André Rieu Waltzes The Roof Off The Amsterdam ArenA

André Rieu Waltzes The Roof Off The Amsterdam ArenA

If Orange (color of the Dutch soccer team) does not go to Vienna, than André Rieu will bring Vienna to the Netherlands. Friday evening, the waltz king magically changed the Amsterdam ArenA with his replica of Schloss Schönnbrunn.

Amsterdam
By Peter van de Berg

It is quite a sight, André Rieu, riding a ladies bicycle in between the empty rows of seats in the empty Amsterdam ArenA. From the stage to the sound control area in the back of the stadium. While the Johann Strauß Orchestra is practicing, the waltz king listens to his musicians in a very concentrated manner. He then turns to his technicians on the mixing panel; “That echo will disappear, won’t it?

That is André Rieu at his best. A perfectionist who ensures that every minute detail of his mega concert is carried out precisely. Specifically in the area of the music. Take for instance the roof of the ArenA which will be covered with meters and meters of cloth. Not only to control the light coming into the arena, but also to improve on the acoustics. The Maastricht stand alone violinist really keeps an eye on everything. The golden carriage with six white horses from Austria has to be brought to a halt in front of the stage at the exact moment when the last notes of “Trumpet Voluntary” are played. To achieve that, the entrance of the carriage—which will carry Empress Sisi during the concert---will be rehearsed again.

It is six PM, the first of two huge shows in the soccer stadium. Up until now, only those who attended the concerts in Toronto or Düsseldorf, Germany, could view the mega decor with their own eyes. Now for the first time, the replica of the Austrian palace Schönnbrunn stands proudly on Dutch soil.
Earlier during the day, the 58 year old orchestra leader said in a radio interview that he was going to treat the audience to a nice evening in Vienna. What the Dutch soccer team could not accomplish during the European Championship, Rieu makes it a reality in his home country. If the Dutch team had reached the finals, he was ready to travel with his orchestra to Austria. Alas, it was not meant to be. But, the 26,000 concertgoers in the sold old stadium are not letting that affect them. While Dad is rehearsing on the stage, son Pierre (27) watches him. In the same radio program he had a request for his father and asked him to play: “Ich bau Dir ein Schloss” (I build you a castle) sung by Heintje, also a Limburger phenomenon. Would that not be fitting? Proudly he looks at that impressive palace, which for the ArenA was a shorter version without a roof, or it would not fit in the soccer temple. ”When, two years ago my Dad asked me if I could copy the Schönbrunn, without hesitation I answered-- yes”.
So, Pierre Rieu pulled out all the stops. The biggest portable stage ever, including a ballroom and two ice rinks. That during the concerts presents an impressive picture as tens of Viennese Debutants waltz in the ballroom and float across the ice. It also appears that André Rieu has successfully conquered the acoustical problem—something that has played havoc with other concerts conducted in the ArenA. A gigantic production like this takes months in preparation. “For this we have a special construction book” says Pierre Rieu. “Everything is properly coordinated, otherwise it would be impossible to have the stage and lighting, sound and catering all appear in the same place. We present total entertainment. This for us is also a “thank you” to the Dutch public who supported André from the very beginning”.
Could it even get bigger? “For us, that is not necessary. You can, for instance, copy the Eiffel tower, but for us, with this palace, we are contend for a long time. We would like to conquer South America. We have never been there. The people there will also get to see this castle”.

Thank you to John for getting and translating this for us!!