December 31, 2008Webmaster Sally wrote: ""Happy New Year to everyone from the land of "Fun in the Sun" It was 98f. yesterday and no better today.""
Grayeme, we'd love to have some of that heat. Send a few degrees to California, so we can be warm and you can cool down.
Hope the New Year brings you all things Wonderful.
December 31, 2008
Kirsten wrote:
Here in Perth, West Australia it is going to be a sweltering 40c (about 102f). We are living in doors today with the air conditioner on BTW Happy New Year to everyone - I hope it turns out to be a good year for you all.
December 31, 2008
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Hello Kirsten, we are indoors too but the furnace is running and it is now 23 degrees (f) with a wind chill in the single digits. What a difference huh! This is the time of year that I don't like at all. Hope you have a wonderful and Happy New Year! Hugs to you.
December 31, 2008
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my wonderful friends here on the blog. May the year be filled with love, peace, happiness and music! (André's of course) Hugs
December 31, 2008
WebMaster Sally wrote:
102F Yes, that is indoor time weather. New Years in Short Sleeves. Hope yours is GREAT!!!!!!!
December 31, 2008
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: My Prayer for the New Year
For this New Year I pray:
that those we love will be better persons because of this love.
that our enemies will become our friends.
that our pain will be turned to joy.
that the joy we find will be given in turn to others.
that those who see us will recognize us as a child of God.
that everything we do will make the world a better place.
that we realize as we try to get to the "top" we had to push someone out of the way.
that we find we are not responsible for the results, but we are responsible for the effort.
that as we grieve we realize that death is but a walk to the other side of the road.
that we realize that to experience music is to awaken another part of the soul.
that as our souls are awakened we will reach out to share ourselves with the world.
Jeanine Ann
January 1, 2009
Grace wrote:
Jeanine Ann thank you for that lovely prayer. God bless you for caring about the world and all living people, animals, and such in it. You are an inspiring and great example as a moderator on this site Jeanine Ann and never forget it.
Thanks so much for this humble yet profound prayer.
As Sidney Poitier said and sang in Lilies of the Field AMEN.
Love Much Grace xxoo
January 1, 2009
WebMaster Sally wrote:
Grace I just saw Sidney Poitier on TV the other day, and my goodness....he is as handsome as ever. That man just carries himself with such dignity, it is a wonder that anyone can even be near him without staring.
January 1, 2009
Grace wrote:
Yes Sally you are so right. Sidney Poitier does seem to carry with him a spirit of love and devotion. He certainly is a handsome person both inside and out. From his humble childhood in Florida (Bahamas)to New York where he learned to speak proper english by listening to records and the radio. Then onto California where he starred in many great roles. I guess the hard work and toil just shows what one person can fulfill within their dreams.
Thanks to you Sally. Your hard work here on fans and friends is humbly adored and received by not only me but I am positive many others. Thanks and love with all my heart.
Love Much Grace xxoo
December 31, 2008
Marlene Warren wrote:
I WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I HOPE THIS YEAR WILL BRING YOU PEACE, LOVE, HAPPINESS. AND MAY YOU HAVE AN ENDLESS AMOUNT OF BEAUTIFUL MUSIC TO FILL YOUR HEART AND SOUL.
December 31, 2008Joy McKenzie wrote:
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.......WITH PEACE..HEALTH... AND JOY THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEAR Joy and Bernard
January 1, 2009
Terezie wrote:
Trinkspruch ins des neuen im Jahre Sally, André Rieu und JSO, Marjorie, Marc, Pierre und allem Fans. Ich wunsche viel Liebe, Gluck, Wohlsein und schone Musik André Rieu-Johanna Strausse. Fans Terezie Palečková
January 1, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
Prosit Neujahr!!!!!!!! Happy New Year, Bonne Année ! from a frosty minus 2OC in Montréal, we could also use some Australian heat! Watched last night the "New Years Punch" from Hanover 2OO3-O4 still with my favorite Carla and Carmen a lot of members still there, like Jo and Renate and a thinner André, haaaaaaaa! Germany watched the Australian show last night on ZDF with a translator, that is a first. Inge
January 1, 2009
Grace wrote:
Happy New Year all friends and fans here on Andre's fabulous site. Wishing you all a year of 2009 filled with more Andre news and info, as well as wishing each and every one a personal year of love and peace.
Webmasters and Moderators keep up the great work on Andre's 2009 year! Love you much.
To Andre and his wonderful musical family a successful musical year. You make a difference in peoples' lives.
Finally, to Andre and his personal family - Marjorie, Pierre, and Marc, and all other family a happy new year and peaceful and happy 2009.
Thank you all here on Andre Rieu Fans and Friends. You are all wonderful people and are a positive influence in this world. Thanks for your love and laughter.
Love Much Grace xxoo
January 1, 2009Hermina E Kohlstadt wrote:
Hello, each and every Fan !!!! I wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year. May all your wishes come true. Cordially, Hermina
January 1, 2009
WebMaster Sally wrote:
Hermina, that is exactly what I wish for YOU! And yes, myself and everyone.
I think after 2008, we all are looking forward to much improvements in 2009
January 1, 2009
Toni H wrote:
Hello to all My dear Andre fans I would like to wish you all happiness, health and prosperous New Year 2009 Love Toni
January 1, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Happy New Year to all. Jeanine Ann, what a lovely prayer. I need to copy that(please). We watched the Rose Parade this morning, tonight will watch the Vienna New Year's concert with Daniel Barenboim, one of my favorites every year. I hope this new year will be full of good things for us all. My goodness, have you seen Andre's agenda for the 2009 year? How does he do it?
January 1, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Hi Shirley, by all means copy it. The prayer is yours and everyone else who would like to use it.
André must have lots of energy. I don't know how he does it either. I cannot wait until April. I need a fix soon! I am exhausted from the holidays and the trips to the hospital - only 11 to go. The swelling is coming down and hopefully the meds will work. The color looks pretty good. We have met so many nice people there and some are so sick taking chemo. I pray for them every day. We know some of their names but not all. We have a lady who goes every day like Clyde does who lives near Hershey. She is always there at the same time and she also goes to the rehab center on weekends so we are getting to know her. She thought she would be finished the 7th but her doctor told her she must go three more weeks. Her legs are so swollen but I think in the end the antibiotics will work for her. I am grateful for the opportunity to pray for these people. We go through life and forget that every day there is someone in the cancer ward getting these horrible medicines. It really grieves me to see that and yet they need it. So I give them a smile or say hello, maybe it helps to know someone cares. Hugs to all
January 1, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Here is a photo which I thought everyone may like!!!
André Christmas 2001
January 1, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
Today I got a fill of Viennese music, feel great . First this afternoon we went to the Place des Arts to a concert : "Homage a Vienne" with a conductor from Munich, a soprano from Hungary, a tenor from Vienna, the ballet dancers from Kiev and the orchestra from Montréal, 74 musicians, super , it was just splendid and tonight we watched the first narrating of the Viennese New Years concert with Julie Andrews from Vienna. She is a good replacement for Cronkheit, loved it. A musical beginning of the new Year I am in heaven. Inge
January 1, 2009
WebMaster Sally wrote:
Inge, I am watching the Vienna concert with Julie Andrews right now. I love that New Year's Day concert. At the moment they are playing Strauss' Thunder & Lightening, something we've also heard from Andre.
I agree with you. Julie Andrews is a good replacement. She brings a dignity with her.
January 2, 2009
Elize Dreyer wrote:
Hallo All! Writing from sunny and warm Pretoria, South Africa. Wishing all Andre Rieu fans a wonderful and blessed 2009. We hope that we will soon be able to attend an Andre concert here in South Africa. Best wishes to all' Elize Dreyer
January 2, 2009
Toni L wrote:
Hi! any one know who Pierre married? Toni L.
January 2, 2009
Virginia Baker wrote:
Pierre married Eefje von Hombergh whom he met when they were doing the Efteling DVD. I don't know exactly what she does but I gather it is something in film. I saw a posting from them to friends (it was either Facebook or My Space, can't remember now) who were witnesses at their wedding. The friends were traveling to Nepal etc. It was signed "Eefje von Hombergh - Rieu and Pierre Rieu - von Hombergh. They were married in October at the "Castle." I wish them nothing but the best, but to me, when he and Suzan broke up, it was like we lost our fairy tale. Andre said he and Marjorie think Pierre's wife is very sweet and they are very happy. In a recent interview, Andre said that after the wedding he and Marjorie were saying, "he's gone now. We've lost him." Pierre, who was also in the interview sais, "Right, I got married and then immediately left with my father for Australia for five weeks." When they see each other every day, they haven't lost him. He also lives around the corner from them.
January 4, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
The Rieu´s should not look at the wedding of Pierre that their son is lost to them, they gained a daughter, which they did not have before, I look at it this way when one of mine got married, I gained two sons-in-law and perhaps soon a daughter, haaaaaaaaa!
January 4, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Inge, that is true, but I kind of understand what they felt. Our daughter will soon marry & I have a strange feeling of loss, something, I'm not quite sure. It's hard to explain huh?
January 5, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
Shirley, you might have a point there, I had that feeling of loss, when my 3 kids one after the other moved to Germany for their carriers and then of course when they got married, they were already out of the house, but in Pierre´s case, he is with his father all the time, they work together.
January 3, 2009
Winton wrote:
Thanks Andre for the DVD music, enjoying your Melbourne concert. A friend has complete set of your concerts; of CD or DVD format, bye from Christchurch,New Zealand (The land of the Long White Cloud).
January 3, 2009
Winton wrote:
Hello Andre, Enjoying your of Melbourne, Vienna, and New York extravaganzer concerts on DVD format, Best wishes from Christchurch, New Zealand.
January 3, 2009
Helen wrote:
I live in Brisbane, Australia. In a recent message I mentioned how I had become a very enthusiastic fan of Andre. I have now bought many DVDs and love them all!!!!!! I have also discovered that while many shops have Andre DVDs, the best collection I think is at JB Hi Fi which has several stores in Brisbane and they also have the best price!! I'm just wondering how I can discover the release dates of any new DVDs. I check Andre's official website but I can't find any new release dates in Australia. If anyone can offer any advice, I would really appreciate it. Many thanks, Yours TRieully, Helen
January 3, 2009
E Martin wrote:
Hi Shirley. I have a question please. In Episode 5 on the DVD "Andre Rieu--On His Way to New York", Suzan Erens with Frank Steijns and Andre were discussing a song with sheet music on top of a piano. As Frank played the piano, Suzan finished the song on a very high note while Andre pointed to the ceiling. Do you recall the name of this song? Has JSO recorded the song on a CD or DVD ?? Thank you. Happy New Year. Ed Martin
January 3, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Hello Ed, it's been awhile since I watched that one, had to go back to watch that part. I'm not exactly sure, but it sounds like it may be from West Side Story, a song that "Maria" sings, don't remember the name of it, but the last part of the song goes like this:"Hold my hand and we're halfway there. Hold my hand and I'll take you there Somehow, Some day, Somewhere"! Now I may be completely wrong on this so don't take this as gospel.
January 3, 2009
Shirley wrote:
well here I am again, after listening to this melody again, it sounds more like "Maria" from West Side Story, but of that I'm not even sure. I hope someone else can come up with a sure answer. The music is so familiar, but I can't quite pin it down. Help! anybody else?
January 3, 2009CONSTANCE wrote:
Ed I think the song you are talking about is I belong to me because I have seen that on one of her sites when she sings a high note.constance ox
January 3, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Constance, you are absolutely,100 percent right!! Thank you.Why I couldn't get West Side Story out of my mind, I don't know! It makes much more sense for Suzan to sing I Belong to Me as she did the part of Sissi.I shall now go back to "music 101".
January 3, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: First photo from the Koln Arena on New Years Day. Photo taken by Gisela from Germany. I wrote to her and asked for some details of the concert. She took over 100 photos. I noticed they did the clog dance and then it looked like "party time" which I always loved. Will see what she says.
January 3, 2009
WebMaster Sally wrote: That is a great photo Gisela! Very Good. I wish they would do the Clog Dance during North American concerts!
Thanks Jeanine Ann & Gisela
January 4, 2009
Jill wrote:
I can't believe it! How much stamina does Andre have? I've been imagining him collapsed in bed for the last couple of weeks recovering from his Australian tour and here he is doing a concert in Germany. He's only a few years younger than me and I'm still recovering from the effort of just getting to Sydney for the show.
January 4, 2009
E Martin wrote:
Thanks Constance...Thanks Shirley.....for connecting the dots. I stood in awe like everyone else at ANZ Stadium watching this goddess-with-the-heavenly-voice sing "I Belong to Me" (Full Blown Sensory Overload). But I did NOT connect this performance with the practice session observed at the piano with Frank & Andre. Perhaps it was the working Dutch phonetics that were disorienting. But now I see the connection. Here's looking at you, Suzan. Thanks again Ladies!
January 4, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Well Ed, I wasn't much help. I'm glad that Constance could. Didn't Suzan do a wonderful Sissi? That song fit her style too.
January 5, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
Shirley it also fits for her private life, now she is not with Pierre anymore "I belong to me", Inge
January 4, 2009
Jeff Rubino wrote:
Hey all, Happy New year, i know its a little late lol. Did anyone see the violin autographed by Andre on ebay, there was also a picture of him autographing it. I bid on it and lost it went up to $400, a bit to much for me. thanks -Jeff
January 4, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Hi Jeff, how long ago was this? I saw one not too
long ago and when I asked the guy for photos he kept saying they are
coming and really stalled. All of a sudden he was expelled from Ebay.
I hope it is not the same person who came back. He started out with
400.00 AU dollars.
January 4, 2009
Jeff Rubino wrote:
Hey Jeanine Ann, It ended 4 am this morning, no it wasnt that one, i know which one you mean. I will send u the link. thanks -Jeff
January 5, 2009
Helen wrote:
I enjoy all the songs on the DVDs but they would mean so much more if we knew the English lyrics. Does anyone know where I can find the English lyrics? Thank you
January 5, 2009
WebMaster Sally wrote:
Helen are there any certain song(s) you are interested in?
January 7, 2009
Helen wrote:
Yes, there are quite a few songs I'm interested in. One of my favourite is Carla singing Heia in den Bergen. Just love the ending when her high voice "breaks" the chandeliers and one of the violinist's glasses. This song would be much more meaningful if I knew the English lyrics. Also Tanzen möcht' ich; Wien, du Stadt meiner Träume; (the only word I know is Wien which means Vienna) and Adieu mein kleiner Gardeoffizier. If you could help, I would really appreciate it. Thanks to you and all the readers on this website.
I sent one photo of one of André Rieus oldest fan: grandma Erna (born in January 1910) visited the concert with age of 99. she looks music shows, tv talk shows (politics) and once per day the news, this belongs to her lives and all together holds fit. In the year 2006, she have had a complicated operation a severe gut. I got one ticket before the OP for a André Rieu concert in 2007. Given in a picture frame with photos from André. She look at it after their OP in the hospital. She makes consequently plans and recovered from her heavy operation. Their wish to go again to a concert was, in the first row, I granted her this wish and she could see André again in Bremen this year. Now, after André talk on stage of his hometown Maastricht, she would like to go in July to Maastricht and visit one of his concerts there. We are very happy, especially grandma Erna and her daugther. With Gods help, she will visit also the next concert in 2010 to its 100! birthday.
