June 12, The Concert Day
We got there at 7pm and checked out the "boutique" first. I bought a 30th anniversary T-shirt and Tour books. We’re on the floor and had seats in Row 15. As soon as we got to our seats, I needed to find someone to receive my "André souvenirs": the stamps, the 3 puppies, and a few more gifts. I worked for some gala concerts before at the same venue so I knew my way quite well. I walked towards the backstage area….and guess who I first talked to??? Mr. Bodyguard Johann!! He kindly helped me bring all the gifts to André and when I later talked to him again, "Are they real stamps? How is that possible?" he asked. (Yep! Those are real stamps, Johann, they can be used as domestic postage). I’ll just say Johann is a very nice and helpful guy, but I won’t say much more, otherwise, this poor guy needs his own bodyguard pretty soon. (THANK YOU, JOHANN!!)

Several fans came over to say hello. Cindie, whom I first met in Toronto, brought along 5 of her 8 children (did I get it right, Cindie?). What a potential musical family! That familiar face from Germany came over as well, so we took a picture. When Beate told me she’s going back to Germany the next day, I thought "What? You’re here just for the concert? WHOW" You fans are amazing!!
A few more guestbook visitors came to say hello and I’d like to thank them all. It’s funny, I was like a mother giving away her daughter at a wedding banquet and friends came to congratulate me. My dad, my friend and myself were giving away those 450 little flags and guess who’s there taking pictures of us "in action"? Mr. "Still-Don’t-Know-What-Name" security guard. I saw him 3 times already and I wish I knew his name by now, but "Sorry!" (at least I saw him smile this year!) One audience member asked "Excuse me, do you know who won the hockey bla bla bla…?" I said "I don’t care about hockey, I only care about André!" and we all laughed! I got many questions before while giving out the flags: where did you get that T-shirt? Is there an intermission? Is there a washroom on this level? Are those flowers real? Can someone turn up the air conditioning?

It was 7:59pm, Mrs. Ed and Jeff were waving at me from the side section (row 20 ??) so I ran up to them. As soon as I began to talk, the 76 Trombones started. When they say they start at 8pm, they really mean they start at 8pm SHARP, every time! I had to wait for the traffic light while all the orchestra members marched in. Luckily the 76 Trombones was still on when I got back to my seat and reached for my camera.

It was a very pleasant entry with some enthusiastic audiences waving the flags. Though it’s nothing compared to the Ajax game, I still hoped they would help boost everyone’s spirit!

Although I expected the program to be the same, and it was, as the Ottawa one which Al Girard shared on the Parlor in April, it’s still different to experience it all in person. It’s entertaining to hear André’s "jokes", it’s fun watching Cord taking Polaroids (Beate got 1 out of the … 10??) while André posed nicely, though there’s no way the little pictures ever reached Row 15, at least I got a bonus as the bull stepped on my foot when trying to "smell" or "kiss" the woman in front of me!!

The Three Tenors get better and better every year, Carla’s voice in the Doll Song was even more amazing than before, Mirusia was singing with all her happy soul, Kalki was pretty impressive too. Ruud’s not there, so it’s probably his turn babysitting at home while Lin goes on tour. No Frank, no Kremi, 6 girls in choir. Not too many standing ovations, just a few, but the applauses were quite loud and extended, so I’d say the response was not bad at all. I found it a much more enthusiastic crowd than that in 2007.

During intermission, I ran up to the 300 level to meet my friend on wheelchair and her mom thanked me again for introducing André’s music to her. After a little chat, I had to go to the restroom. I then went down to the floor and then ran up to Mrs. Ed again on the opposite side of the arena since I still hadn’t got a chance to talk to her yet. I did more running in those 20 minutes than I normally did in a whole month.

During encores, me and my dad were holding up some banners. It was sooo warm I could already smell my underarms and so I didn’t dare to put up my hands too high at first. It took André sometime to turn his head to where I was standing and when he did see us, I think he was looking at me for some 6 seconds if not 8 (well, I just assume he’s looking at me and not the banners).

It’s packed in front of the stage but I tried to find my way towards the middle. If salmon swims upstream, so could I …. I was finally standing right in front of HIM. He started to play Lullaby and I said to the woman next to me "We HATE Lullaby!" ‘cos it’s always the real ending! No more 1,2,3,4,5. No more what shall we do. No more you go home, I go drink. THAT’S IT!

Hey! But we could still wait for André’s autograph at the bus. We’re lucky! Weather was very nice, a little breeze without rain, about 14 people there waiting and we waited for about 50 min. I got an autograph and Mrs. Ed got her Live in Australia CD signed. He only signed a few and then had to leave. I got mine! YES!!!

