8 Dec PHOENIX
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Please let us know if you are here because of the little slip of paper you rec'd or found at the concert containing this website information.
I am the person you may have seen wearing a long chartreuse colored sleeve, white T-Shirt with this full color imprinted photo of Nadia Diakoff (viola), Agnes Walter (violin), Me, & Suzan. The photo below includes the names of each person & a thank you to Arthur
Thanks again Arthur (oboe) for taking this photo 
This is a very brief summary of the concert here in
I can now put a face with the name of the 2 new choir members, thanks to Luca & Nadia:
- Laura Engel wears a blue gown, & is 2nd from the left, is standing next to Judith. Laura is the one the camera repeatedly focuses on because she is singing the same words as Carl Moik sings “Heut’ kommen d’Engerln auf Urlaub nach Wean” on the Schönbrunn DVD;
- Resi Vahsen wears this color gown, is the buxom one, is 3rd from the left; she is standing next to Laura.
I can now put a face with the names of the 3 new violinists:
- Luca Madrigo is the only new male violinist, & wears glasses
- Jennifer Kowalski wears this color gown & sits between Agnes Walter & Cord Peters. Jenny is quite visible in the background behind André in the Schönbrunn DVD.
Jenny is considers herself to be German
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Astrid Gordijn wears this color gown, & sits to the right of Cord Peters
I’ll report on conversations with:
- Pierre, André’s son
- Nadia Diakoff, Viola
- Luca Madrigo, Violin
- Béla Mavrák, 1 of the Tenors
- Franco Vulcano, double Bass
- René Henket, Trumpet
Some news & info about Frank Steijns, violin
I met Kathleen Glenn, a resident of
I won’t have my photos back until Thursday. I’ll express mail a CD to Sally so she can add them to this report. Photos won’t appear until sometime after 17 Dec
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BEFORE THE CONCERT:
I am the luckiest guy in the world when it comes to meeting JSO members.
1330 Friday….I’ve parked my car & am walking toward the concert hall with a plastic shopping bag containing a letter to Agnes, Nadia & Arthur. Also included are 3 brightly colored pair of walking shorts & their names in bright contrasting colors across the backside:
- Pink for Agnes
- Yellow for Nadia
- MULTI-fluorescent colors for Arthur
& as I’m passing a hotel I impulsively go in & ask if I can leave some stuff for Agnes Walter, with André & the JSO. I’m told they’re not staying here, but to try next door.
So I go the hotel next door & ask if I can leave some stuff for Agnes. Of course you can, would you like to call up to her room & talk to her or leave a voice mail.
Please connect me, I reply as I go around a corner to use a house phone. I’m only able to leave a voice mail since she & Nadia are out.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to give my stuff to them directly because the stage entrance is 2 stories underground inside a garage, a place where no visitors have access.
I’m feeling considerable glee & a true sense of accomplishment in knowing I’ve overcome almost insurmountable obstacles at being able to deliver the goodies to my 3 favorite JSO members, as I leave the hotel, Just a stroke of pure good luck!. This is a good omen for things to come
1915 Friday The closer I get to the concert hall the faster my pace, & I feel a quickened heart beat as I near the entrance. The concert is scheduled to begin at 2000.
I’m 15’ from the main entrance, I have my ticket in hand, I’m looking around to see if I recognize anyone…..bingo! It’s Franco Vulcano (double bass) & someone else. I stop dead in my tracks, Franco & I change smiles as I ask, Franco? He looks at the photo on my T-shirt, looks at me again & to my surprise remembers we spoke to each other at the end of last years concert. We exchange a few more pleasantries as I’m removing my backpack & asking if I can take a photo of him. I look at the other young, good looking man & confess I don’t recognize him. He identifies himself as Luca, the 1 new male violinist. I’m ecstatic at so quickly been able to place a face with 1 new name. I ask him if he can help me put a face with the names of the 2 new choir members. He does. All this time I’ve been removing my backpack & getting my camera. I ask Franco & Luca if I can take their photo & they readily agree, but there isn’t enough light so we head for the entrance where there much more light. They walk right past the security but I am stopped, asked for my ticket & asked if I would please remove the professional lens to my camera & just use the smaller lens; of course, I readily agree. Once inside I change lenses & take a couple of photos of Luca & Franco with that very familiar smile of his. The combination of my outfit & photo taking has drawn other people who also recognize Franco, so it becomes a frenzy of me to, as others also want to take photos. There is much laughter.
