André Rieu Brings Sound and Color to Heidelberg

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"How André Rieu Combines Sound (music) and Color"

Review by Birgit Summer
September 21, 2009

The atmosphere in André Rieu's 'Open Air' concert on the Kornmarkt was impressive. What the lighting technician of ZDF brought out of Heidelberg's most beautiful buildings and places, would be a good example for the lighting concept of the city. It can be seen on TV on October 14th. The Trees, the Facades, and even the Castle and the Holy Spirit Church were immersed in brand new, bright lights. With every song, the Kornmarkt became a very special, bright, multicolored magical place whenever the king of the waltz and his Johann Strauss Orchestra and soloists played.

The Dutchman is an excellent stage professional and no wonder, after being on the road for 30 years with his musicians. He claims that it still gives him joy: "Music is the most beautiful thing we have in life," he explained to his audience in Heidelberg. Those who had traveled from far away, paid a lot of money for seats and when left at the end had a feeling, "That it was worth it." It was an event that will not only bring Heidelberg's name to the German speaking countries, but also to Asia and the United States. A treat for marketing.

When André Rieu puts his violin to his chin, his fans know his smile, mischievous ~ relaxed ~ misty eyed ~ blissful ~ there is no need for interpretation. But one thing is certain, the radiant faces of the musicians ~ you can not find that in any other orchestra in the world. Rieu sees it is his goal to spread a good mood with humor, and to bring the classics to the people.

This time he makes it very much about Heidelberg. Immediately after the peppy overture from "Carmen" comes the "Heidelberg Anthem", "The Lost Heart" to which the audience immediately starts to sing along . The three "Platin Tenors" from Australia, Hungary and Germany set the mood with students songs like "Drink, drink, drink" from the "Student Prince" and "Gaudeamus Digitur". During Franz Lehar's "Gold and Silver Waltz" the entire Kornmarkt was immersed in gold. Since Rieu discovered that the Viennese Waltzes played during the times of father and son Johann Strauss and Franz Lehar, which created so much joy for the people at their balls and festivals, he made them his trademark and the success of this proves him right.

Boredom does not exist at his concert. Rieu interacts with his audience and sometimes makes a little joke at the expense of the Dutch, which is well received. He flirts with the audience just like he does with his blond violinists. The audience laughs happily and is moved to waltz ... not just the paying guests, but also the onlookers behind the fences.

André Rieu has of course also brought singers. The Brazilian soprano Carla sings the "Juliska from Budapest" and Mirusia from Australia, with her beautiful soprano voice sings a rousing "Two little Italians," as well as the melancholy "There Is a Song Within Me". And then Andre Rieu proves that his audience can sing the lyrics of the "Lorelei" and "Sah ein Knab ein Roeselein stehen," (A little boy saw a rose bud).

The "Comedian Harmonists" cannot fill the big shoes of their famous role models from the twenties, so it is probably good that the suave gentlemen are not singing a cappella, but have the orchestra backing them.

(A little note here, if you look at the photo above of André with the Three Tenor's you can see the beautiful flowers across the front of the stage ~ they were REAL! :)

Thank you to John for the ©Translation and Iris for the ©Photos!