"Hopefully Rieu Concerts Will Become a Tradition"

Christmas

"Hopefully The Rieu-Concerts 

Will Become a Tradition"

Maastricht: By Kim Noach: André Rieu spared no expenses in order to provide his "Maastricht" with a Christmas fairy tale world. The European Song festival seemed to have bypassed the city, but if it is up to Rieu, a new Christmas tradition has been born in the MECC.

From Leonard Cohens' "Hallelujah", the swinging gospels "When the Saints go marching in", to the nice-pick-me-up "Skaters Waltz" , and the "Second Waltz", with which André became World famous, are all numbers which will be played during the first Christmas show by the Maestro in the Maastricht MECC.

For the first time in his career, André Rieu can be seen in his own hometown with a Christmas show. Three concerts in a row, which can be enjoyed by 11,000 visitors at a time, who will also enjoy a Winter Wonderland in the convention center.

CHRISTMAS WORLD

Rieu, the perfectionist he is, has spared no expenses in transforming  "the ugly grey hall" of 100 by 100 meters (107639 square feet) into a Dickens like Christmas World, where 300 dancers, 82 skaters, sopranos, tenors, and a gospel choir will also make their appearance. How much this will all cost him, the maestro will not say, but that he would like to come back for several more years during Christmas: "In order for the investment to be profitable."

ICE RINK

Fair is fair: the results - after ten days of construction - are here. He who crosses the threshold strolls into a Winter Fairytale Land in which volunteers of the Maastricht Operetta Association welcome you, dressed in Dickens type costumes. Just like the couple Trudy and Hans Bollema from Maastricht are visually enjoying themselves in the roll of host and hostess. "I hope this will become a tradition. But why? Because something this grand, you will only experience once in your life." Where one turns right onto the horeca (hotel, restaurant and cafe) square where skaters pirouette on an ice rink and the hot chocolate is steaming, Brian Ceulemans and Carlijn Bouts from Berg aan de Maas, go directly into the main hall. They are definitely noticeable between the predominantly fifty-plus audience. Since Rieu is not on top of their Spottily list, they are here again since: "I was on the Vrijthof this past summer, and I have to say that the show was really tops" says Carlijn.

BIRTHDAY

The majority of the audience are fans  - these people come from France, Germany, England and even Sweden.  No matter what Rieu does: his audience adores him. From the happy medley of Jingle Bells, Sleigh Ride and White Christmas to, of course the moment when three hundred dancers - the ladies in their royal blue princess gowns -  appear and dance to the music of the "Second Waltz."

That piece is for the Maastricht choreographer Kimberly Smith the highlight of the evening, so she says. Since 2016 she has been the choreographer in the Rieu shows. "It is an unbelievable feeling when the dance couples enter the hall. I get goose bumps from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. Also, today is my birthday. And this is the best birthday present I could wish for" says Smith laughingly who will be blowing out 37 candles. A toast to a new tradition.  

Thanks to John for the article and his translation