I turn around, look up & who do you think is approaching? Béla! He looks a little surprised because he has been walking around & no one has said anything to him. He sees the photo on my T-shirt, smiles as big as you can image, picks up the pace, extends his hand, & laughingly exclaims, “Suzan, that’s my partner”. Clearly, as far as Béla is concerned anyone with a photo of Suzan is a friend of his. We warmly shake hands, laughing & looking each other right in the eye. We both express our thoughts of how much we miss Suzan. I ask him if I could have someone take a photo of the two of us together & he readily agrees. In my excitement, I can’t remember whether it was Luca or Franco that took the 2 photos of Béla & me. Béla keeps looking back & forth at the photo of Suzan, Agnes, Nadia, & my eyes, laughing all the time. I thanked him & he thanked me. As I departed Béla was surrounded by others also wanting to have themselves photographed with him; clearly he was enjoying himself. Lady luck was sure looking out for me tonight & the concert hadn’t even begun.
Incidentally, I gave Luca, Franco & Béla a little slip of paper with Sally’s website & asked them to take a peek from to time, to see what we are saying about them.
Each readily accepted the slip of paper & assured me they would, indeed, ‘peek’ in from time to time.
Once I found my seat I struck up conversations with those around me & of course gave each a little slip of paper with Sally’s website
I removed my backpack & circulated around, wanting others to see the www.andrerieufans.com on the back of my T-Shirt. Carrying my camera I headed for the stage, making mental notes of where I wanted to position myself to take photos during the concert.
I spot
I return to my aisle seat, the lights get dim for a couple of minutes.
THE CONCERT:
With my camera ready & knowing the JSO would be walking right past me, I stood & turned to the back waiting in eager anticipation. Bingo! Lady luck was still looking after me because André was heading straight for me, leading other JSO members behind. I took a photo of him as the others followed behind. André saw the chartreuse color of my sleeve 20’ away & as he drew nearer saw, probably for the very first time, a photo of his orchestra members on a T-Shirt; his eyes were locked on me from 20’ away & he even turned around briefly after he past, clearly grinning & giggling at what he saw.
I’m watching the JSO members go by, each looking over at the chartreuse color & the photo, each acknowledging me in some small way.
There she is, it’s Agnes Walter! She’s seen the chartreuse color, now she sees a photo of herself, looks up at me with instantaneous recognition. She looks me in the eye & every fiber of her being is saying “yes, I remember”, even though no words are spoken; she looks at me , giving me that world class smile of hers until she passes by. I am a happy camper & the evening is still so young. Throughout the concert, Agnes repeatedly made it quite clear to me she noticed me every time I went to the stage to take a photo or 2, she all but hollered out my name. <big grin> Agnes must have said something to Jenny before the concert about the photo T-shirt I was wearing because they were both looking at me & smiling at me everytime I approached the stage to take a photo
Continued 11 Dec 2006
The concert began at 2000 sharp, the Christmas backdrop was beautiful & the music incomparable.
Several regular JSO members were missing; Linda Custers (viola), Karin Hinze (cello), Mireille Brepols (Percussion), Heidi Klinkers (choir)…just wanted each of you to know you were conspicuous by your absence…I missed you!
Dan, the Banner man, was also missing. I hope to meet you someday
Throughout this concert I particularly enjoyed how everyone in the orchestra & choir had the camera focused on them, each had a little something extra to give
During The Blue Danube, the 2 jumbo monitors displayed blue water, in the center each JSO members face was faded into the center of the water & then faded out.
There were fewer Christmas songs this year which means more of André’s regular music was played, much to my delight.
Nadia was the one that flirted with the blacksmith, the one he picked up & carried onto the stage before André broke it up during the Feuerfest polka with Roland & Noël. I love that tune, it’s catchy.
I’m here to tell you Frank Steijns is becoming more & more ebullient & outgoing onstage. He played to the audience & when onstage with Andre during the competition between the “Bellfast” & the xylophone, he had the audience in the palm of his hand.
I've been told Frank is one of several people that actively work on & contribute to André’s website.