Since she likes also Semino Rossi very much, I arranged a meeting with him in his cloakroom. He was very pleased to see his "oldest" fan of high age. Now cross your fingers that there are got good tickets for grandma Erna and their daughter. I also sent photo from the AWD Dome in Bremen. Since she likes also Semino Rossi very much, I arranged a meeting with him in his cloakroom. He was very pleased to see his "oldest" fan of high age. Now cross your fingers that there are got good tickets for grandma Erna and their daughter. I also sent photo from the AWD Dome in Bremen.
January 5, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Hello Irene,I would like to see those photos. Your grandma Ema sounds like a very special lady. That she likes both Andre and Semino just shows what good taste she has.
January 5, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
I REALLY DO HOPE SHE WILL MAKE HER NEXT TRIP TO THE CONCERT. SHE IS LIKE ANDRE, HE WANTS TO BE 120!? GOD BLESS BOTH.
January 5, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Thank you so much Irene. Good music is what keeps grandma Ema looking younger than her years & I like that smile!
January 5, 2009
Jeanine Ann wrote: Hi everyone, Simone from Germany has agreed to send us a report from the concert in Cologne on New Year day. Here is a little sneak peak at her photos. Report to follow. Thank you Mone
January 5, 2009ELAINE BURCH wrote:
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ANDRE RIEU FANS ALL OVER THE WORLD. ADND WONDERFUL CONCERTS FOR 2009 WITH ANDRE. JUNE 12 2009 IN VANCOUVER IS MINE. AND TO LET YOU KNOW I HAVE 4 EXTRA TICKETS TO THE GMPLACE CONCERT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO PLEASE LET ME KNOW SOON. YOURS ELAINE BURCH.
January 5, 2009ELAINE BURCH wrote:
HI JEANIE ANN, WHERE DOES ANDRE GET ALL HIS ENGERY. WOW HE REALLY LOOKS GOOD. LOVE PICTURE OF HIM. HE TAKES CARE OF HIMSELF.LOVES WHAT HE DOES. LOVE TO ALL FANS . ELAINE BURCH.
January 5, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Hi Elaine, I think André gets his energy from his music and from his audience. When he is on stage he can feel the enthusiasm and positive energy coming from the fans and it gives him energy in return. He loves what he is doing and that also makes him want to keep going. What he does is not work to him. Not too many people can say that. Music is his life and he loves life. He really deserves all the success he has. I think he works very hard. It is really nice to hear from you Elaine. Look forward to hearing from you again. Hugs
January 5, 2009
Shirley wrote:
WOW! That above picture stopped me in my tracks!! Almost forgot what I came on to ask. I was listening to some oldies on the radio today & I would like to know if anyone remembers who sang "Ill Get By", it was a man but I can't place his voice. Wish the radio people would tell who sings what & the name of the song too. Sometimes I know the melody but can't remember the title, or the singer. Anyway, this is an oldie.
January 5, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
Well Shirley, I don't know if this is the same song you are thinking of...but "I'll Get By" (as long as I have you)...and IF that is the correct song, then it was sung by Buddy Clark. I don't know of any other.
January 5, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Hey Marlene, that is the song, but guess what, I called the station(it's local here) and asked them about it, this particular recording was sung by Jerry Vale. Gosh, I didn't even know he sang that one but he did a very nice job of it.I really like this oldies station because it's a lot of the popular music I or my dad loved. Today I heard Jo Stafford, Andre Kostelanitz, the norman Luboff choir and Leroy Anderson. Finally had to get on with other things but I surely enjoyed listening for awhile. As for the song, I'll Get By, I'm sure many singers have sung that one, it's a real favorite of mine, whoever sings it. Thanks Marlene.
January 6, 2009
ThiruselvanK wrote:
I do not know and have never heard of Maestro Andre Rieu or his John Strauss orchestra. However, between, Dec 29th and 31, our local television repeated several times, his performance, in 2007 at the Imperial Hofteung Palace in Vienna. "LIVE IN VIENNA" was excellent. Besides the orchestrated music pieces, this man can also teach "stage composure" , stage humour, stage introductions, audience involvement. , and so on. I treasured the two hours...not alone but called all friends on my handphone to tune in. EXCELLENT Sir. What I would love to see, one day is,a high powered,fast,orchestral music..2 hours Great, to see trumpeteers have dinner as well. Thank you for the good show.
January 8, 2009kati wrote:
THIS IS WHY WE ALL LOVE HIM AND HIS , ORCHESTRA! MOST OF US STARTED TO KNOW HIM BY A PBS BROADCAST, WE HAVE NOT STOPPED WATCHING HIM SINCE!
January 7, 2009kati wrote:
HEIA,HEIA IN THE MOUNTAINS MY HOME COUNTRY HEIA,OHEIA HIGH UP THERE WAS MY BIRTHPLACE WHERE THE SHY BLOSSOMS EDELWIESS WHERE ROUND GLITTER SNOW AND ICE HEIA, OHEIA!-HEART BEAT WILD AND HOT WHEN A GIRL SIEBENBURGER IN LOVE WITH YOU NOT TO PLAY, NOT FOR JOKES IT GIVES YOU HER HEART IF YOU WANT TO SELL YOU THE TIME FIND ANOTHER SCHATZELEIN ARE YOU MY - NEED TO KEEP MY , YOU I HAVE TO WEAR YOU SEELL DO I NEED TO HEAVEN AND HELL TO BE YOU OLALA! SO I BUILT OLALA! LET'S GO DANCE! KISS ME, OH, KISSES ME BECAUSE WHO IS BEST/ KISS/ CAN- ONLY THE WILL MY HUSBAND!
IT IS HARD TO TREANSLATE, IT IS FROM EMMERICH KALMAN'S OPERETTA, WHO WAS HUNGARIAN, USUALLY OUTSIDE OF HUNGARY THEY DO SING IT IN GERMAN. KATI
January 7, 2009
Helen wrote:
Thank you so much for these English lyrics. It was much appreciated.
IF WE PUNCH IN WEIGHT IS IT ME WHEN CAN I FLY UP TO THE STARS THE SKY DANCE MUSIC AND THE LIGHTS SHINE I AM BLESSED AND POETS I CAN THINK FO A SONG WHICH I SING TO YOU BEFORE
CHORUS I DANCE WITH YOU IN THE SKY INSIDE IN THE SEVENTH HEAVEN OF LOVE THE EARTH IS SINKING AND WE TWO ARE ALONE IN THE SEVENTH HEAVEN OF LOVE COME LET US DREAM FOR QUIETER MUSIC OUR ROMANTIC FAIRY TALE OF LUCK AND DANCE WITH ME INTO THE SKY IN THE SEVENTH HEAVEN OF LOVE
YOU KNOW I FEEL ME NOW REALLY HAPPIER THAN HAPPY BECAUSE I LOVE DRUM, I'M SO HAPPY MOCHT HUNDREDS OF SONGS I SING THE SOUND IN MY HEART AND EVERY SONG SAYS: I LOVE YOU
January 7, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
Thank you Kati for the lyrics. They are beautiful!
January 8, 2009
shirley wrote:
Kati, I figured you could be the one to come up with those lyrics. Have you ever seen or heard the cd called A Tribute to Operetta? It features Kalman & Lehar music, has Placido Domingo & Jose Carreras plus some others I've forgotten now. I copied the track listing from when I listened to it( I checked it out at our library)..... very good music.
01. Die Csárdásfürstin (The Gypsy Princess), Operetta: Tanzen Möcht'ich 02. Die Lustige Witwe: Lippen Schweigen 03. Der Zarewitsch: Es Steht Ein Soldat Am Wolgastrand 04. Giuditta: Freunde, Das Leben Ist Lebenswert 05. Zigeunerliebe: Hör' Ich Zymbalklänge 06. Die Lustige Witwe: Da Geh' Ich Zu Maxim 07. Die Lustige Witwe: Vilja, O Vilja 08. Der Vogelhändler: Schenkt Man Sich Rosen in Tirol 09. Countess Maritza, The, Operetta: Komm, Zigany 10. Giuditta: Meine Lippen, Sie Küssen So Heiß 11. Paganini: Gern Hab' Ich Die Frauen Geküßt (Girls Were Made to Love and 12. Die Lustige Witwe: Wie Die Blumen Im Lenze Erblühn 13. Das Land des Lächelns: Wer Hat Die Liebe Uns Ins Herz Gesenkt 14. Das Land des Lächelsn: Von Apfelablüten Einen Kranz 15. Paganini: Niemand Liebt Dich So Wie Ich. While I'm thinking about it, what do you know of Bela Bartok? I had heard a piano concerto of his that I liked very much. Any recommendations about him?
January 8, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Hi Shirley and Kati, thanks for the lyrics Kati. Shirley I would love that CD. I love Lehar and I also love Carreras and Domingo. I will look at Barnes and Noble. They usually have tons of classics. There are two books by Franz Lehar (for violin) that I was looking to buy but they are $30.00 each and I don't know which book has what music so I must try to find it in a music store and then choose one. Been spending too much on André : ) Thanks Shirley. Hugs to both of you
January 8, 2009kati wrote:
I DO NOT KNOW THE CD, BUT I SURE DO KNOW THESE SINGERS. I WOULD TRY MY BEST WITH THE TRANSLATION. ABOUT BARTOK, I DO KNOW AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE I NEVER DID LIKED HIM AND HIS MUSIC. SORRY.
January 8, 2009
Shirley wrote:
hahahha.......well Kati, that was short & to the point!!! If you don't like him then I won't bother with him. I just happened to hear the piano piece on the radio & the announcer said his name & that he was Hungarian.
January 9, 2009kati wrote:
SHIRLEY, YOU HAVE HERE DIE CSARDASFURSTIN BY EMMERICH KALMAN, THE GYPSY PRINCESS OPERETTA? LIKE #1? #2 is your merry widow the song Lippen Scgweigen?
January 8, 2009
Helen wrote:
Thank you very much for the lyrics. The songs are much more meaningful now. I really appreciate your time to send the English lyrics. Thank you
January 7, 2009
sandra griffin wrote:
I have just been watching Andre's DVD of Maastricht. It was wonderful. He has so much energy - I can't beleive he is 59 - I thought he was in his late 40's. Happy New Year to Andre and his team and all his fans.
January 8, 2009
sandra griffin wrote:
Are there any other english fans out there. I live in Dorset in Southern England and would like to meet up with fans of Andre to perhaps listen to his music and have lunch?
January 8, 2009
Jeff Rubino wrote:
Hey all, Jeanine Ann what song, i will look in my library, also if any one esle needs sheet music i can help out, either getting my price at some stores i belong to or if i have it i will send it to you. Thanks -Jeff
January 8, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Hi there Jeff, I was looking for anything Lehar but in particular what André plays like "The One Who Married Us" (forget the German name,) "Gold And Silver" - in other words anything Lehar. Thanks so much Jeff you are a good friend. Hugs to you
January 8, 2009
Jeanine Ann wrote: Isn't this a great photo! Love his expression!
January 8, 2009
Judith wrote:
Belated HAPPY NEW YEAR'S to all André Fans - Cable net work off line a few days, up and running at the moment. Thanks for the photo Jeanine Ann. LOTS of heavy winds here, electricity flickering another day; better not push my luck and send this out before I am in the dark "again". SOO much to say, SOO little time. Back at ya later.
January 8, 2009
Helen wrote:
I really want to thank everyone for their information and comments. As I have mentioned before, I only discovered Andre a few months ago so I feel like a baby learning to walk!!! I mean I have so much to learn about Andre! I read the present comments and some of the Archives each time I turn on my computer. Everytime I am absolutely amazed at the wealth of information that people share on this website and I really want to thank everyone. After I watch the DVDs, my aim is to be able to "sing" the songs and humm the tunes without the DVDs. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I am humming the tune to some of the songs! Another aim is to really understand the performances. When Carla sang Heia in den Bergen in Hannover, she was dressed in a different costume from when she sang this same song at the Schonbrunn. Her costume at the Schonbrunn with the jacket over her shoulder is like the guards at the palace in Denmark. (I am also interested in the Danish royals because an Australian girl married the Danish Crown Prince.) After I watched Suzan sing "I belong to me" at the Schonbrunn, I did a search on YouTube about Empress Sissi. I discovered that Suzan was dressed exactly the same as in the original story about Empress Sissi even her hair was the same. Thank you again to everyone on this website.
January 9, 2009kati wrote:
CARLA'S COSTUME IN SCHONNBRUNN WAS AS CLOSE AS IT COULD GET TO THE COSTUME IN HUNGARY IN THE 1800'S. THE COMPOSER WAS HUNGARIAN BORN, MOST OF THEM LEFT FOR VIENNA OR OTHER COUNTRIES IN EUROPE TO FUTHER THEIR EDUCATION, BUT MOST OF THESE OPERETTAS ARE HUNGARIAN PLAYED ALL THE TIME IN HUNGARY AS OF TODAY. IT IS TOO BAD, ANDRE AND COMPANY NEVER WENT TO HUNGARY YET, I THINK, BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE BARRIER ALTHOUGH MOST HUNGARIANS SPEAK GERMAN ALSO.
January 9, 2009
Helen wrote:
Thank you so much for the information. I have read your comments on this website and you are such a gracious and helpful person to share your information. Thanks to you and this website, I'm learning something new about Andre every day. As they say, Andre has changed my life!!!
January 9, 2009
Helen wrote:
In the DVD "Gala Concert" I thought I saw Carla and Suzan in the choir behind the double bass players. I was just wondering when they became solo singers. As I have previously mentioned, I'm a 'newcomer' to Andre but I am discovering something new about him every day. From watching several DVDs, it has been really interesting to see how Andre's concerts have chanaged but his enjoyment, enthusiasm, interaction with the audience and his love of music have always been evident. Each time I go shopping now, I check out the music store for any new DVDs. It is so true that Andre has changed my life!!! He really is a remarkable person.
January 9, 2009kati wrote:
I PUT ONE TRANSLATION ON THE BIRTHDAY BLOG SITE IF YOU DO BELIEVE IT SHIRLEY?