Okay, folks, guess that’s it, no more! But here comes my surprise again! Suddenly a pretty girl popped up right in front of me. I was hugging her and screaming so loud those people on the other side of the street could probably hear me. It was Mirusia walking over to me to thank me for the gift I gave her. It was so nice of her as she was in a hurry already. Kerstin came by to thank me as well as I had something for her little princess. We’re all so happy to see these friendly people and certainly a nice bonus for a grand finale.

Time to say goodbye to Beate who’d be taking the flight back to Germany the following afternoon. I told Mrs. Ed that I’d be picking her up in the morning.

June 13, an Emergency Change in Plans!

I picked up Mrs. Ed at 11:00am in a hotel downtown, just a block around General Motors Place. They had a midnight flight for Australia. I intended to bring them to a late lunch after a bit sight-seeing of Vancouver. I drove by where I used to work and was just telling them that Ruth and Bobbie came here too in 2007. While we’re still talking, suddenly Mrs. Ed held up her hand and pointed "Look! The bus!!" (and she sounded as if she needed an oxygen mask). MY GOD! What kind of timing is this? If I wasn’t picking them up at that time, and wasn’t taking them to where I thought we’re going, we wouldn’t be at the same intersection as the RIEU buses. We’re heading east to west, while the buses were going north to south. We saw a RIEU bus waiting at the red light on our right side and we waved while proceeding at our green light. The driver probably thought "Who (the heck) was that?" While we’re still trying to believe what we just saw, I said "Shall we follow them (to wave goodbye)?" "That’s a good idea!" said Mrs. Ed. I then turned at the next light as I was confident that I could catch up with them. Yep! We drove by all 3 RIEU buses and after a traffic light, I was in front of RIEU 1, i.e. with Taanda watching the back of our car, with the André bumper sticker (on the rear window) and A RIEU plate. I asked the Aussies "Have you been to White Rock" Jeff said "No", Mrs. Ed asked "Where’s White Rock", Jeff remembered "That’s the border". Okay, we have a slight change in our itinerary, let’s go to White Rock". The Aussie woman said "I like that slight change". Someone waved from the bus too but since the window was tinted we couldn’t see who it was. We can’t explain how we got into this luck in timing but it’s for real. The buses and our car were like Twitter, I follow you, you follow me.

We saw from the rear mirror a man in dress shirt with a tie sitting right behind driver’s seat, so we figured it must be André. Sorry André if we scared you and the drivers, but we didn’t plan on stalking you for 35km, we just got toooo excited and wanted to "escort" you and made sure you’re all fine J. Mrs. Ed had a balloon from the concert but didn’t want to poke it in the hotel as she thought it’d be too noisy (in case it’s mistaken for gunshot??) so we still had it in the car.

When the RIEU Buses came near the exit for all buses/trucks crossing the border, we drove by them, honking at each RIEU bus and waved goodbye (I seldom honk but there were no other vehicles then so guess it’s okay.) Jeff saw Taanda laughing as Jeff waved his blue balloon at her bus. Oh! What a day! We thought we were in heaven at the concert night and just when we came down we’re sent up there again!
We did go to White Rock eventually and we went to a few other places as well. The Aussies arrived safely at the Vancouver airport and would be busy preparing her side of the story and pics when they get home! ... Alice

This was a long one Alice and I LOVED it!! Hope those "Bumps" are feeling better now!! ;-)

André Rieu's Strokes of Genius
Australian Sunday Newspaper October 4, 2009

Thanks to Mike in Australia for this ...

André Rieu in Limelight Magazine's

November 2009 Issue

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Little Rieu and Alice in Maastricht

MAASTRICHT this year was just amazing, with FIVE concerts and so many old and new friends to meet up with again. It was a time of sheer happiness, excitement, emotions and pure joy! There are many stories to come from this years outing to the city ... but one of mine is nothing to do with the concerts, or the music ... it's to do with friendships.

My friend Betty and I went a week early so that we could enjoy the quiet charm of Maastricht that we love so much before the thousands of fans came upon it. We had a wonderful time and it was everything we remembered from years before ... (this was our third year). Breakfast on the River Maas on a beautiful clear morning, walking the little winding cobblestone streets that were almost empty until we were lost, and enjoying the wonderful food at the Cafe's around the Vrijthof ~ with our home base always being Gauchos for afternoon tea and dinner where we could watch the André happenings on the Vrijthof.