I’m not going into the details of each & every number other than to echo Sally’s comments, that each smile, each note, every number enthralled everyone in the audience & the concert was over far too quickly. Time really does fly by when you’re having a good time.
Now I’m going to share a secret with you…<Bill leans over & whispers into your ear> If you go up to the stage during the intermission, wait till the orchestra members begin to file back in, you’ll have about 5 minutes where you can speak directly with orchestra members, ask them to pose for photos & say something before the 2nd half of the concert begins.> <shhhhh>
I was up by the stage when the intermission ended, waiting patiently for Nadia, when she returned I called out to her by name, she looked over at me <15 seconds go by as she is processing me & the photo information & translating what she sees into her own language>….Bingo….her face light up, she laughs, points to me, looks me right in the eye & says she remembers, pokes Sanne in the ribs telling her to look at my T-Shirt…..they’re both laughing…..& realizing this is the first time they’ve seen JSO members imprinted on the front of a T-Shirt. I take their photo & they both know next year they may appear on a T-Shirt, who knows? <giggle>
It was during this brief moment I got some photos of Margriete (cello) who was sitting behind Nadia. I especially wanted to take her photo because she has been with André since the beginning 27 years ago, because she is a photographer, & because I think she is a very attractive lady! Hopefully, at some point in time I’ll be lucky enough to talk with her.
René (Trumpet) ...after the concert I thanked him for his superb rendition of Musik Musik on the
Schönbrunn DVD. He is a very soft speaking person.
AFTER THE CONCERT:
The concert ended much too soon, & I headed for the doors, filled with more memories & stories of a wonderful experience. I headed for the hotel where the JSO is staying, walk into the lobby, & turn right around & walk out, deciding not to intrude in their private time unless invited.
I left a note with the walking shorts for Arthur, Agnes & Nadia & was hoping for a phone call sometime Saturday. The call never came, perhaps because they’re contractually restricted from making outgoing calls to fans.
Saturday, around 1430 I called Agnes & Nadia’s room. Luckily I caught Nadia, just waking up, apparently Agnes was near the pool area soaking up some nice warm 75 degree sunshine.
As soon as I identified myself, Nadia laughed & said she was sooo very surprised & happy to see me & the photo on my T-Shirt. It was during this phone conversation that Nadia helped identify
Jenny, Laura, & Resi. I asked her if the shorts & colors were OK but she didn’t know anything about them. She said she would go right down to the lobby after dressing to get them. I suggested she & Agnes present Arthur with his shorts in public, in front of all the other JSO members, laughing hysterically she said that’s exactly what they would do. I expressed disappointment at not ever personally thanking Arthur for taking the photo & for not ever getting someone to take a photo of me with Arthur. Nadia told me she would try to arrange that next year. I gave Nadia the URL of this website & told her we will be talking about her & others. She giggled & said she & other would be ‘peeking” in from time to time.
Agnes…congratulations on being repositioned into such a place of prominence on stage….clearly, you are doing something right. I only wish I had the presence of mind to express this thought to you, personally when I had the chance.
Now that precedence has been set, I’m hoping fans all over the world will begin having their photos imprinted on the front of their T-Shirts. Do you suppose this will catch on?
Will you now get your favorite photo imprinted on the front of a T-Shirt?
Do you suppose André will start selling a T-Shirt with his photo & autograph on it?
If it sounds like I’m trying to start something……RIGHT ON!
As I said before, the photos I took won’t appear as part of this report until shortly before Christmas. The film has to be processed, I then need to mail the CD photo to Sally & she then needs to add them to the website. Please be patient, I think you’ll truly enjoy them.
And remember the JSO will be lurking in the background to see what we’re saying about them.
Sincerely,
Bill in
Southpawbc-phxazandreconcert@yahoo.com
Bill, your wardrobe and adventures indicate your Act will be superb also! Can't wait to read your full report...Chartreuse sleeved white t-shirt with suzan,et al...you better include a photo...of your photo t-shirt...waiting patiently...L
Uhh Bill - you better use that long lens camera on Andre so we can count all the beautiful hairs on that great head of his!!!! Ok??? Please promise. Have a wonderful, wonderful time. Looking forward to your report.