DANCE MOCHTE I
DANCE MOCHTE I JAUCHZEN MOCHTE I INTO THE WORLD IT SHRINE MINE IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF THE WOMAN MINE ALONE LET YOU SEIZE LET YOU HOLD KISSES ME ON THE NEW WHO IS PROBABLY MORE BLESSEDLY TODAY AS WE TWO? MORE SWEETLY , DEAR ME BUT LEB'I SO ONLY IS MY DREAM THAT SO MUCH LUCK IT CAN GIVE WUSST I HARDLY LET US PRAISE THAT THERE ABOVE DER'S SO WELL MADE SURELY THE HEART IT BEFORE JOY
January 9, 2009kati wrote:
SHIRLEY, HERE IS YOUR NEXT ONE. LIPPEN SCHWEIGEN FROM THE MERRY WIDOW
LIPS ARE SILENT
LIPS ARE SILENT AS WHISPER PLAY THE VIOLIN LOVE ME! ALL THE STEPS SAY PLEASE LOVE ME EACH PRESSURE OF THE HANDS MIR'S DESCRIBED CLEARLY HE SAYS CLEARLY, 'S IS TRUE, 'S IS TRUE YOU LOVE ME! HANNA WHY? WITH EVERYONE WHALE-CUT ALSO THE SOUL DANCES ALSO THERE THE HERZOCHEN HOPS SMALL IT KNOCKS AND POUNDS IS MINE! IS MINE! AND THE MOUTH DOES NOT SPEAK A WORD BUT IT SOUNDS AWAY AND ALWAYS I HAB' YOU SO DEAR, I HAB' YOU SO DEAR! EACH PRESSURE OF THE HANDS MIR'S DESCRIBED CLEARLY HE SAYS CLEARLY, 'S IS TRUE, 'S IS TRUE YOU LOVE ME!
January 9, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Hi Kati, Merry Widow is one of my favorites by Lehar, but what is the "Dance mochte"? who is it by? You spoke of Carla's costume,I really liked that costume she wore in the Schonbrunn, but actually I've liked all her costumes, especially the Juliska & mein herr marquis.Her voice is outstanding and I miss her very much. Kati, I notice a lot of these songs we've talked about mention the word gypsy,like Gypsy Princess etc. What group are they talking about? I really do like the music of Lehar & Kalman .
January 9, 2009kati wrote:
GYPSIES ARE A GROUP OF PEOPLE, BASICALLY LIVING ALMOST ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, I COULD CALL THEM LIKE A MINORITY,JUST LIKE WE COULD CALL PEOPLE HERE IN THE STATES OF SPANISH ORIGIN. THEY DO HAVE THEIR OWN LANGUAGE, THEY DO HAVE THEIR OWN MUSIC, EXCELLENT IN MUSIC, PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS LIKE THE VIOLIN, DULLCIMMER, OR BASS, OR OBOE, OR CLARINET.
January 9, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Well Kati, the first time I ever heard the word gypsy was after I saw this, now old, movie called Golden Earrings, i don't remember the lady who played the gypsy part but Ray Milland was the male star, but there was also a song, Golden Earrings that went with the movie. I was probably about 12 when I saw it and I was absolutely fascinated!
January 10, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Oh does this bring back memories Shirley. My mother played Golden Earrings on the piano when I was a teen. I can still see the sheet music on the piano. I am trying to remember who the female star was. This would be a good song for André to play!
There's a story the gypsy's know as true that when your love wears golden earrings she belongs to you.
An old love story that's known to very few but if you wear those golden earrings love will come to you.
By the burning fire they will glow with every coal You will hear desire whisper low within your soul.
So be my gypsy make love your guiding light and let this pair of golden earrings cast their spell tonight.
January 10, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Oh this reminds me when we were doing song titles about André. I was searching for sheet music last evening and came across a book with songs for the violin I never heard before and one was called "All At Once You Love Him". Guess all this golden earring talk has me in a kind of romantic mood. But then I look out at the weather and I don't know what mood I am in : ) Think we will watch an André concert. We had to go early today and tomorrow for Clydes treatment. Hugs
January 10, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Jeanine Ann,I never heard of that piece of music. It's ironic that we both have been searching music, I know that at one time I had bookmarked a piece that Andre had on you tube, but it is no longer available. I don't even know what cd or dvd it might be on, all I know is the title and it was "komm mit nach Varasden.I must have liked it or I would not have bookmarked it. Maybe Kati or someone can tell me more about it. BTW, hugs for Clyde!
January 10, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Good Morning(?) Jeanine Ann, well after I thought of this old movie I checked on Amazon & they still had it listed. The lady who played the gypsy was Marlene Dietrich. Thank you for the words to the song,I still hear the music in my head. I think because of all the music Kati was talking about & the Gypsy Princess reminded me of that movie. I'd like to watch it again sometime. It sure impressed me as a young girl.
January 10, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
Kati is that "Dance mochte" Tanzen möcht ich??? the translation in English, I would translate it with: " I want to dance!"
January 9, 2009
Helen wrote:
It is very sad if Carla and Suzan have left Andre. They sang beautifully. Are there new solo singers now? Is Carmen still with Andre? I hope Mirusia will be with Andre for a few years.
January 10, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Yes Helen, it is sad, especially with Carmen & Carla, who were probably the first ones we saw with Andre, and then later, Suzan, who fit right in perfectly. Now they have gone on to pursue their own individual careers. If you will check out their web sites you can kind of keep track of what they are doing.Carmen has been very busy working in Brazil & says she is also working on a solo cd. That's exciting news. Carla is with a group called The Strings & looks like she & Bela Mavrak give concerts in Germany too.Just check out their web sites. I don't think most of them have ever signed a lifetime contract, sooner or later they will move on, maybe when they have the time, they might be able to appear with Andre. But as we know, Andre is always on the lookout for young new talent, and we are never disappointed, but we do try to keep up with the ones we really liked over the years don't we? And we can always relive with our favorites on our dvds & cds. BTW, have you seen the latest pictures on Andre's web site, the ones from Hasselt? Seems like the young trumpeter, Melissa Venema is with him for several concerts. She is very good for someone so young. I always enjot the many guests & new talent that Andre chooses, people we might not ever have known about, even the local Maastricht talent. just think about all the different guests we have seen over the years & come to know a bit about. Yep, Andre gives us the best of the best.
January 11, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
Shirley, Suzan was with André first, she was first on the choir and then as a soloist, very stiff at first, I did not like her performance, but she has changed and grown so much, she got better, then he brought on Carla and Carmen and then they did all 3 perform, when Pierre was going out with Suzan, she was brought more and more in the center by André, they had all 3 a good start on his stage but Carla and Carmen were already young performing in their home country. The 3 tenors will not stay for ever, neither did the 3 gifted Russians he picked from the street. It would be nice if all would come back once in a while, but I cannot help it, I miss them, even so I knew it won´t be for ever.
January 11, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Hi Inge, gosh, I didn't know Suzan was before Carmen & Carla. I guess I never paid that much attention. The first dvd I watched was the Dublin one.And I think Suzan did actually improve from when I first saw her. Those Russians, were they called the St Petersberg Trio? I liked them a lot. Someone asked about Laura Engels, I saw some pictures of a New Year concert in Cologne & Laura & Suzan,& Mirusia were singing. And I see that Carla & Suzan have both joined the platin scala. What exactly is that group?
January 12, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
Hi Shirley, yes, we watched the new Champaign-Melodies the other night, which is a cut through all his concerts and their was Suzan in the choir and I remember when André brought her the first time to Montréal, she also did that Angel, but not flying over the heads , she stood there like a statue, but she did change, I guess it was her start. Carla I saw the first time as Olympia from tales of Hoffmann, I loved her doing that doll. That Laura must be the one that replaced Carla, but no offense, she is no comparison to her. The group that Carla and Suzan joined and also the Platin tenors, they give concerts and are moderated by a TV anchor from Germany, but more I do not know, I have read one article about them in the Sauerland express. The Russians were the St. Petersburg Trio, André said he literally picked them of the street in Maastricht.
January 13, 2009Grampa Mike wrote:
I haven't been around for a while. I have found a wonderful woman to share my life with and have been somewhat preoccupied. lol
I am truly sorry to see Carla and Carman leave Andre. They are truly magnificent. I was never a fan of Suzan, but I must admit she has improved the range, strength and quality of her voice. She still has much work to do on her enunciation and stage presence.
My new sweetie had never seen Andre so I exposed her to my DVD collection and she has become a fan. We are going to catch him on his US tour - probably either Phoenix or Denver or whatever close location has a good venue. I did catch his show in Albuquerque last year but I thought the venue ruined it. It was cheap and tawdry. Shame on PBS.
I wish all the Rieu fans the best for 2009. If 2009 is a good for me as the last quarter of 2008 it will be exceptional.
The best to all from "The Land of Enchantment"
Grampa Mike
January 13, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: We missed you Grandpa Mike but I am very happy for you. It is wonderful when you find someone nice who can share your life. You even made her an André fan - that is great! You will need to catch up on all the Australian news. There are lots of articles to read. Glad to have you back with us. I truly hope you will be happy with your new "sweetie". Big hugs
January 15, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
I AM NOT SURE EITHER WHO'S THIS WEBSITE IS, ARE THEY PART OF A THEATRE ON A PERMANENT BASIS OR WHAT? THEY ARE SHOWING SOME SINGERS I NEVER HEARD OF, BUT IT IS A GERMAN GROUP.
January 10, 2009
Shirley wrote:
If skies are clear tonight, Saturday, go out at sunset and look for the giant moon rising in the east. It will be the biggest and brightest one of 2009. I will be looking but i'm not sure our skies will be clear enough. Wolf Moon, Snow Moon, or Old Moon seems to be the names.
January 10, 2009
E Martin wrote:
Hi! Does anyone know where and when Suzan Erens is singing currently ?? Thank you.
January 11, 2009
Grayeme wrote:
Suzan is looking at doing more musicals in the future, but for the time being she is working with Platin-Scala, mostly in Germany. This puts her with the Platin Tenors and Carla Maffioletti is also with them when she is not with "The Strings". The website below will have to be translated from German but has some nice photo's of our old friends. http://www.platin-scala.com/
January 14, 2009Grampa Mike wrote:
Look out for the automatic translators on-line. The one I used translated Tomas' (Platinum Tenor) last name as "abomination." Hardly flattering for such a magnificent voice.
Grampa Mike
January 10, 2009kati wrote:
KOMM MIT NACH VARASDIN by Emmerich Kalman from the operetta Grafina Mariza
Duett uit Mariza: Come along after Varasdin
I please, do not laugh, the Ise, the things, the Amor,
That packed me in such a way!
The Urkraft of the impulses, the fire of the love,
I white exactly as one does not say there!
I find'es ergötzlich that it so suddenly,
So stormily their heart for me discovers,
They did not save, with words, with tender,
But they must still wait, them me frightened!
That cannot be done! I do not seal, I red'nicht,
I am not also no poet, I legend only
Refrein: Come along after Varasdin! So long still the roses blüh'n,
There woll'n we lucky its, we both all alone!
You are the most beautiful Fee, from Debrecin to disk lake,
Drum would like with you I after Varasdin!
Because my passion, burns hotter still than Gulaschsaft
And in the chest heart dances to me ago and Czardas!
Come along after Varasdin, so long still the roses blüh'n,
There the whole world is still red, white, green!
There one can make nix, the Ise, the things, the Amor,
That is already once like that!
The Spitzbub only it plays, then it laughs, then it aims,
Then it shoots and meets us somewhere!
They speak very drastically, them schildren very plastic,
They cut completely attractive me the Cour, A suitor with Temprament and fires like her, works tremendously Auf's heart and pour l'amour. Yes!if i it look at only so brenn'ich and brenn'ich has so kenn'ich only one
January 10, 2009
lorraine wrote:
happy new year to all, very late. just stopped by to say hello. wishing everyone a wonderful 2009!
loved that golden earring movie with marlene dietrich...she was something else...pbs just did a special about wwii and the film industry...marlene dietrich's story was in it...i fell asleep though and never got to see it. shirley, bartok was yehudi menuhin's fav composer and he and many other musicians feel he was the very best. i can understand kati's feelings. bartok needs alot of getting used to...but i think he was amazing. his music definitely is possessive and required alot of attention though...not exactly easy listening. art of violin has a couple of pieces by bartok and yehudi's comments on him. have a great new year all, it was nice visiting you...lots of new fans who i had not yet me....L
January 10, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
And a very good 2009 to you too Lorraine! Nice to see you here, haven't seen you in a while. Take care and know that I'm thinking of you.
January 11, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Hi Lorraine,I will have to go back & listen to Art of The Violin, it's been awhile. the piece I heard was a piano concerto, I don't know which one but I enjoyed it.
January 10, 2009
Virginia Baker wrote:
Has anyone watched the old Sissi movies from the 1950s? I watched them and it's amazing to see the costumes. Worth renting if you can find them.
January 10, 2009
WebMaster Sally wrote:
Hi Virginia, I have not watched those old movies, but will look for them. I enjoy old movies, the colors, the texture, the lighting. Some times it appears today's movies want to dazzle us with tech-mation, and forget to give us dialog and substance.
January 11, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
Virginia I have watched those old Sisi -movies over and over again, here they show them often in French, but I have seen them when they came out in the 5Os and Romy Schneider is my age, or she would be, if she was still alive. The story is almost true, but I have a book about Sisi, that was written for her lOO anniversary of her murder, it is based on letters from her mother-in-law, her husband the emperor and a lot of the diary of her lady in waiting and a lot of letters from herself to all of them. It comes as close to the truth as it could be. She was a very smart woman, but also neurotic, she was only occupied with her beauty, she never smiled much because she was afraid to show her rotten teeth, she got from bulimia, she was so obsessed to stay slim and fit that she had already then a gym built in the castle, she did her duty to the country and gave the Kaiser 4 children, one died with 2 and the only son committed suicide with his lover in the castle Meierling, both were married to other people. Rudolf was like his mother, very sensitive and as they were all related to each other, like Franz Joseph and Elisabeth were first cousins, their mothers sisters, they inherited some kind of dementia, in Sisi it showed as being very depressed. Her mother´s cousin the king of Bavaria was homosexual and engaged to the sister of Sisi, but never married her, he was either murdered or committed suicide, nobody knows for sure. The story about the love of Sisi and Franz Joseph is true, she loved him and he adored her, but the mother from Franz was a big influence on their marriage and not for the best, Sisi fought her hole live for freedom and still tried to do her duty.
January 11, 2009
Virginia Baker wrote:
Yes, as you know, in the movies Sissi's mother-in-law was the mother-in-law from hell. The song that Suzan sings from the musical is spot on. Both Sissi and her husband tried to do their duty but she was very narcicisstic.
January 10, 2009kati wrote:
YES, IT IS BY EMMERICH KALMAN DIE CSARDASFURSTIN MELODIE
January 10, 2009
Craig wrote:
It is sad when some of the wonderful singers and musicians of the JSO move on. Does Laura Engel still perform an ocasional solo? She was in the chorus when they appeared in Peoria, IL USA in April of 2008. Also does Resi perform any solos?
January 11, 2009
Laurene wrote:
Hi,Everybody.Hope 2009 is beginning to start out ok for you all.Hopefully here in Innisfail North Queensland, we don't get hit by another cyclone.It looks very ominous from here,as Cyclone Charlotte has crossed the coast in the Gulf & we are copping the heavy winds/rain here.My darling husband has been madly trying to block off all the water pouring in the doors,it is so heavy.Innisfail is starting to look really pretty now with all the trees etc regrowing,so please say a prayer for us & the other towns further north.Not very happy subject eh? I'll talk about something much more pleasing like our beautiful Andre.What a magnificent human being!!His energy & love for what he represents is sensational.It really touched my heart strings when I saw his tears while playing Waltzing Matilda on the Australia dvd,also he was so emotional when he played at his home town Maastricht.He truly has a beautiful soul, & I hope he is around for a long time yet.I am sure going to miss Carla, Suzan & the Tenors,they were wonderful. Cheers,Laurene.