At the end of the first week I was starting to feel just a little homesick at times. It's a long way from home and I was missing it ... but especially my Sassy. I started missing those big brown eyes and wet kisses. Around that time though, all the fans started arriving for the second week of concerts and festivities. One dear friend, Alice ... brought me the cutest gift ... a little puppy. Not just any little puppy ... this one was like André's dog. She even had a friend dye parts of the puppy's hair to look more like André's dog!! Little did she know that this silly little stuffed puppy was just what I needed with being a little on the homesick side and missing my Sassy so much. It wasn't Sassy ~ but it was a puppy with a little cocked head that I swear gave it personality. And it was so sweet of her to think of something special like that to give to me ~ I instantly loved Rieu. (of course I named him Rieu!) For three days ~ Rieu went everywhere with me, he even slept with me!! :) I carried him around during the day with his little head sticking out of my Maastricht bag. My friends got to know him! I know ~ I'm crazy. He was so cute though and I just loved that little puppy.

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On the third day, a very special day ... Jann arrived from Australia. We have been very close friends through email and hours on hours on the phone ... but have never met. I was so excited when she got there!!! And she too brought me a gift. "ALICE" the Koala Bear! Well, there we were at Gauchos and suddenly everyone is taking pictures of me and Jann and Alice ... and some just of Alice. God, even Alice loved Alice!!! While there in the Maastricht bag is poor little Rieu wondering, "Alice, Alice ~ Who the "Heck" is Alice!!!"

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Alice was absolutely adorable and with the history behind her I will always cherish her. I took her back up to my room and she sat in the chair there by the window for all to see ... then off we went to dinner, with little Rieu in my Maastricht bag sticking his tiny head out ~ happy again. :) He went all over Maastricht with me and even to one of the concerts!! He also watched one of them from the window in our room and clapped along with Teresa from England! He had a gay old time ...

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Then it was the night before we were to leave for home. We got back to the room late ... I got ready for bed and as I came out of the bathroom Sonja was already in bed (hugging her little Teddy Bear from Alice). I went to my Maastricht bag to get Rieu to go to bed ........ and NO Rieu!!!! I was panicked!!!! 

We looked everywhere!!!! Under chairs, under the beds, in the covers and cushions ... Rieu was nowhere. All I could think is I must have left him at Gauchos at dinner time. I couldn't go look because it was three in the morning. I was in tears ........ poor Sonja even offered me her Teddy Bear to sleep with. Seriously!!! Now THAT'S a friend! But it wasn't Rieu ... Rieu was given to me by a sweet friend and he had become so special to me ......

I went to bed heartbroken ... I was leaving the next day to go home and no Rieu. I thought I would forever be sad about this. I couldn't go to sleep wondering where he was ... had someone taken him? Did Gauchos have him safely in lost and found? Would I never know and never see him again? ........ I said to Sonja, this is crazy, a grown woman in tears because she can't find her little stuffed puppy .......... I was so sad as I fell asleep. :(

The next morning when I woke, the first thing on my mind was to get to Gauchos and see if they had Rieu!! I prayed that they had Rieu!! I was getting ready and went to reach for my jacket on the back of the chair. I don't know what made me look, but I looked again behind the chair in the daylight and THERE WAS RIEU!!!!!!! I was happy beyond words of description and Rieu was going home with me!! ........ Sonja was as excited as I was!! (probably 'cause she was afraid she was going to have to give me her little Teddy Bear!)
Rieu made the long trip home ... yes, with his tiny little head sticking out of my Maastricht bag. The lady in Airport Security gave me an odd look ...... but I didn't care, Rieu was going home with me! He sits with me at my laptop and keeps me company every night now. Working hard on the Parlor into the wee hours ... :)

Poor Alice was not so lucky. She was too big and just not enough room in my luggage for her. So Sonja said she would mail her to me in California from her mom's near Amsterdam. She had so little time at her mom's and with all she was doing she didn't get a chance to mail Alice ... now I was starting to wonder, Where the "Heck" is Alice!?!?! I didn't want to say anything though as it was nice of her to offer to ship her. She had decided to bring Alice home with her and mail her to me from there. (Ohio)

. Alice arrived yesterday!! And since little Rieu feels like King of the house now, he was not threatened at all by Alice's arrival. They have had a wonderful reunion and ALL are happy!! ...........

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THE END

Now the moral of this story is ... how many people have friends that will bring them a Puppy and a Koala Bear half way around the world, or offer to give you their Teddy Bear!! How lucky am I??? :)

PS ~ The Concerts Were Great!!!