Mr Bill, I look forward to you report because you do notice the most minute details!Plus you have a great camera.Annnnnnnddd, you certainly WILL stand out in any crowd!
Bill, I am anxiously waiting, for the detailed report from You. I am sure, with all those colors on You everyone will notice. Colrs this bright, make You look like a happy person without any worries. Have a wonderful time and we wait for all the stories from You. Kati
Bill's story telling is famous. He certainly packs all the flavors of the Orchestra in his story.
No "flash" photos! But no one said anything about wearing bright colors to help illuminate the surroundings
Hi there Bill, Well, tomorrow is the day!! Even I am getting nervous and excited and I won't be there. I can just imagine your excitement.
Have a wonderful, beautiful time!! Hugs
SLEEP WELL MR. BILL..... tomorrow's a busy day!!!!
You've gotta be kidding, Do you have any idea what my checklist looks like:
After work Thursday:
put tickets with backpack
check camera battery voltage & get new battery if needed
Get film after determining camera battery condition....ASA 800 Kodak
tickets
Load camera with film & place in back pack along with telephoto lens
iron long sleeve chartreuse colored T shirt
Get clothes laid out & ready to step into
tickets
pack notices (2000) & have ready to distribute
pack colored shorts for Agnes, Nadia & Arthur
tickets
finish note to Agnes, to be delivered at 1330 along with shorts at US Airways concert center
write names in palm of hand: Agnes, Nadia, Margriet, Renata, Manoe, Resi, Laura, & Jennifer, Arthur, Ruud, Noel (when excited I forget names) ...notice I've not included my own name, which I usually remember.
pack fresh fruit lunch
Friday morning:
get out of bed @0900
Shower, shave, etc
tickets
sit down & take 10 deep breaths
go over checklist.
tickets
Call Kathleen
eat breakfast
I like the "sit down and take 10 deep breaths" part.
I got nervous just reading your 'To Do' list.
We will all be thinking of you and all the Arizona Fans tonight. It will be Fantastic! (as our favorite maestro likes to say)
Details, we want Details
~Sally~
Bill, have a great concert! We will be anxiously awaiting your report!
Yes, lots of Details!!
So, after the concert you will again, sit down and take 10 deep breaths, you may write the story, so we can read it...soon...very soon...I really can't wait to see the t-shirt!
Mr Bill,I can see you now,feverishly writing your review, making sure you cross every T and dot every I,we're waiting!!!!
Yes...and he must be dealing with those umlats too...they can be tricky. But, we wait patiently.
This is "patient"...yes, really it is.
ok BOYS & GIRLS, I've finally gotten started with my report, check out the first installment of my report, above.
You do use the most colorful language!
I am laughing to picture Arthur in MULTI-fluorescent colors! I'm sure after meeting you last year, they were tickled Pink...and Brilliant Blue...and Flame Orange..and Neon Yellow..and Glowing Green... to hear from you again.
Hi Bill! What an exciting time you had! From beginning to end it seemed like doors opened up for you! I'm wondering how you knew the sizes for the shorts???? now that we know that JSO is lurking...i may not be as lazy with umlauts! L...
And I'm going to have to watch my spelling. I'm going to have to go back & correct my misspelling of the word Schönbrunn. I’d been spelling it with 2 u’s & 1 n. I'm worried about the Spelling & Punctuation Assistant Chief of Police, aka Katalin.
Yes, I just corrected it. I sure don't want any JSO members to catch me with any spelling or punctuation mark errors.
Thank you Bill for the nice story! Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Everytime someone gets to go to a new Andre Rieu concert and writes about it, it's as though we have gone ourselves! When you make it as nice as you did Bill, then that concert is relived again and again in our hearts. I thank you and eagerly wait all those nice pictures you have promised!
I guess Andre and the JSO are in Canada now and then back across that ocean. We will miss them, but eagerly await their return! Thanks for listening.
Hi Bill, Thanks so much for the wonderful report that you always have. So glad you had such a great time! You certainly deserve it. Looking forward to those special photos, especially the closeup of Andre's hair (ha ha). Thanks again. Hugs
Wow! Bill this is a wonderful detailed report. Can't wait to read further.... and thanks for email update on this. I hope I get a chance to meet you or some in Philly.