January 11, 2009
Jill wrote:
Good luck with that weather Laurene. Sounds pretty scary. I was touched by Andre's emotion during Waltzing Matilda too. I'm glad he didn't edit it out, I guess the whole night had just overwhelmed him and the beautiful tune and everyone singing was too much. He must be very sensitive. It's a pity there aren't more people with such a gentle heart running the world politics. How do you know Carla, Suzan and the Tenors are leaving? Have I missed something?
January 12, 2009
Grayeme wrote:
Jill, Carla has not been with Andre for about 1 year now. She wanted to expand on her love of "classical guitar" which she plays beautifully, hence she joined a group called "The Strings". She also performs with "The Platin Scala" which includes the Platin Tenors and now Suzan. I posted a link to their website a few posts above. Suzans last performance with Andre was in Brisbane. I have not heard any thing on the Platin Tenors leaving. I think Inge or someone may have submized that would happen and of course we all know it will eventually. That brings me to the question ??? Who is the new soloist Andre had at Arnhem and Hasselt since his return to Europe (photo's on Andre's website) There is Carmen, Mirusia and another blonde girl.
January 13, 2009
Moderator Prudence wrote:
Could it be Kalki Schrijvers?
January 13, 2009
Grayeme wrote:
Yes, I think you are right Prudence. I can not get the photo to enlarge clear enough, but all the features are that of Kalki. Thanks.
January 13, 2009
Jill wrote:
Thank you Grayeme, also for the update on Helmut. I can't understand why his wives keep letting him get away - he'd be so decorative to have around the house...
January 11, 2009
Helen wrote:
In Australia, we say that the Aussie Salute is when we brush away the flies with our hands, especially in country areas. You may have seen pictures of a hat with corks hanging down and this is for the same reason to keep the flies away. Now however I think the Great Australian Salute is waving our hands like we do when we listen to Andre's music. When I watch Andre's DVDs, I cannot sit still so I also wave my hands like the audience or even sometimes try and learn their dance like in the Clog Dance. I absolutely love the Clog Dance although Andre made a comment that they got sore feet from the wooden clogs. I have also found information about The Red Rose Cafe. It is in the town of Hoorn 35 km north of Amsterdam. The real name of the café is "Het Schippershuis" and it is opposite the harbor. The composer is Pierre Kartner but he was also named "Father Abraham". He lives in the Dutch province of Limburg. Maybe this is where (on a DVD) Andre and the JSO performed the Red Rose Cafe which starts slowly but then it gets really lively with everyone joining in and dancing. I love it!!!!
January 12, 2009
Grayeme wrote:
Best Wishes Sally on your next big step, but don't overdo it. You have come so far on the road to recovery and we are all very proud of you. Go Girl.!!
January 12, 2009
Denise Fickling wrote:
Someone told me about a little video clip that showed Andre doing a cooking demonstration!!! Can anyone please help me find it? It sounds like fun!! Can't wait to see his concert in Melbourne in Oct 09 - we have tickets.
January 12, 2009
Grayeme wrote:
Hi Denise - the cooking segment is on a documentary Andre made for PBS in America called "Just For You" He cooks in the kitchen at his castle. You won't be able to get this in Australia. However, I do have it, if you email Webmaster Sally at the contact email for this website and ask her to give you my email address, then contact me. Your most welcome.
January 13, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
I have a DVD "Welcome to my World, it was sent to me by PBS as a gift because I always pledged for tickets in Montréal, on that DVD he cooks his famous "Stampftopf" and he introduces Pierre and Marc, shows his castle and his studio and also he drives to Marc and the collection of Pierre´s military vehicles from the 2nd World War.
January 12, 2009
Denise Fickling wrote:
Thank you so much for your quick response, however I understand that this little video clip was actually on a website. Maybe someone knows how to find it!
January 12, 2009
WebMaster Sally wrote:
Hello Denise, please check your email.
January 13, 2009
Marguerite wrote:
I would also like to see this video clip If I may, Thanks, Marguerite
January 12, 2009
Grayeme wrote:
Some news for Helmut Lotti fans. Helmut will marry his new lady, journalist Jelle van Riet in Antwerp on 9th of May. This will be the third marriage for 39 yr old Helmut, so lets hope he has some better luck this time around.
January 12, 2009
WebMaster Sally wrote:
I certainly wish him happiness. I hope this one works and brings them both JOY.
I can hear a million hearts breaking. All 'those' fans of his...
January 13, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Well I am happy for him. I wish them a happy life.What is it "they" say? "Third Time's A Charm"? or lucky. Anyway, maybe he will be an even better singer, hmmm?
January 13, 2009
Grayeme wrote:
I know I could be accused of bias here, but, I have just watched the Andre "Live in Australia" DvD for the umpteenth time. It was as overwhelming and tear jerking then as the first time I saw it, even with having seen the concert "live" twice. The emotions of this occasion are tearing at you from the opening moments when you witness members of the audience hugging each other with sheer exuberance simply because it is finally happening. Apart from a very emotional Andre, the JSO are simply on fire. No one can fake their obvious sheer delight at performing there. All fans, wherever you may be, should make the effort to get this DvD, it is a must have. It is just incredible how this DvD actually picks up and throws at you the raw emotions and total delight that the audience of 36,000 fans display at finally being at an Andre concert. You will never regret buying this DvD, I promise you.
January 13, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Well Grayeme, as Andre himself has said,. "It was an overwhelming experience. The warmth of the audience was overpowering." I'm sure this will be another "must have" for all fans. Personally, I've always loved to watch the audience's faces in all the dvds. This one has got to be exceptional because they waited so long for Andre to come.
January 13, 2009
Marguerite wrote:
Grayeme, I have had Live in Australia (NTSC version) on order from Andre's boutique since Dec 5th and was told by them that only PAL versions are on sale as of now, so be careful when you order that you get the proper one for your area especially if you order on ebay as all of theirs are PAL version. I found out the hard way by ordering one and when I got it, it wouldn't play then I looked and it said PAL, so since I opened it I have not received a refund. Hope this helps in ordering. Marguerite
January 13, 2009
Grayeme wrote:
Most DVD players nowadays should play both. Download DVD Decrypter to your computer and run the video through as an ISO File. Then burn a copy and it will play. I get DvD's from all over the world and very rarely have a problem. Anything you buy in Australia will be Pal.
January 14, 2009
Marguerite wrote:
Grayeme. I am in my 70's and have no clue what you are talking about and wouldn't begin to know how to do all that. There are a lot of Andre lovers in my age group and I wanted them to be aware of what they are ordering. I know that I am getting the right one from Andre's boutique but Amazon doesn't always tell you. Thanks for the info anyway as others could use it.
January 13, 2009
Grayeme wrote:
Suppose I better tell you where to get it. Online, probably the best place now is Sanity Music in Australia. On present exchange rate it will cost you US$17.40 add postage to most anywhere in the world and it will cost you about US$24 in total. http://www.sanity.com.au/product/product.asp?sku=2119737
January 14, 2009
Laurene wrote:
Hi, I just made a boo boo! & wrote in the birtday section.As I said there,I am thrilled at having just viewed Andre in his 1452 kitchen cooking a scrumptious meal he is such a wonderful larrikan!The site is Ovation-Schofield.He also does other interviews with Leo Schofield from Australia. Cheers,Laurene.xo
January 14, 2009
Marguerite wrote:
Laurene, thanks for the Ovation-Schofield site. It is a great site and I loved all three interviews of Andre & his castle & Andre cooking in his castle. There is much more to see and I enjoyed all I have seen so far & will watch more as time permits. Great site.
January 14, 2009
Jeff Rubino wrote:
Good news!! I got an email from the andre rieu company. They said they were very sorry for the delay on the new australia dvd NTSC and they will ship it out today to me! Hope every one gets there too, they said i would have hin in 3 or 4 days! Thanks -Jeff
January 14, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
I THINK, THEY DID MENTION, THAT THE DVD WILLL BE AVAILABLE ON THE 7TH WEEK, JUST A LITTLE MORE WAYS AWAY.
January 14, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: My email said the 7th week also. Jeff, who do you know over there?? : ) This is one I am dying to see. I did see one on Ebay and ordered it because I couldn't wait any longer but with the hospital every day which I hope is over now, I did not get to see it. We did watch Maastricht 2 and it was just magnificent as is everything André does. Hope everyone is having a great day. Hugs to all
January 14, 2009
E Martin wrote:
Guess I am confused. What does "week 7" mean ???? Is that 7 weeks from the original order date (7 Dec 2008) or the 7th week of the New Year (2009) or Seven Weeks from NOW ?? Any Guesses Anyone ????
January 15, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
WEEK 7 IN 2009. SO, IT DES FALL TO FEBRUARY.
January 15, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
Jeanine Ann, I got the same message from them and I wrote back, if they have it in PAL, they should send me that one, wonder if they do???
January 15, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
USUALLY THEY DO. I DID THE SAME THING
January 15, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Inge that could be that they do have it in PAL and are sending that one. I can play PAL so I don't care which one I get. I should write and tell them that also. Thanks much. Hugs to you
January 14, 2009
E Martin wrote:
Hello Constance. I received the following email from AR Help Desk. Has anyone else received a similar note?? What does this mean??? See Below: Dear André Rieu fan,
There has been an unforeseen delay in the production process for the international NTSC version of the DVD Live in Australia that you ordered in our boutique at AndreRieu.com The DVD will be released and send out to you in week 7. Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience.
Yours sincerely, Helpdesk André Rieu
January 14, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
Yes, I got the same message. I'm sure we will get the dvd as soon as possible. Personally, I can't wait to see it, but in waiting, it also builds my anticipation, which I enjoy. I know it will be here in good time.
January 14, 2009
Grayeme wrote:
It will be worth it Marlene, trust me !!! Let that anticipation have no boundaries.
January 15, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
Thanks Grayeme. I do appreciate your words very much. I think of this dvd every single day! I can't wait to see it. Anticipation...it's here! I know it will be here soon.
January 14, 2009Constance wrote: yes Thank You. I did order the Australia dvd and get the delay notice for the 7th week also and wrote back to them and thanked them for the notice E Martin. constance ox
January 14, 2009
Julie wrote:
Those of you who vote for Andre for Person of the Year on the Dutch website know that he's in second place, just behind Elvis Presley and one vote ahead of Benny Neyman. Unfortunately they allow persons who are no longer with us to be voted for.
Let's all focus on getting Andre into first place again as he was in 2007. Here are directions for those who are new to the voting:
Website: http://www.persoonvanhetjaar.nlIn box on right side choose english. Scroll down to Andre, click on Vote. On next screen confirm Vote. Enter email address and click on option to remember your address. Click on Vote again. You will receive a confirmation email. Click on the blue line and you'll get the website letting you know that your vote is confirmed. It's a great way to start the day!!
January 15, 2009
Shirley wrote:
I wonder what their criteria is for person of the year? Is it just a popularity contest ? Time Magazine states that their aim is to pick "the person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or for ill, and embodied what was important about the year, for better or worse". In any case, I would prefer to see "person of the year" be someone who has done something positive & good. After looking at all the ones who are listed on this site, who has done more to spread happiness and good will around the world, than Andre Rieu? For that reason alone he should be voted #1, even though all his fans already consider him to be #1. As for those no longer living, their time has past & should not even be nominated. But this is just a fun thing to do, so I will vote this year.
January 22, 2009
Jill wrote:
I've just voted - and noticed Andre has slipped down to 4th place. Let's hope lots more vote for him.
Have just driven from the UK to Dusseldorf and back again, and would do it all again staright away... FANTASTIC performance, worth every mile. although the 'Dome' staff kept evryone waiting for 30mins in -7 degrees whilst deciding to open the doors!
BUT WHEN WILL ANDRE COME TO THE UK ?
January 14, 2009
Denise Fickling wrote:
Laurene, You have described Andre's personality in one word - "larrikin" - a "mischievous person" according to the Collins English dictionary!! Sums up his humour (in my view)beautifully!!
January 17, 2009
Laurene wrote:
Denise, He is such a loveable character,I could listen & watch him forever.HaHa! my hubby's even jealous of the time I spend on these fan sites & watching his DVD'S.I even made a calender with his photos for my 88 year old Mum & I we love him so much.His orchestra/singers are certainly fantastic also.I hope to be able to get to Brisbane next year to see him.I can't go too far due to my Mum's poor health. Cheers, Laurene.
January 14, 2009
Jeff Rubino wrote:
Hey all, Funny you guys should mention the welcome to my world dvd, i just bought a brand new welcome to my world dvd still rapped on ebay for only $6.99. Great dvd. thanks -Jeff
January 17, 2009
Marguerite wrote:
Jeff, Lucky you for getting "Welcome to my world" I have searched all over and haven't been able to find one. Went to ebay and they don't have it so you must have gotten the only one available. Enjoy, Margueite
January 15, 2009
Virginia Baker wrote:
Re voting. Note that for the week Andre is no. 3 but in the overall standing he is no. 4 same as last year. Let's see if we can move him up!
January 15, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
WATCH THE NEWS EVERYBODY ! NOW! US AIR JET WENT DOWN IN THE FREEZING HUDSON RIVER, ALL HELPERS AROUND, BUT PEOPLE WERE STANDING ON THE WING, MY GOD, I HOPE THEY WERE ABLE TO SAVE SOME IN THIS FREEZING WATER, AND THE JET SANK.
January 15, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
I DO HOPE THE GREAT NEWS IS ALL 150 PEOPLE OFF THE PLANE, NOW IT IS JUST THE QUESTION OF INJURIES. THANKS GOD.
January 15, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Yes Piano, everyone is off the plane and there are just some minor injuries according to the news. Thank God for that.
January 15, 2009Webmaster Sally wrote:
Thank God for that experienced pilot. He turned that plane and glided it with no power, into the best possible, under those conditions, landing. Watching this on the news made me cry. First for feeling scared for all the people and then for joy as they were all alive and safe with few injuries. *The pilot lives in Danville, about an hour from me.
January 15, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
Hooray for that wonderful pilot who lives in Danville! Thank goodness this pilot was able to save all those lives.
