Joys First Concert With André Rieu in Melbourne

Joys First Concert With André in Melbourne

I have just returned from the big concert, and what a wonderful experience it was, there is so much I could tell you but I would have to go on for ages. It was the most exciting night of my whole life I think. The enormity of the stadium, all the beautiful white seats set in place, the beautiful stage which looked enormous, and the huge television screens of course which were terrific. And because people stood up every time anything happened, such as horses coming in or the bagpipe players, you couldn't actually see them, and therefore had to rely on the screens to see them. I thought the screens were great and took a lot of photos of that.
What a wondrous atmosphere, thousands of people, all happy and smiling and of course Andre was wonderful. The audience loved him, and for the first time he had tears actually rolling down his face in the last encore - there were about 4 encores. The crowd loved him and wanted more, more, it was great, very emotional. At the end as all the Scotties were on the stage and everyone else and he played Advance Australia Fair, Amazing Grace, and Waltzing Matilda, with the whole audience joining in ~ that was when he had the tears.

Tonight is the big night of course because it is going to be broadcast on Foxtel but I am going to get my Schonbrunn DVD out and replay that. We purchased the program which was beautiful, $20, and also a set of fridge magnets I think, which were $20 but we didn't care. I had all the DVDs they had there, but they did quite a good trade.

He announced that he would be coming to Australia next year and bookings were commencing on the 18th November can you believe! Frank was there, but not the lovely girl who plays the cello in all Andre's shows. It was lovely to see all the familiar faces and oh what I wouldn't give to have been in the front row as I found the seats really a bit close. I think it would have been better a bit further back as I couldn't see the skaters at all because all the bodies were in the way.

In all, Andre was in a wonderful mood, made all sorts of funny faces and he played the scene of Johann Strauss winking which everyone liked. A tribute to Pavarotti sung by the 3 tenors was absolutely amazing and I think the whole audience gave them a standing ovation, as they did very often. He has won thousands of hearts I can tell you.
Our badges we wore with pride and got some favourable criticism.

In all a most wonderful night. ~ Joy