Hey Mr. Bill...I don't believe that anyone squeezes out more of a concert than you.What a great review of your 'happenings"!I think I'll have to find me a picture to put on a T-shirt.I'm anxiously awaiting all the photos too, they gotta be good! Thanx for sharing with us.
In addition to the photo on the front, be sure to show, on the back in 1" letters www.andrerieufans.com The letters on the back of my T- shirt are only 1/2" & they are too small.
That is on the back of my photo T-Shirt, I wanted as many people as possible to be aware of this website.
13 Dec. 2006... I just received a nice thank you email from the helpdesk. I'd sent them an email with the URL to my report on the phoenix concert.
Just know they will be lurking in from time to time on this website. I only hope my personal message in my concert report to Agnes, is forwarded to her!
Hi Bill, thanks so much for the great photo of you and the girls. I was so glad to see it because I could not figure out which girl was Agnes. It is so nice to put faces with the names. Hugs
Hello Everyone!
Shirley, that's a very good idea! I should make myself one, too!
love,
Sarah
Agnes is the one with the world-class SMILE!
Have you all checked the Featured Fans page? Mr. Bill has photos up!
Featured Fans Bill Cole
Bill, Thanks! ....so nice to read about your adventures! Did you lose ALOT of weight since the shirt photo was taken? Or...is it just because of the sweater...?
So happy that you had a completely wonderful time in Phoenix. Your creativity and love for the JSO and Andre is clear. Sounds like they are getting to know you too! L
Hey Mr Bill,what a colorful report!
I'm astounded/struck dumb/flabbergasted/surprised/etc. etc. that someone hasn't done a photo T-shirt before me. Maybe they have, but just haven't gained the notoriety for it.
I think my favorite changed the minute I met Suzan, Agnes, & Nadia. I must admit I'd sure like to get a photo of Agnes, Nadia & Arthur in the colored shorts I gave them.
If people show up at a concert in Maastricht with photo T-shirts; I'm sure the idea will spread like wild fire. Now if only the people with photo T-Shirts also show up in Chartreuse, the idea & color is likely to become a worldwide phenomenon.
Andre better hurry up & offer a photo T-Shirt if he wants to make some money on the idea cause people won't wait.
Me! I'll probably give priority to female JSO members on my photo T-shirts! Who cares about Andre?<g> the guy with a hole in the sole of his shoe <snicker> On 2nd thought I would like to have Arthur (oboe) in a photo on my T-shirt.
soooooooo, if you have a photo heat transferred to a T-shirt, who will be in the photo & will the T-shirt be white with Chartreuse colored sleeves?
southpawbc-phxazandreconcert@yahoo.com
Jenny is not Russian! I'm her cousin, so I should know.. lol. Well, she's half Russian, I suppose. But really, she considers herself to be German.. fun to read about her though! Never thought that people out there consider my cousin to be famous.. lol
Are we talkiing about the same Jenny? I was trying to identify a new violinist that sits between Cord Peters (German) and my favorite, Agnes Walter (Poland)
Agnes' room mate, Nadia (viola) told me Jenny has a polish name but was Russian? She must be a darn good violinist to immediately be placed in such a conspicious position (near the center) Jenny was quite visable in the background just past Andre
Bil in Phoenix, Arizona U.S.A.
southpawbc-phxazandreconcert.com
yes, we're talking about the same Jenny. Her name is Polish.. her dad was born in Poland. Her mom was born in Russia to a German family. Jenny has never been to Russia before.
And yeah, she's a good violinist
I wrote my post, answered the phone and then clicked submit. In the mean time, you answered what I was asking.
Duh@me.
Was that you playing piano on your site?
that was Becky playing the piano. the question is whether or not she made the pool shot & whether or not the pies were home-made
I agree, Becky does have a 'cool' site
bill aka
Official Pot Stirrer
southpawbc-phxazandreconcert@yahoo.com
Hi Rebecca: Nice to have you join us. Cool site you've got up. Saw where you speak German? That must help with some of Andre Rieu's songs.
Jenny who is your cousin or did I miss something? (I miss alot. lol)
~Sally~
thanks!
Jennifer Kowalski (JSO violin player) is my cousin.. yep. And yes, I'm the one who's playing the piano..
Now that Jenny is likely to peek in from time to time I guess we'll have to start talking about someone else