I spent the entire afternoon watching André DVD's. It was only in the teens today and my sister said it was 4 when she woke up around 7 so I don't know what the low was. Wind chills are bad also. You know I thought Maastricht was fantastic (and it was) but I just adored the Dresden concert (Semperoper). It was filled with all the music I love, André was incredible and all the duets were fantastic. When Carmen sang "Hor Ich Zimblaklange"(sp) with André I almost died. I love to see him play that and Carmen looked just beautiful. The Platin Tenors were just wonderful with the Puccini aria (cannot think of name at moment) and that new Tenor is just fantastic and I loved the duet with Mirusia "That's All I Ask Of You". The whole setting was just beautiful. I am now out of adjectives to describe this concert and I haven't even seen Live In Australia. Saving that for last. Then we watched the Federation Square concert and the pre-concert special from Melbourne. André looked fantastic as usual in all these concerts. The pre-concert was mostly interviews, I have a little left to watch, but it is very informative and I love to see these candid moments. Hugs to all
January 16, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
Well, compared to what I did today, I would much rather have done what you did today Jeanine Ann, what a nice way to spend the day. Just don't go outside...way too cold! Brrrrrrr It got down to 24 here last night and I thought that was way too cold.
January 17, 2009
Shirley wrote:
We had been watching all this unfold on TV.Thanks to the pilot with a cool head and 40 years experience, not to forget the crew and rescue crews who got there so quickly, this really did turn into the "miracle on the Hudson". There are many people whose lives have been changed. God must have been one of the co-pilots.
January 18, 2009
Jill wrote:
What a nice comment Shirley. I guess they did have Him on board.
January 17, 2009
Grayeme wrote:
Not much to report on Andre from Australia at the moment, so I thought I would spread my wings a bit. I was very pleasantly surprised to learn this week that Mary Duff (of Daniel O'Donnell fame) is about to embark on her first solo tour of Australia and US/Canada. I think Mary is a wonderful talent and I am sure she has plenty of fans here on the blog as well from her years with Daniel. She will be touring Australia in March and early April, and then starts her US tour on 11th May at Tri-Lakes Theatre in Branson MO. Guess we won't be hearing from Shirley that week. The nice part is that she will be performing at Boonah QLD near my home 2 days after my birthday so I am shouting myself a present. We often talk on this blog about Andre's stamina, well Mary has some too. On her Australian tour she is performing 26 concerts in 31 days, then she has a break before finishing her tour in Perth. She then tours England and then the US. All this and she is still recovering from a broken ankle. Have a look at her itinary http://www.maryduff-international.com/page4.htm
No announcements as yet on when Daniel will next have a concert tour in either Australia or the US. But he will be doing a promotional tour to the US in March visiting PBS Stations that at the time will be airing the concert he recorded at Branson MO last November that our Shirley attended, so we will have to look out for her in the crowd. Don't know anything about when that one is going to be released on DvD. Cheers.
January 17, 2009
Shirley wrote:
I would love to catch one of Mary Duff's concerts, if possible. Branson is so crowded anymore, we try to catch a tour-type bus to go there.Especially if it's tourist season. There is bumper to bumper traffic, moving 5 miles an hour, not to mention all the hills and curves of that area. When we went to see O'Donnell in 2007, it wasn't so bad, but we still went by bus. It's just easier to leave the driving to someone else. We tried to go in 2006, but that year came snow & ice so we had to wait. We love the Branson and Eureka Springs areas, but those Ozark hills and curves can get pretty hairy.
January 17, 2009
Reporter Grayeme wrote:
When the Lotto comes in, I will be off to Branson MO for an entire season. It is No1 on my list, 125 Shows running there this coming season, that must be like living in heaven. Daniel O'Donnell is there again 3-22 November. Do you know Daniel owns a cottage in the Tri-Lakes Resort that he stays in when there. All decked out with O'Donnell memoribilia and photo's and when he is not there it is available for public rental. How cool would that be around the table with friends. "Oh, we stayed at Daniel O'Donnells place !!!". Like my new handle ??
January 17, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Yes, I knew Daniel had a place there, never saw it though. Branson is a lively place for sure. When we first went there, probably in the 60's & 70's, there was hardly more than a cave and a cabin. They've come a long way, baby!! At one time we could have bought a piece of land down there for a song. HA, little did we know!
January 17, 2009
WebMaster Sally wrote:
I'm going too Grayeme! I have never been. I would love to see the shows and concerts.
That and travel. My Lotto Dreams.
January 20, 2009
Jill wrote:
I've just bought tickets to see Mary Duff at Rooty Hill RSL on 27th March. The girl said they only have a handfull of bookings so I hope it's not cancelled. I guess there's plenty of time left yet though. Last time I went to that club for a concert was to see Lovelace Watkins years ago. Now, that was definitely a WOW moment! Double WOW.
January 20, 2009
Reporter Grayeme wrote:
"LOVELACE WATKINS"!!!! wow Jill, that's a long time between drinks !!. No One ever worked as hard on stage as Lovelace, he was a class act. I booked my Mary tickets for Boonah as well. First 5 rows were gone so I took centre aisle row 6. Looking forward to a great night.
January 21, 2009
WebMaster Sally wrote: Lovelace Watkins. that's a new name to me. I have to look it up.
January 21, 2009
Grayeme wrote:
He toured Australia extensively and very regularly in the 60/70/80's. He was hugely popular in Australia. Brilliant singer and like I said, he gave it all on stage 150% every time.
January 21, 2009
Jill wrote:
He was marketed here as 'Mr Las Vegas'and performed in our biggest clubs. He lived in Las Vegas and performed there several months of the year. That last time I saw him he was mingling with the audience after the show, as he always did, and I overheard a middle aged woman and her elderly mother telling him they'd been saving for a couple of years and were finally coming to see him perform in his home town and had tickets for the following month. He took a serviette from a nearby table and wrote on it. As he handed it to the elderly lady he said, "if you need a friend in Vegas this is my number." I was VERY impressed by such a spondtaneous act of kindness and remember thinking, "you're not only the sexiest man alive, you're also one of the nicest." My husband and I had it on our 'to do when the children grow up list' to also go and see him in Las Vegas, but very sadly he died of leukaemia before we could do it. He had a wonderful deep singing and speaking voice. He made me think of velvet every time he spoke. He had very dark skin but silver hair even when quite young. In all the concerts I saw him in I don't think the audience stayed seated for more than the first two or three songs. People would be on their feet, and often standing on the tables and chairs, cheering him on.
January 22, 2009
WebMaster Sally wrote:
It is a fitting tribute to him, that you carry such fond memories. It sounds as if Lovelace never forgot how to be humble. He must have been a people person.
January 17, 2009
Jeff Rubino wrote:
ATTENTION ALL USA CONCERT GOERS!!!!! Carla Maffioletti will be with Andre Rieu in The concert. I cant wait to see her agian! Thank Aire for the information. Thanks -Jeff
January 17, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Jeff, I saw that on Carla's agenda. this should make all Carla's fans very happy indeed.
January 17, 2009
Reporter Grayeme wrote:
And all in Aussie will be hoping she hangs around for our next tour in October.!!
January 18, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
She certainly makes me happy, hope she comes to Montréal with him.
January 17, 2009
David wrote:
Since both Suzan and Carla have left Andre for Platin Scarla, I have noticed in the Cologne concerts, a third unamed singer, in white. Could someone put a name to her please?
January 17, 2009
WebMaster Sally wrote:
Hello: You are asking about Kalki Schrijvers. She is in the choir and sometimes upfront as a soloist.
Kalki is very nice as well as being very pretty. I met her in Sacramento, California. She had the prettiest smile!
This what Andre says.....
Kalki comes from a musical and artistic family. She herself began her musical career as a cellist. When it was discovered during her training that she also had a wonderful voice, singing became more and more her great passion!
Kalki really does have a beautiful warm voice and I am incredibly happy that she is now travelling with me on tour to give concerts all over the world!
January 17, 2009
David wrote:
Many thanks for identifying the replacement singer as Kalki Schrijvers and wonder if she does any spectacular solos as did Zuzzann and Carla? PS the name Kalki is the same as an area in our snw country. It may have some such meaning. PPS Hope Andre releases some of his European concerts on DVD?
regards from David Down Under
January 18, 2009
Reporter Grayeme wrote:
In Australia tonight, Ovation channel has just screened an Australian Premiere "Max Raabe & Palast Orchestra - Live in Berlin". I understand that this has been seen on PBS. I was not sure what to expect, and now I have seen it, I am not sure what I saw. It was so different, the German music, hits of the 1920s/1930s was beautiful and I think what was meant to be comedy from Max was brilliant. He is just so "deadpan". Watching a German sing an Italian love song in French whilst you follow the English subtitles is no easy feat. The audience, which was huge certainly loved him. It was at the Berlin Waldbuhne which Andre recorded one of the DvD's at but I can't remember which one at the moment. I remember it threatened to rain. Anyway I enjoyed it, has anyone else seen him ???.
January 18, 2009
Jill wrote:
Hi Grayeme I just clicked onto this site wondering if I should ask if anyone watched Max Raabe last night and there your comment was. He was interesting, wasn't he - another one we've never heard of! Do you think it's because they're not part of the English speaking world they forget we are down here? Anyway, I'd just finished watching Deal Or No Deal, which ran late, and flicked onto Ovation to see what was happening and there was Max, looking so "odd", but well into the concert. I nearly turned it off straight away but then the camera turned onto the audience and I saw the huge crowd, obviously enjoying themselves, so I decided to give him three songs. He got me in, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole concert, would certainly like to see another of his performances. I wonder if his demeanor is always so strange. His dialogue was quite witty though and he has a beautiful voice, doesn't he? My husband came home near the end and said ,"whatever are you watching?" I didn't quite know how to describe just what it was I was watching so encouraged him to just sit and listen and Max got him in too. We loved the music. It reminded us of the movie 'Cabaret'. Is PBS the USA version of pay TV? Anyway, I'm glad you saw last night's concert and will be interested to see if anyone else here did too. I must say I'm enjoying this site. We all seem to have the same tastes and it's nice we can exchange ideas on so many musical topics. I loved the story of the violinist in the Metro. I don't think I really look at buskers although I usually give them a few coins. My 9 year old neice recently went to the Mall in Queanbeyan without her parents knowledge and started singing with a hat on the ground in front of her, She came home about an hour later with $34. Her parents were horrified - they hadn't even noticed she was gone.
January 19, 2009
Reporter Grayeme wrote:
Jill, I am pleased someone else saw it. Sounds like it got you exactly as it got me, there was no way I was turning it off. I was so pleased I had the foresight to record it. I too was hoping someone here may be able to enlighten us further on Max. Maybe they are all on their way to "Washington" !!!
January 19, 2009
Reporter Grayeme wrote:
Jill, PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) is the American equivalent of our ABC. I should say what our ABC used to be like when it had concerts on it. Many of the shows we get on Ovation are from PBS. The Michael Buble concert which was on Ovation on Saturday night was also a PBS concert. http://www.pbs.org/
January 22, 2009
Marie wrote:
Grayeme, Love your new title "Reporter Grayeme". I have just received Andre's latest Newsletter in which he says that there is a new DVD called "Wedding at the Opera". Do you know anyhing about this?
January 22, 2009
Moderator Grayeme wrote:
Hi Marie, the handle has changed again.!! The DvD is the concert from Semper Opera House in Dresden. It starts of with the wedding. It is available at Andre's Boutique and it is called "Dancing Through The Skies" with sub-title "Wedding at the Opera". I think Andre does that just to confuse us. As far as I am aware it is not available in Australia as yet, but I will check it out.
January 22, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
WHILE HE DOES HAVE THIS SUBTITLE IS BECAUSE, THERE WAS AN ACTUAL WEDDING FOR A YOUNG COUPLE FROM VIENNA, WHO WERE PART OF THE DEBUTANY DANCERS, AND HAPPENED, THEY DID PLAN THEIR WEDDING ON THIS DAY OF THE CONCERT, but they really wanted to be the part of this concert, SO INSTEAD, THEY HAD THEIR WEDDING IN DRESDEN. IF YOU ORDER THE DVD, YOU CAN SEE THE COUPLE And the tribute to them.
January 22, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
ONE OF ANDRE'S NEWEST DVD CALLED DANCING THROUGH THE SKIES HAVE A SUBTITLE WEDDING AT THE OPERA. THE DVD ITSELF IS VERY BEAUTIFUL. ORDER IT IF YOU CAN.
January 19, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Well now, you have aroused my curiosity. I've never heard of this Max Raabe before. If he has been on our PBS channel at all I've missed it. I checked out youtube & he does have some of his music on there but I would have to see him in an actual concert setting to give an opinion. I did find out that he has even been to New York City's Carnegie Hall. How about that? Well I had never heard of Andre Rieu either til I saw him on PBS.
January 25, 2009Webmaster Sally wrote: Jackie shared this with me, and I recalled the chat about Max Raabe here. So what did I do? I went to his website, fell in love with the music and already ordered a DVD & CD. I am so impressed with the Wonderful Music I am learning about. Thank You!
A
Violinist in the Metro - Something
to Think About
A
man stood in the lobby area of the metro station in Washington DC and started to
play the violin. It was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for
about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated
that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to
work.
Three
minutes went by and a middle-aged man noticed there was musician playing. He
slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, then hurried up to meet his
schedule. A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman
threw the money in the till and continued to walk without stopping.
A
few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but then
the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for
work. The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother
pulled him along hurriedly, but the boy stopped to look at the violinist.
Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head
back toward the violinist all the time. This action was repeated by several
other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move
on.
In
the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people actually stopped and stayed
for a while. Twenty-seven people
gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He
collected about $32.
When he finished playing and silence took over, no o ne noticed. No one
applauded, nor was there any other recognition.
No
one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the finest classical musicians
in the world. He
played one of the most intricate pieces ever written and
he played it with
a violin worth $3.5 million.
Two
days before this performance in the subway, Joshua Bell had sold out at Symphony
Hall in Boston where the seat price averaged $100.
This
is a true story. Joshua
Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by The
Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and
priorities of people.The
outlines were: In a banal setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty
transcend? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an
unexpected context?
One
of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a
moment to stop and listen to one of the finest musicians in the world playing
some of the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing every
day?
May you
take the time in 2009 to experience the beauty that surrounds you.
Thanks to Jolanta for finding this.
January 18, 2009
Shirley wrote:
What a beautiful thought for the day. and did you notice it was the children who wanted to stop? Just take a walk with a child and you will see & hear the beauty of the world. Sometimes we hurry too much to notice life's little miracles. Better to "stop and smell the roses". "You'd better slow down Don't dance so fast Time is short The music won't last"
January 18, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Yes Shirley I did notice that it was the children who wanted to listen. I certainly would have stopped to listen. No matter where I am if I hear a violin or any beautiful music I stop what I am doing and listen. It just gets my attention. Of course I am a very observant person. I have gone up to people in church who I know are having a bad day (I can usually tell if they are around me) and tell them they need a hug today. Sometimes I hear them talking. Clyde says "how do you know all these things" and I just tell him I am very aware of what is going on around me, but then I am not a talker. I just sit and listen. I hope I am not being nosy but I believe that one of my things in life is to make a person's day a little better with a hug or a few words. Hugs
January 18, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
Great story. Interesting indeed. It's amazing how preocupied people get with getting to where they are going, and what they are doing, whether it be to work, to play or whatever. A child will see things that adults don't see because they don't have a lifetime of schedules to keep, chores to do, life to live. They have the moment. I think that's why they are able to appreciate things adults tend to overlook...even the beautiful things of life and people. It's truly sad when we cannot stop and smell the roses or listen to an incredible violinist playing in a metro station. I don't know that I would say "perception", "taste" or "priorities" were 100% involved, however, given the setting, at least a portion of these were.
