André Rieu Serenades Syracuse NY

André Rieu At Onondaga County War Memorial

April 21, 2009 by Melinda Johnson

André Rieu, violinist and conductor of his Johann Strauss Orchestra, loves to perform. He charmed his audience Monday night at the Onondaga County War Memorial with his bonhomie. From the moment he and his orchestra of over 50 musicians sashayed down the two center aisles of the main floor, Rieu bounced and swayed during the 2 1/2 hour show.

This is more than a show, it's an extravaganza. The men are in tails and the women are in jewel tone formal ball gowns. Rieu, looking very leonine, sports navy blue tails. The musicians sit on three tiers set against a starry night back drop with two massive video projection screens on each side of the stage.

Rieu resembles a ringmaster as he keeps up the tempo of activities which includes five backup female singers, three tenors and three sopranos, who enter and exit throughout the evening. Not all is serious a two-person costumed bull roams the hall and musicians chugging some golden ale or champagne play to the camera.

And then there is André, mugging for the camera, arching an eyebrow, encouraging more applause, joking with the audience. He told one couple who were seated just after the orchestra took the stage, "You are too late. We are from Holland. We are on time."

While his fans did not fill the War Memorial, they did clap and clamor to fill the hall with their enthusiasm. He rewarded them with favorites "My Heart Will Go On," from "Titanic, "Blue Danube," the overture to "Carmen," music from "My Fair Lady," "Amazing Grace" and many more.

When he played "America the Beautiful," the audience sang along and on the second playing, they stood. It was a stirring moment. As the orchestra serenaded the audience with the "Blue Danube," several couples left their seats and waltzed around the floor. One young man, who insisted on treating his mother to better concert seats, was on the dance floor guiding his mother. You had to smile deep inside.

My Rieu education was complete because of my seat mates, Dan and Alice Lycan, of Manassas, Va., are true fans. The retired couple, who have four children, eight grandchildren and a new great grandchild, have traveled the world to hear Rieu and the orchestra perform.
Only the distance prevented them from flying to Australia. But they have been to Austria, Holland, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Toyko to hear the maestro. Along the way, the Lycans have made friends with other Rieu devotees and hosted them in this country. They arrived in Syracuse after seeing the orchestra play in Ottawa this past weekend.

At concert's end, Dan assembled his banner and scooted up front to display messages of "30 years of great concerts," "Syracuse Orange, Andre Rieu," and "I still want Andre Rieu for president."

The audience clamored for more and the boisterous encores finally ended and everyone happily glided into Syracuse's starry night. Photo by ©Al Girard