38,605 Attend André Rieu's Concert at Telstra Dome!

Record Breaking Crowd at Telstra Dome ~ 38,605

Saturday November 15, 2008

I was informed mid-way through this evening's performance at Telstra Dome that all previous attendance records had been broken with a turnstile entrance figure of 38,605, this was the official count just moments before André and the JSO performed their stunning rendition of Bolero.

The stadium was buzzing with excitement and anticipation, our meeting point by the fountain prior to the concert was a great success, affording the opportunity to meet friends made through André's music and the website, meeting Margaret (Mother Superior) was one of the highlights of the evening for me. We were in the VIP section this evening and being so close to the stage was WOW but I have to admit, I preferred our seating on Thursday night on the Balcony, our view was just as good if not better, we had a much better overall view of EVERYTHING, the JSO, the dancers and skaters, the coach and horses etc.

After finding our seats, hubby went AWOL and had not returned as André and the JSO made their entrance to 76 Trombones, I had visions of him being chastised by the Maestro who was (as always) quick to point out to latecomers he had come from Holland and HE was on time !!! Hubby appeared as the last of the orchestra were settling on stage, looking like the cat who had swallowed the canary, he "merely" happened to be where they were all assembling to make their entrance up the aisles and had been (shock, horror, jealous) chatting away with Franco, Teun and a few of the others - "not happy Jann" ... In his usual style, André indulged in petting his audience and started the evening softly and calmly to the melodic strains of "Voices of Spring", building up to the brilliance and drama of "Bolero", followed by the Radetzky March, the release of the balloons and allowing the concert to climax with the Encores, where he included many Australian songs and finished the concert with the sentimental Australian favourite "Waltzing Matilda" - he left the stage teasing the crowd with "AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE - OI, OI, OI ... and Melbourne farewelled him in a chorus of echo's.
It was a fantastic evening, André was playful, he teased, he joked, he played beautifully and the audience loved it along with the antics of the orchestra members, As Mirusia, who looked absolutely stunning in her red glittering gown sang "Botany Bay" you could hear the whole stadium singing along with her during the chorus and she brought the house down with Aussie, Aussie, Aussie - oi oi oi. Then there was the unbelievable sight of the Maestro himself holding on to his Strad, kangaroo hopping along to "Tie Me Kangaroo Down whilst the audience sang along. There were many standing ovations and the introduction of the two Aussie's brought the house down and there were many with tears in their eyes as the Platin Tenors sang their tribute to Luciano Pavarotti.

A word of warning to the un-initiated joining the André "mosh pit" up at the stage for the encores, be prepared to be pushed, shoved, elbowed, stood upon, knocked sideways and be trodden on, as the enthusiasm of getting closer to their favourite musician robs them of their senses, as my daughter commented in utter amazement, the "mosh pits" for touring Rock Stars are better behaved ... The magical evening came to an end all too quickly and we now await his return in October 2009. ~ Jann (from The Aussie Fansite)

Photos by Jann, Al and Rob