Good questions were asked...one that I thought was great..."In a banal setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?"...I guess we got the answer to that one. I would like to think that I will always have time to stop and appreciate beauty, I've always tried to. Sometimes I wonder where the beauty is in everyday life, but I know it's there, we just have to look and we have to go after it, putting aside all hates, dislikes, criticism, selfishness, and jealousy. Preoccupation with life...we definitely need to stop and enjoy beauty, no matter where it is or where it comes from. I think that all of us here on this blog does enjoy beauty to the fullest. I've never seen so many wonderful stories, beautiful hearts, friendly words and caring, loving, concerned people. I also believe that André, his music, his sincere character brings out the best in everyone. If you don't have sincerity, love, compassion, integrity, and an ability to dream...in your heart and soul...then you would be just like those who missed one of the finest musicians in the world, at the metro station.
Thanks Jolanta for finding this great story, and thanks Jeanine Ann for putting it here to read.
January 18, 2009
David wrote:
Hi I really enjoy the comments that come up on this medium, however sometimes I am completely at a loss to know what a person is commenting on? They may say SHE is beautiful and are referring to the an earlier item they are replying to. However a sometimes reader like myself is lost! I recommend that when folk do a reply they preface it with a heading such as: re Mariska she is beautiful etc Then precede with the comment ie She is beautiful! or whatever Then we will all know who is beautiful, without having to churn back through earlier comments etc There was one such reply this morning that left me wondering? regards from Dave
January 23, 2009Webmaster Sally wrote:
Hi Dave, most of the time, when someone responds, they can do so...by clicking on "reply" directly under the comment they are referring to...and yet.. yes.. sometimes this is difficult and hard to follow. Even I get lost at times. ~<@@>~
January 18, 2009
Shirley wrote:
YEAH! ARIZONA CARDINALS! goin' to the Super Bowl! yeah team! Yeah Kurt Warner!
January 19, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
I just got a mail from André´s web, they have shipped my DVD from Australia off, and it is NTSC, Inge
January 19, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: I just got the same notice Inge!!! Cannot wait to watch it. I have another copy but was catching up on Maastrich 2 and Semperoper. As you know we have been quite pre-occupied lately. Hope all is well with you my friend. Hugs
January 19, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Jeanine Ann, we had watched those same dvds recently. Dan says the Maastricht 2 is the best Andre concert he has seen.He really liked the men's choir and the little Melissa playing the trumphet. Also thought the choice of music was great. I can't wait for us to see the Australia one. We also watched an older Trier concert with DJ Otzi, he really liked that one too because he likes DJ. There was one song he sang that we'd never heard before, called Oh Mosella. I know it must be something about wine but seems the audience liked it too as they kept singing it. I think I have eye strain with all the TV coverage and trying to watch a bunch of videos too, not to mention the computer. Think I will have to start wearing my sunglasses to watch anything at all.
January 19, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Hi Shirley, yes I remember that song Oh Mosella and never heard of it before that concert which we also love. I think too that Maastricht 1 is the best of his home concerts. What did you think of the Dresden concert? I love that new Tenor and the Platin Tenors singing Puccini was just fantastic. Looking forward to Australian concert too. Was going to watch it today and still might. I have laundry and things to do also. I will try to find out more about Oh Mosella. Must be a German song since everyone knew it. Clyde also love DJ and so do I. We have so much fun when he sings.
I hope your eyes are not being strained too much. I am on the computer all the time. We have a TV new blackout around our house just now so we watch André instead : )
Speaking of Clyde, I know a lot of you have been praying for him and we thought sure we would be going back for six more weeks of infusion therapy but the doctor called this morning and said if six weeks did not do it, six more will not make a difference so the big toe and surrounding affected tissue will need to be removed on Thursday. It will be outpatient so will not be too bad and then some therapy. It could be much worse so we are thankful for that. He said he will be ready to dance for André by April! Thanks to all for the prayers, we still need them. Hugs
January 19, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Oh Jeanine Ann, I was certainly hoping for that first round of infusions to work, but guess we have to do what is necessary. You know you both are on our minds & would that we could be there to encourage you both. I have no doubt that Clyde & you will be ready to dance at your concerts this spring. How is Patches doing?
January 19, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Thank you Shirley so much. Clyde will be fine and ready to go soon. We want to get the surgery done asap so the infection does not spread to any other area of his foot. Patches is ok right now. She had a coughing spell last night after she growled at Micetro so we are just giving her the antibiotics until we can take her for another opinion. We will get Clyde taken care of first, then Patches and then see about bringing Micetro inside. She must be spayed and tested before we can bring her in the door. We don't want to wait because we don't want our home to turn into a maternity ward : ) She is a sweet little girl and I don't know when kitty season starts but we have no place to keep her. Hugs to you
January 19, 2009
Virginia Baker wrote:
Jeanine, I really do think of you and Clyde often. I am sorry. Do the powers that be know what caused the infection? I hope all goes well and will certainly be thinking of you on Thursday. We had 14" of snow and Joey loved it. He had a ball watching all the seagulls. When one lands on the roof, Joey runs up to the second floor thinking he can catch it I guess. Anyway, all the best.
January 19, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Thank you Virginia. We have no idea what caused the infection and I guess we never will. We have friends who go to Florida for the winter and they said two people they no down in their village have the same thing and must undergo the same treatment. I sure hope it works for them. I guess after 6 weeks if it is not gone it won't get any better. We were hoping and praying but I guess it was not to be. You really got a lot of snow. We had about 4 inches so that is not too bad. I don't think Joey would have a chance with the seagulls but I bet he is fun to watch. We may soon have a new kitten so I must kitten-proof the house. I think it was 7 years ago when Patches was a kitten. They are so cute to watch and sometimes a little bad : ) Hugs to you
January 19, 2009
Jeff Rubino wrote:
Hey Jeanine Ann, How is Clyde doing? Hope that he is feeling well! Lucky you guys only got 4 inches of snow i got about 2 feet last night. LOL ontop of the 3 feet still on the ground! We got so much snow this year! I hope that it stops lol. thanks -Jeff
January 19, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Hi there Jeff, gee you have more snow than Virginia! Our local weathermen did not even forecast this one. I am just glad it was only 4 inches. Well Clyde must have his big toe and surrounding infected area amputated on Thursday. This is not what we expected. I thought sure the infusions would work. But he will be fine. Thanks for asking my friend. I will keep you informed. I didn't get to see Live In Australia but we will watch while Clyde is recuperating. Take care Jeff
January 19, 2009
Marguerite wrote:
YOU BOTH ARE IN OUR PRAYERS EACH DAY & EXTRA ROSARIES ON THURSDAY. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH. KEEP US UP TO DATE ON CLYDE'S RECOVERY. MUCH LOVE
January 19, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Thank you so much Marguerite. We appreciate the prayers so much. Everyone has been so supportive and so kind. I will keep you up to date on what happens. I just never dreamed it would come to this, what we thought was a simple infection went into the bone so quickly. I really do think they should have taken an MRI when I first took him to the ER in October (the 3rd). Then we went to a foot doctor and he thought it was the gout. Then when it got worse I took him in again to the ER and that is when the surgeon took over and he drained the area for a culture but nothing grew. After that his foot felt a little better but it was still swollen and red. We went back to the surgeon and then he ordered the MRI but in the meantime there was so much time wasted on trying to diagnose something that the MRI would have told them right away. On Dec. 2nd he started the treatments so you can see there were just about 2 months delay with these doctors trying to figure out what was wrong. Well as long as it turns out ok, that is the important thing. God has a plan for everything and everyone. We both trust in Him. Love and hugs to you.
It was while planned, NE and we have all either ... Last weekend it was so far on Mosel ... we were to all.
Twelve of us are already early arrived... Only No 13... The has also called on bitburg! The döner kebab schööön for your face and the pants a well-oiled machine Is clear, the us all laugh animated!
The first wine tasting made we Nicole. My god ... what were the glasses everywhere. Then we went to the road after ürzig... And there ... there was not only the Elvis Herby.
The small "piazzetti" little dominicain, Could we simply not cultural relic... We have sung, geschunkelt, laughing... A beautiful evening spent.
The next day then we went to Beilstein, a place... sooo sweet, sooo clear and pure. We were there together in the vault And thanks to a "nonnenfürzchens killbill i funny on my cheese plate.
When winzer Klemm returned we on the way, and the next wine tasting, the had to be there!! After a great steak in Loghouse, Man, we were so tired we "kugelten" out there.
The last day was then in bernkastel... And then had already left. Only remains for me to say that it was simply splendid... With such a jecken clusters is always something going!!!
"And a ... we have here still drunk!!!"
January 19, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Kati how did you know the words to this song? I only knew there was a wine called Mosella, therefore I figured this must be a song about wine. I still don't understand some of the lyrics though.
January 19, 2009kati wrote:
I do have the german words. Translating sometimes is very hard, you do not find the perfect word for it, but Mosel is one of the biggest river in Germany, in a so called tri river area is the most famous for Germany's best wines.
January 19, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
YES, AUSTRALIA IS COMING TO THE US!!!
January 19, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Jeanine Ann, I meant to answer you about the Dresden concert. I definately liked that one, not only to see that beautiful opera house, but the wedding was special and enjoyed hearing Morschi Franz sing, wish he's had another solo song though. To tell the truth, I know he's listed as a tenor, but I thought he sounded a bit lower pitched than a tenor. Whatever, he's so adorable. As for favorites, I guess I don't really have any anymore because each time i watch one I think oh, I think this is it, then I watch a different one and I think oh this is it. So, each one has it's own specialness to me.
January 19, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
Jeannine Ann, I hope you, Clyde and Patches and the new female kitty are soon all o.k. I loved Dresden , too, especially the fun with Peters he really did the Saxony dialect well, perhaps he is from the area? I mean him and the Figaro, haaaaaa!
January 19, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Thank you so much Inge. We will be ok when this is all over. Wasn't that funny with Cord? I kept saying this guy looks so familiar (I didn't know it was Cord Peters) but could not place him. It is really a great concert. Hugs to you
January 19, 2009
Jill wrote:
I wonder if Andre ever looks in on this blog? I think he'd be very pleased to have his name associated with the nice caring people you all are.
January 19, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Thank you Jill, you are one of the nice caring people too. I do hope André checks our blog but doubt he has the time. He may have someone who looks every once in a while. I am sure he gets the word on the blogs and websites who treat him with love and respect which he deserves. Big hugs to you
I was wondering if someone knows if André is really coming to Brazil. I know that Pierre should come and see the possibilities, but do they will really come?
Regards
Adriana - Blumenau/Brazil
January 22, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
I WOULD SAY IF PIERRE IS GOING, THAT MEANS, HE IS PART OF A GROUP OF ANDRE'S COMPANY TO NEGOTIATE BUSINESS. LOOKS LIKE IT IS A VERY SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO GO AND VISIT BRAZIL.
To all our Aussie friends on the blog, have a great Australia Day Weekend. Keep up the traditions :- plenty of snags and lamb chops on the Bar-B followed by fresh hot coals baked Damper with Cockies Joy (Syrup). Wash it all down with a big enamel mug full of billy tea (or beer if you must). I am off down to NSW for a few days. Aussie-Aussie-Aussie-oi-oi-oi.
January 23, 2009
Moderator Grayeme wrote:
January 26 (Monday) is Australia Day, when we celebrate the white settlement of Australia with the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. Governor Phillip planted the Union Jack on the beach at Botany Bay (made famous again by Mirusia & Andre).Botany Bay is the large bay about 5 miles south of Sydney. However the site proved totally unsuitable and after overland exploration, 6 days later they packed up and moved around to Sydney Cove in Port Jackson that had escaped discovery by Captain Cook in 1770. The new settlement was made virtually on the site where our Opera House stands today in Sydney. That was also the start of our Aussie family, as two of Lynne's G...Grandparents and one of mine.. all convicts, were on the First Fleet. That makes us extra proud Aussie's on this day.
January 23, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Sounds like a really fun weekend.Very important in your history. Is it ok to say Happy Australia Day? You'll have to explain that menu to me but it all sounds delish!
January 23, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Happy Australia Day and weekend to all our sweet
Aussie friends. I just read a little about the day and it is very
interesting. I hope this will be a weekend filled with all great
things and lots of fun and food!! Don't forget the music! Today we
will watch André's Live in Australia DVD. That seems appropriate.
Hugs to all of you.
January 23, 2009
Judith wrote:
Dear Moderator Grayeme, "Thank You" for keeping us in the loop with your joyous celebration of "Australia Day". I know I am always happy to learn the history of our Aussie friends from Down Under. I have purchased some books to learn more interesting facts, and learn some fun slang which I try to use carefully when emailing my new found most friendly Aussie's. So here's to y'all: AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE, OI, OI, OI. A big "cheer" from me to "thee".........
I cannot imagine how those sent to Botany Bay felt. The world was a very large place at the time. Families disrupted. And yet today we see the birth of a people and of an island nation that brings the world such joy. Congratulations. Enjoy your day!
January 24, 2009
Jill wrote:
Thank you Sally and you other dear people for the Australia Day wishes from the Aussies on the blog. I imagine there would have been some very exciting and adventurous people coming here on the first few fleets. The convicts had no choice but the free settlers and the sailors and soldiers must have loved adventure. Australians now love to travel, almost everyone has been and explored other countries. I think we must have that in our genes. I remember an American lad asking me in a youth hostel in Holland eons ago now if it was a national requirement for young Australians to visit Europe. He couldn't believe the numbers he was meeting despite our small population (which has grown to over 20,000,000 in recent years). What must have been terrible for the First Fleeters was a second fleet wasn't sent for 18 months. Whatever was the English government thinking? The people here had no idea when the next lot would arrive, and meantime the crops had failed and supplies ran out. If it hadn't been for the aboriginal people they would all have starved. The Governor of the colony put everyone on the same rations, free settlers, soldiers and convicts alike, much to his credit I think, so there were quite a lot of survivors to greet the Second Fleet. I think it's very impressive Grayeme that you and your wife both had ancestors on that fleet, mine didn't arrive till the early 1800's. Well everyone, that's your history lesson for the day! I wonder what Andre is doing?
January 26, 2009
Moderator Grayeme wrote:
It certainly makes for a large extended Australian family Jill, well in excess 100,000 people now. Our First Fleeters were Mathew Everingham, William Hubbard and Ann Forbes. We have the whole family documented. Bringing all the branch's together has been almost a 30 year project for Lynne and I. A few years back we started to enter it all on our website and it is still ongoing. We have concentrated on the families that have not been well documented elsewhere, so we are not even 20% through the project as yet. Our Family website :- http://lynneandgrayeme.kinpendium.com/ Certainly makes for some very family reunions which we enjoy very much. Our little grandaughter is 10th generation Australian, That is just about the maximum you can be.
