Apr 20, 2011

Review: André Rieu at UK Metro Radio Arena


Review: André Rieu at the Metro Radio Arena
Evening Chronicle April 20, 2011
Renowned musician Andre Rieu started his debut UK Arena tour in Newcastle last night. Tracy Jefferies was there and found the concert to be a night to remember.
WHILE the UK waits for the impending wedding of the year, royalty was in residence in the North East last night – musical royalty that is.
André Rieu arrived at the Metro Radio Arena amidst all the pomp and circumstance of a regal procession, walking through the audience to meet and greet his adoring public.
There's no doubt that this is a man with impeccable musical credentials who not only is a maestro in his own right, but also has the knack of discovering and bringing together talent from across the globe.
There are not many artistes who can pull together an evening's entertainment from so many diverse areas of music and yet turn them all into an absolute spectacle.
From the opening bars of Strauss's Voices of Spring through to his tribute to Michael Jackson with an utterly haunting version of Ben, this was a spellbinding evening which few of us attending are ever likely to forget.
It was something like a trip through musical styles; one minute this amazing orchestra playing a tango, the next the Viennese waltzes with the female musicians dressed in stunning crinolines.
Rieu has brought together performers from around the world, with musicians and singers from Hungary, Australia and South Africa and all points in between, sharing his love and his passion.
We were transported to a Rio carnival – complete with balloons falling from the roof – to the Skater's Waltz where so much artificial snow fell that the front rows of the audience were covered.
We were enchanted by the cellist's rendition of The Swan and felt both patriotic and emotional as the sound of We'll Meet Again rang out across the auditorium.
This was a night when those present shared this musical genius's wit and wisdom, laughing as he told us that Newcastle was his favourite place in the world. At the same time you could see many people wiping away tears as the sheer perfection of the music sometimes became too overwhelming to bear.
Rieu declared that music was his life, a comment that might have sounded trite coming from anyone else but in this setting, with this performance, you knew it was true and it really did feel a privilege to feel part of it.
There was encore after encore as the audience really did refuse to let him go – and no wonder. As Rieu himself says: “My main goal, every concert, is for people to have an unforgettable night! “I always tell my audience, if they bring their heart and open up to the music, they will enjoy every minute of it. “I like to talk to my audience, interact with them and look them in the eyes. “People don’t need to be afraid that they need to know everything about classical music, to attend a concert of mine. “In Mozart’s time, people would whistle his tunes on the street and that’s what it’s all about. “Classical music belongs to everybody; young and old, educated or not. “I believe that people are hungry for beautiful music. “Beautiful music is timeless and our concerts are a place where audiences are allowed to feel and show their emotions – something you don’t often get to do any more in modern life!”
His tongue-in-cheek comments about Newcastle were even funnier, after he had told the Chronicle: “Unfortunately we don’t have that much time to visit the cities but then again, I’ll do that when I’m old, together with my wife. “Now, while travelling, I just look forward to performing in front of a new audience every night. “I’m very excited to see how the UK public will react!
“I’m 61. My dream is to continue playing beautiful music, together with my wonderful orchestra, for as long as I feel fit!

9 comments:

  1. Way to go blue eyes you are absolutely wonderful and the world knows it, you put on such fantastic concerts for your fans and we all love you and your orchestra for giving us so much enjoyment, so happy you came into our lives, what would we do without you and your beautiful music, your the best. Love Barb

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations Andre & Co. We knew they would love you in the UK. I certainly will never forget the first concert I attended in Melbourne - the memories stay with you forever.

    Thanks for posting that wonderful article too, I enjoyed reading it.

    Won't be long and Andre will be back in Melbourne!

    cheeRIEU, Val & Vic. F. Gp.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a lovely article. Thank you for posting it Sue. I'm even more excited now that I'll be seeing Andre twice for myself this coming weekend!

    Hetty

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's a Great Review and a well deserved one. Nice to see. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mary Webster21 April, 2011

    Here, here to all of you. It is a great review; I loved reading it and am so looking forward to Melbourne.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Steve Williams Colchester UK21 April, 2011

    I was at the 02, it was utterly, utterly brilliant, I have been to a few European concerts, as this was up with the best!
    For those who are going to one of Andre's UK/Ireland concerts, I wish I could go again, and boy are you in for a really, really WONDERFUL night.
    YOU WILL NOT FORGET IT.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a great review! This reporter has really caught the essence of Andre. I am so happy for him, JSO and organization to have this kind of reception!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi we were there the concert was perfection fantastic surperb we have lots of Andre's dvd's but to see him in person for the first time was magical we look forward to finding a concert to book again in the future thank you Andre for the music the humour and the love of your public it shows that you enjoy it as much as all your fans

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great article, I was at the Newcastle concert, my very first,what a thrill to see Andre in person after watching so many of his DVDs on many occasions.The excitement in the arena was electric,we have waited so long for Andre to come to the UK, I also went to the Birmingham concert a few days later,equally exciting, can't get enough of Andre and his fantastic JSO.

    ReplyDelete