January 26, 2009
Moderator Grayeme wrote:
It is very difficult for us to even to begin to imagine what the hardship was like. Lynne and I have both studied this first period extensively and we have just about everything ever printed on the subject in our library. We have copies of the day to day journals of 3 of the First Fleet officers that give an account of life in those first 3-4 years. However Australian author Jack Egan put it all together in a very easy to read book aptly titled "Buried Alive" If you ever come across this book it is well worth reading.
January 27, 2009
Jill wrote:
Hi Grayeme! This is amazing - I was quoting from "Buried Alive" when I talked about the ration distribution etc yesterday The book gives so many interesting bits of information that were never talked about in the history lessons at school. I came across this book from my 94 year old neighbour a year or so ago.. She brought it over saying, "My nephew has written a book. I thought you might be interested in reading it". It certainly was an interesting read.
January 26, 2009
Moderator Grayeme wrote:
About "Buried Alive" 'Tis now about two years and three months since we first arrived at this distant country; all this while we have been as it were buried alive … our hopes are now almost vanished." The Reverend Richard Johnson 9 April 1790
This is the story of the first five years of the European settlement of Australia, of how a collection of petty criminals, the outcasts of an old society, were sent to establish a new society, on someone else's land, on a strange, unexplored continent, on the other side of the world.
The story is told by the people who were there, through their journals, diaries and letters home, and illustrated by some of the 800 sketches, drawings and watercolours dating from the first few years of the settlement.
It tells of the often surprising relationship with the Aboriginal people, the hunger as storeships failed to arrive, the horrors of the hangings and floggings, the intermarriage between officers and convict women, the life and customs of the Aboriginal people, and the gradual development of the settlement at Sydney Cove to a stage where it seemed likely to survive.
Above all, perhaps, Buried Alive shows that in many ways, despite the different circumstances, they were ordinary people, not much different from us.
Jack Egan is a Sydney-based writer whose books and films including The Bradman Era, Tennis - The Greats and The Cricket Archives, have been sold in Australia and overseas. This documentary Buried Alive is based on the book of the same name published by Allen and Unwin in 1999.
January 26, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
Thank you Grayeme. This is very interesting. "Buried Alive" sounds like it would be a very interesting book to read. I love history and I have always had an interest in Australia.
January 26, 2009
Moderator Grayeme wrote:
Marlene - I can not find "Buried Alive" as an E-Book anywhere. But if you would like, the best account of the settlement of Australia are Journals written by a member of the marines on the First Fleet, Watkin Tench. Tench had two Journals - one for the voyage to Botany Bay and another for the first 4 years of settlement at Port Jackson. These journals are very descriptive and give a day by day account of events. The voyage journal is about 100 pages and the settlement journal about 170 pages. I have the original publication from London, I bought it from an Antique dealer and paid a lot of money for it, so I can not lend it. ha ha. However they are both available as E-Books through the Gutenburg Project. I find it difficult to read long volumes online but it can be downloaded and printed out if you really want.If you go to this link to read about Tench, you can then click on the E_Book link and they are listed there to either read or download. These are not second hand accounts, it is the writing of a person on the spot. http://gutenberg.net.au/pages/tench.htmlAnother good account of early Australia is "For The Term of His Natural Life" by Marcus Clark. This is a novel,about the life of a ficticous convict, who could have been anyone of the thousands that came here. Clark has wound the story into actual happenings and using real characters of the time. This is the most thought provoking book I have ever read. It is also available as an E_Book. http://freeread.com.au/ebooks/e00016.txtEnjoy.
January 27, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Thanks for all the great links Grayeme, I have bookmarked them for a later read.I am saving my eyes right now to watch the Live In Australia tonight! While I'm here, have to say to Grace, a lovely story. you do know that angels wear fur don't you?
January 27, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
I WOULD LOVE TO WATCH MINE, BUT DID NOT COME YET. CHECKED MY MAILBOX ABOUT 10 TIMES YESTERDAY, MAYBE TODAY!?
January 27, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
You are like me Moderator Piano, I check my mails often. It will be here, of course...but not soon enough.
January 27, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
Hi Grayeme. Thanks for those links. I'll certainly go and check them out. I do appreciate it. As soon as I read your story about "Buried Alive" I checked Amazon to see if they had the book. They had five books, new starting at about $86, and used starting at about $22, which I ordered one (used). Now, I'm not sure if it's the same book you were talking about...the official title of this is "Buried Alive: Sydney 1788-1792: Eyewitness Accounts of the Making of a Nation". I couldn't find anywhere that tells what this book is about, so I took a chance and ordered it. By what the title says this book does sound interesting, so I don't think I'll go wrong even if it's not the one you were talking about.
January 27, 2009
Moderator Grayeme wrote:
That is it Marlene. You will enjoy it I am sure.
January 27, 2009
WebMaster Sally wrote:
I will see if it is at my Library. I just started reading (again) We Thought We Heard The Angels Sing. As soon as I finish, I am going to the Library.
I like History, and the story behind the story type books.
January 28, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
Sally, what is "We Thought We Heard the Angels Sing" about? Sounds interesting. I didn't think about the library for books...duh! I love books, but I always think that I need to buy them.
We Thought We Heard The Angels Sing, by Lt. James Whittaker
Hi Marlene and Everyone I'm back at work and a bit MIA here lately.
The book is about the successful / intentional downing of a plane in the Pacific Ocean in 1942 war time. The men floated at sea for 23 days with no food or water, and all but one, who was ill and injured to start with, lived. It is one of my favorite books. I have a signed copy.
Here is a blub from Anderson R. Rearick
Recently there has been an email about "Old Eddie" going about the web which recounts how Captain Rickenbacker, even as an old man, regularly fed sea gulls with shrimp and thanked them for the part they played in his and his men's rescue from sea.
Some wondered about its truthfulness, but I actually read about the ordeal of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker and his crew-mates and their eventual salvation through a sea gull years ago in the library's edition of "We Thought We Heard the Angels Sing." I talked about it often in class but until Amazon came along I always got it mixed up with another WWII text ba "God is My Co-Pilot" ).
Although I was a bit fuzzy about this book's title, the story had a profound emotional affect upon me. Among other things I recall the narrator quoting Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" to help describe their intense physical suffering: "Water, water everywhere and all the boards did shrink/ water water everywhere and not a drop to drink." It would be years later that Coleridge and his poem would become one of my favorite works and which always is covered in my Introduction to Literature class at MVNU.
I also recall vividly how Capt. Rickenbacker and his crew got it into their heads how good a strawberry milkshake would be so that they could hardly bear to fire off their flares because the red light would bring it all crashing in on them. After being rescued, it was one of the first things they asked for but the ship's cook had heard about their wish and so filled it with flavor that they could hardly bear to drink it all.
Of course the whole narrative is also cradled in deep religious faith, which may explain why it is sadly out of print. It is a powerful read and yet so clear that even young readers will find it easily accessible.
January 28, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
I can only imagine what it would be like to be at sea in a raft or the likes with nothing to eat or drink for 23 days. Sounds like it would be a very interesting story. I guess we can all imagine what it would be like to have to endure this. I would hope that I could handle it, as I try always to rise to the occasion of whatever situations come about. I'm curious about how a sea gull saved them. I'm sure this book is very appropriately named. Thanks for sharing this Sally.
January 27, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Hi Grace, I loved your story about the Red Ribbon. It is beautiful. When you mentioned about bringing in a helpless animal on a cold windy day it just reminded of what we did today. We have been feeding a little kitten since last summer, well there were about 6 or 7 of them but this one little kitten kept coming back after all the others had either gone somewhere else or they were taken in. She is so friendly and always meowed every time I opened the door to feed her. Well you know how you feel when the cold winter comes and this little face is looking at you through the window and shivering when it was real cold here the last few weeks. So last night we fed her and told her this is the last day you are going to be cold and brought her in. I had to put her in the one bathroom until we had her checked today at the vet for anything that could possibly harm our other two kitties. She checked out ok so she is now inside. We still have her in the bathroom until we can introduce her to Cotton and Patches. Her name is Micetro and she is so cute. I will get a photo up as soon as I can. I have a new photo of Johann Strauss (aka Joey) from Virginia which I want to put on first.
I decided to paint the laundry room so all this will keep me busy for a while. Clyde must still take it easy until he sees the doctor again but he is doing fine. Hope everyone had a great day. Hugs
January 28, 2009
Shirley wrote:
This kitty looks so much like our Jazz, and who also loves high places.
January 23, 2009
Virginia Baker wrote:
Did everyone see there is now a FIFTH concert in Maastricht? I think I will not even look to see how the tickets are selling. I have to come home at some point!
January 23, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Why Virginia? I would never come back!
Tickets go on sale Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 10:00am Maastricht Time.
January 23, 2009
Virginia Baker wrote:
Well, Jeanine, there is the problem of three kitties, and everything I own, etc. Seriously, if I lived in Europe (which I did years ago before anyone knew of Andre) can you imagine how much I would be spending on tickets?
Please give us an update on Clyde when you have a chance. I know many have had him in their thoughts and prayers.
January 23, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: I know Virginia I would be doing the same thing, spending money on tickets : )
Clyde is doing pretty good. The surgeon took the infected bone out of his big toe and saved the toe. We were very happy with that. He cannot move the toe but that is ok. He will be able to walk. We don't know yet if he will need a special shoe. At least the infection is gone and we hope it stays away. Thanks for all the prayers everyone. I do believe that it helped save the toe. We thought sure that it was gone. He had a good surgeon. Hugs to all
January 23, 2009
Jeanine Ann wrote: A few photos from Simone from the Enfurt Concert! Thanks Mone
More to come!
January 23, 2009
Phil Matthews wrote:
May the new year bring as much peace and joy to you and your orchestra as you bring to your fans.
January 23, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
Happy Australia Day to our Aussie friends! I know this is late, but you do celebrate all weekend? I'm always interested in Australian news, history and everything in between. Thanks Grayeme for filling us in of the history of this day. I'm happy that André will be having a fifth concert. If I lived there I would be broke all the time due to concert tickets. Jeanine Ann, I'm happy that Clyde's foot is now on the mend! My best to you both. Thank you Simone for these great pictures. André pictures always brighten my day. Take care everyone. I've had a long day and I'm going to my chair and relax before bed. Have a great weekend!
January 25, 2009
Grace wrote:
i wanted to take this time to say a precious and sincere thank you to a great lady jeanine ann and to a great man clyde. Thanks so much for the card. You are always thinking of others, when in this world there is so much stress and haste. God Bless You Jeanine Ann and Clyde.
Love and Peace Grace xoxoxoxoxo to infinity
January 25, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Thank you Grace so much. You are such a wonderful lady and we enjoy your writings so much. You never know when something you say helps someone's day. Are you planning any concerts for this year? I hope you can get to at least one, maybe two?? Take care of yourself and please know that you always have friends here who love you. Big hugs
Once upon a time, a while ago there was a young girl named Katerina. she had beautiful locks of curls that cascaded down her back. Her mother would place a ribbon in her hair to keep the curls from dangeling about her face. Each day was a different ribbon colour. Sunday was violet, Monday was indigo, Tuesday was blue, Wednesday was green, Thursday was yellow, Friday was orange, and lastly Saturday was red. Katerina never asked why she had to wear a particular colour on a particular day. She just loved the way they made her beautiful mane that reached all the way to her waiste.
You see Katerina loved to skate. She received for a birthday gift a pair of beautiful white skates with laces of gold. They gleamed in the sunlight when she skated outside in the sunshine. Everyday you could see Katerina out on the pond skating, twirling, and twirling,her hair dancing in the breeze as she flew around the ice. Some people would stop and watch Katerina in all her glory as she skated. They remarked at her hair and the beautiful ribbons she wore.
Well one Saturday, red ribbon day, Katerina went out to skate on the pond. Her mother said be careful, it is very windy and you might fall. "Okay", said Katerina. Out she went with her golden skates and her fresh red ribbon falling amongst her tresses. She tied up her skates and began what she believed would be her biggest performance of all! Little did she know that that old north wind was swaying its way around her. She paid no mind. Suddenly the wind sent her crashing down onto the ice. As Katerina tried to get up and balance herself, that wind took the red ribbon from her hair. She began to cry, "my ribbon!" Katerina wept as she removed her skates and began to walk home. How was she going to tell her mother? Katerina just went home and went to her room and cried.
That evening her father came home from work. Katerina's mother told him about the lost red ribbon and the accident. Katerina's father scratched his head a moment with an obscure look. "What is it?" asked Mother. "Well, I was on my way home from work, said Father and I found a poor little dog on the side of the road. He was shivering and had no tags. I picked him up and put him in the back of the car. I covered him with a blanket and petted him gently. He looked up at me with as much to say thank you for saving me." Father left the room and came in with the dog. Suddenly he stopped in his tracks. "What is it?" asked mother. "This dog has a red ribbon around his neck! It was not there before!" Mother took a closer look. It was Katerina's red ribbon from her hair. Suddenly The Angel of Rainbows appeared. "I placed the ribbon around the puppy's neck", said the angel.
You see when one really cares about someone or something enough to take in a poor helpless animal on such a cold windy day, angels are there to give back a gift of love, in this case the red ribbon which Katerina loved so much.
January 26, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
This is a very nice story Grace. I loved reading it. Thank you. You have a very special way of writing your stories with a lot of heart and feeling.
January 27, 2009
Grace wrote:
Thanks Marlene. I enjoy and am inspired writing them.
love peace and grace xxoo
January 26, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
Jeanine Ann, it is nice to read that your husband is on the way of recovery, must be a stone from your heart.
I have not been in the web for a few days, I am busy for my exhibition at the end of March, also preparing a workshop I will take next Saturday, an artist comes from Florida and teaches us to make a chandelier in mini with Swarovsky crystals. But I have to tell you, I got my Australian DVD today from Maastricht, but we can only look at it tomorrow, tonight is the second part of the last Templer and I have to see that.
January 27, 2009
Inge Cossette wrote:
Just finished looking at the DVD "live in Australia". It was lovely to see the happy faces of the Australian audience, the Australian songs were new to me, but the rest, as we say in Germany: "Olle Kamellen!"
January 28, 2009
Shirley wrote:
On a snowy, cold evening, we were finally able to watch Live In Australia. I can tell you that the audience is what warmed our hearts, and apparently Andre's as well. Several touching moments, some new songs, it's another dvd to have. I would give this one a new name, instead of "Live In Australia", I would name it "Alive In Australia".The people, the audience, are the stars in this one. Gotta love those Aussies.
January 28, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
I DO AGREE SHIRLEY! WHAT ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL TEARS AT THE END?
January 28, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Piano, I have to tell you, I have seen his eyes water, but never before have I seen the teardrops roll down the cheek. That picture, alone, speaks volumes. No words are necessary.
January 28, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
THIS IS THE TIME, THAT SHOWS ME ,HIS SOUL, HIS FEELINGS TO THE MUSIC THEY DO PLAY, I WAS CRYING WITH HIM. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!! PEOPLE, WHO NEVER SEEN AND HEARD THEM, MAYBE JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS. JUST GAVE ME GOOSBUMPS BECAUSE THE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, THE SET, HOW THE PEOPLE WERE ACCEPTING THEM? YOU DO NOT GET THIS FEELING VERY OFTEN. I GOT THIS FEELING ON A NEW YEAR'S DAY CONCERT, JUST GOES TO YOU SOUL.
January 28, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Sorry I was not around today but I am painting the laundry room with the help of my sis.
You must be talking about Australia Live. Isn't it incredible!! When I saw those tears rolling down his face, they were rolling down mine also. Like Piano said you can see the soul of this man and the love for the music, the people. These are the moments the music critics do not see. They do not have the ability to see what we fans see. When you love someone you can see how they feel and how they communicate these feelings to the fans. When I watch him play I can feel his heart sending out the love he has for the music and also the love he has for the people. I have never had this feeling with any other person. For a moment I had a tinge of jealousy, I was wishing he was crying for the fans here in America, I mean he gives his all here in the concerts but I have never seen him give his tears. I don't want to sound like I am jealous of the love he has for his Australian fans because I think the fans there are extraordinary. I could see how happy they were to finally realize their dream - to see André and his JSO in front of them. I guess they were afraid it would never happen. I am so happy for them that it did because I know what a dream is. I was afraid I would not get to a concert until I found this site and they encouraged me to get a ticket and I went to Miami for my first concert. Now my dream is to stand beside André for a photo that I can cherish forever. But for the Aussie fans it was a big dream to first of all just see him live and get his autograph. I could see how they were hugging each other as if to say Wow it has finally happened. So I feel a little guilty for my moment of jealousy but I hope someday to see those tears here in the USA. That to me is the ultimate tribute to an audience because like we were saying it shows his soul and his heart to the fans. Hugs to all
January 28, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
JUST WATCH THE DVD AGAIN, THAT THEY DID HAVE IN RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL, WHEN HE PLAYED, I DID IT MY WAY!. HOW, EMOTIONAL THE TIME WAS FOR HIM, AND SHOWED, WHEN HE PLAYED MAYBE, THE TEARS ARE ABSENT HERE A LITTLE MORE, BECAUSE, HE DID NOT HAVE A CONCERT HERE OF THIS MAGNITUDE, YET. BECAUSE GOING AROUND TO SO MANY CITIES, THE CONCERTS ARE SMALLER, HIS ORCHESTRA IS SMALLER ALSO.
January 28, 2009
Moderator Grayeme wrote:
I feel so justified now in my "urging" of all not to miss this DvD. As you are all saying, it is the reaction of the people that made this concert different. Of course that reaction was felt by Andre and the JSO and they really did pour it on. I will never forget (not shown on the DvD) but in Brisbane, Marcel standing there with tears rolling down his face as he received a standing ovation after Bolero, he was totally overwhelmed. So pleased everyone is enjoying the Aussie adventure.
January 28, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
Anticipation, anticipation, anticipation...I'm waiting for my Australia dvd...Hmmmm, maybe tomorrow!
January 27, 2009CONSTANCE wrote: MY 5 YEAR OLD FRIEND KENJI IS IN REMISSION FROM HIS CANCER. HE WILL HAVE MAINTANANCE CHEMO FOR 6 MONTHS BECAUSE THE CANCER CAN COME BACK AS QUICKLY AS IT WENT INTO REMISSION AND CAT SCANS.SORRY I WROTE IN CAPITAL LETTERS BUT THIS GIRL IS ON CLOUD 1 THOUSAND.CONSTANCE OX
January 28, 2009
Shirley wrote:
This is very good news Constance and I think little Kenji is very lucky to have a friend like you. thank you for the update.
January 28, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
I wrote this once, but it seems to have disappeared into cyberspace. Thank you Constance on Kenji's update. That's very good news! God, prayers and positive thinking all have a way of working miracles.
January 28, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: That is wonderful news Constance. I hope the cancer stays in remission forever. That will be our prayer for him. Thanks for letting us know. Hugs to you
January 28, 2009
Moderator Grayeme wrote:
Things are very quite with news from Andre, I have hardly had an "alert" in the past 2 weeks. But that tends to happen when Andre is touring in Europe, it is all "old hat" to them. But, it won't take long for March to come and we will have Japan, then America/Canada, Maastricht 4 concerts this year and then Australia again and New Zealand. So I guess we should enjoy the lull. Nice time to talk about other interests and just enjoy "good old fashioned friendship".
January 29, 2009
Marie wrote:
While everyone is freezing in Europe and the USA, we are having a heatwave here in Australia. Many states have had at least 5 days over 40 degrees celcius(107 degrees farenheit). I have been watching the Australian Open Tennis in Melbourne and really feel for the players. We moved from Melbourne several years ago to the Gold Coast in Queensland to get away from the cold drizzling weather, but it has been cooler here than Melbourne and Adelaide, where it has reached 45 degrees. Somebody rang up the TV Channel this morning and said that they went out fishing and each fish that they cught was "fried". (ha ha) I keep watching the Andre Rieu DVD from Melbourne and never tire of it. Also we were lucky enough to have front row seats at the Brisbane concert. Harry (my husband)took a great video and it is wonderful to know that we were there. People still ask me what I thought of the concert and I tell them that words cannot describe the experience. Hope you all have received the video by now.
January 29, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
That's too warm for me...when the fish come out of the water fried! haha...that's funny.
January 29, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Oh I would give almost anything for some of that hot weather right now. We have ice on the trees and I just hate the cold. The hot summer is my kind of weather. Why I ever left Florida is beyond me. Oh well! The sun is out so it is up to 29F right now - up is not the right word! Hope everyone has a wonderful day. Hugs
January 29, 2009
Shirley wrote:
My goodness Marie! 107 degrees? YIKES! That would tend to "fry" the fish or anything else for that matter. Could you please blow a little of that warm air up our way? It is winter for sure here in the States. Where we live, in the central part, it's always a rollercoaster winter, a couple of semi-warm days & then back down to freezing or below. I, like Jeanine Ann, am more of a summer person & the older I get the more I dislike the cold, but I have to tell you, I don't think I'd care for that 107 either! What would you all consider an ideal temperature? Is there such a thing? I don't know, only for myself, maybe between 60-80, no higher, no lower. Maybe I should move to Hawaii.
January 29, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: What about 75 to 90? That would be ideal for me. I guess Florida is the place for me. Hugs
January 29, 2009
Shirley wrote:
That would probably be ok too, but when it hits 90, arond here, the humidity is the problem. We always say, it's not the heat, it's the humidity, dahlin'!
January 29, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
THAT IS WHAT I SEE WOULD BE A PROBLEM FOR ME TOO, THE HUMIDITY, IT IS JUST AS BAD AS THE 90, IN FLORIDA. EITHER WAY, IT IS HARD TO TAKE THE HEAT, AND HARD TO TAKE THIS EXTREME COLD, AND ICE.
January 29, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Prudence you have just given the most accurate forecast I have ever heard. : )
January 29, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Okay are you ready for this?? This is Micetro. Please excuse the surroundings but this is where she hangs out : )
January 29, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
IF YOU HAVE TO GO, YOU HAVE TO GO!
January 29, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Piano, I like that! very funny. Fancy litter box huh?
January 29, 2009
Shirley wrote:
Oh Micetro sweetie, you look like such a shy little girl. Don't worry, you will soon expand your horizons.
January 29, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
Micetro looks like my Monki. Except Monki has a tan cheek on the left side of her face...really cute. One day when I'm organized and have the time and brain working together, then I'll get a picture uploaded and send it in.
January 30, 2009
Moderator Jeanine Ann wrote: Yes she is a real sweetie Jill. She is very shy though. She is still in the bathroom and doesn't come out much. I think the trip to the vet was very traumatic for her. It had to be done though before we could bring her in because of our other cats. It will take her a while. Hugs
January 30, 2009
Virginia Baker wrote:
I am so happy to know she's warm and safe. Do you know how old she is? Is she allowed out or will she be strictly indoors? Johann Strauss was an outdoor cat at five months. He is now almost eight months and wants to go out all the time. I go out the back door with him sometimes and follow him around. He loves it. I will send you a picture from two days ago. I was scared to death but guess that's the way it's going to be. You may post it if you wish. Oh, look at those eyes on Micetro. Doesn't she melt your heart?
January 29, 2009
Moderator Piano wrote:
THE FORECAST OVER HERE IS ALSO VERY DARK FOR TONIGHT. ESPECIALLY, THAT BLAGO IS GONE!
January 29, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
I would consider perfect weather as being between 50 and 70 with SUN... if there is no sun, then I like 60-80. I can't handle extremes either direction.
January 29, 2009
Marlene Warren wrote:
Yes, it's great to enjoy some good old fashioned friendship isn't it Grayeme? It's also interesting to hear what people have to say about this or that in the "off" time that André and JSO are not as pronounced as normal. However, I'm always anxious to hear any concert news.
Wishing all Andre fans all over the world a happy, successful and musical New Year!
Dears,
Can somebody help me with a contact for booking Andre Rieu for a concert?
Hello George: You can write to Andre's website:
www.AndreRieu.com
They will direct you from there. I will send you a private email.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL WONDERFUL
ANDRE RIEU FANS
HUGS & KISSES TO EVERYONE
""Happy New Year to everyone from the land of "Fun in the Sun" It was 98f. yesterday and no better today.""
Grayeme, we'd love to have some of that heat. Send a few degrees to California, so we can be warm and you can cool down.
Hope the New Year brings you all things Wonderful.
Here in Perth, West Australia it is going to be a sweltering 40c (about 102f). We are living in doors today with the air conditioner on
BTW Happy New Year to everyone - I hope it turns out to be a good year for you all.
Hello Kirsten, we are indoors too but the furnace is running and it is now 23 degrees (f) with a wind chill in the single digits. What a difference huh! This is the time of year that I don't like at all.
Hope you have a wonderful and Happy New Year! Hugs to you.
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my wonderful friends here on the blog. May the year be filled with love, peace, happiness and music! (André's of course) Hugs
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
102F Yes, that is indoor time weather. New Years in Short Sleeves.
Hope yours is GREAT!!!!!!!
My Prayer for the New Year
For this New Year I pray:
that those we love will be better persons because of this love.
that our enemies will become our friends.
that our pain will be turned to joy.
that the joy we find will be given in turn to others.
that those who see us will recognize us as a child of God.
that everything we do will make the world a better place.
that we realize as we try to get to the "top" we had to push someone out of the way.
that we find we are not responsible for the results, but we are responsible for the effort.
that as we grieve we realize that death is but a walk to the other side of the road.
that we realize that to experience music is to awaken another part of the soul.
that as our souls are awakened we will reach out to share ourselves with the world.
Jeanine Ann
Jeanine Ann thank you for that lovely prayer. God bless you for caring about the world and all living people, animals, and such in it. You are an inspiring and great example as a moderator on this site Jeanine Ann and never forget it.
Thanks so much for this humble yet profound prayer.
As Sidney Poitier said and sang in Lilies of the Field AMEN.
Love Much
Grace
xxoo
Grace I just saw Sidney Poitier on TV the other day, and my goodness....he is as handsome as ever. That man just carries himself with such dignity, it is a wonder that anyone can even be near him without staring.
Yes Sally you are so right. Sidney Poitier does seem to carry with him a spirit of love and devotion. He certainly is a handsome person both inside and out. From his humble childhood in Florida (Bahamas)to New York where he learned to speak proper english by listening to records and the radio. Then onto California where he starred in many great roles. I guess the hard work and toil just shows what one person can fulfill within their dreams.
Thanks to you Sally. Your hard work here on fans and friends is humbly adored and received by not only me but I am positive many others. Thanks and love with all my heart.
Love Much
Grace
xxoo
I WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
I HOPE THIS YEAR WILL BRING YOU PEACE,
LOVE, HAPPINESS.
AND MAY YOU HAVE AN ENDLESS AMOUNT OF BEAUTIFUL MUSIC TO FILL YOUR HEART AND SOUL.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.......WITH PEACE..HEALTH... AND JOY THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEAR
Joy and Bernard
Trinkspruch ins des neuen im Jahre Sally, André Rieu und JSO, Marjorie, Marc, Pierre und allem Fans. Ich wunsche viel Liebe, Gluck, Wohlsein und schone Musik André Rieu-Johanna Strausse. Fans Terezie Palečková
Prosit Neujahr!!!!!!!! Happy New Year, Bonne Année ! from a frosty minus 2OC in Montréal, we could also use some Australian heat!
Watched last night the "New Years Punch" from Hanover 2OO3-O4 still with my favorite Carla and Carmen a lot of members still there, like Jo and Renate and a thinner André, haaaaaaaa! Germany watched the Australian show last night on ZDF with a translator, that is a first. Inge
Happy New Year all friends and fans here on Andre's fabulous site. Wishing you all a year of 2009 filled with more Andre news and info, as well as wishing each and every one a personal year of love and peace.
Webmasters and Moderators keep up the great work on Andre's 2009 year! Love you much.
To Andre and his wonderful musical family a successful musical year. You make a difference in peoples' lives.
Finally, to Andre and his personal family - Marjorie, Pierre, and Marc, and all other family a happy new year and peaceful and happy 2009.
Thank you all here on Andre Rieu Fans and Friends. You are all wonderful people and are a positive influence in this world. Thanks for your love and laughter.
Love Much
Grace
xxoo
Hello, each and every Fan !!!!
I wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year.
May all your wishes come true.
Cordially,
Hermina
Hermina, that is exactly what I wish for YOU!
I think after 2008, we all are looking forward to much improvements in 2009
Hello to all My dear Andre fans I would like to wish you all happiness, health and prosperous New Year 2009
Love Toni
Happy New Year to all. Jeanine Ann, what a lovely prayer. I need to copy that(please). We watched the Rose Parade this morning, tonight will watch the Vienna New Year's concert with Daniel Barenboim, one of my favorites every year. I hope this new year will be full of good things for us all. My goodness, have you seen Andre's agenda for the 2009 year? How does he do it?
Hi Shirley, by all means copy it. The prayer is yours and everyone else who would like to use it.
André must have lots of energy. I don't know how he does it either. I cannot wait until April. I need a fix soon! I am exhausted from the holidays and the trips to the hospital - only 11 to go. The swelling is coming down and hopefully the meds will work. The color looks pretty good. We have met so many nice people there and some are so sick taking chemo. I pray for them every day. We know some of their names but not all. We have a lady who goes every day like Clyde does who lives near Hershey. She is always there at the same time and she also goes to the rehab center on weekends so we are getting to know her. She thought she would be finished the 7th but her doctor told her she must go three more weeks. Her legs are so swollen but I think in the end the antibiotics will work for her. I am grateful for the opportunity to pray for these people. We go through life and forget that every day there is someone in the cancer ward getting these horrible medicines. It really grieves me to see that and yet they need it. So I give them a smile or say hello, maybe it helps to know someone cares. Hugs to all
Here is a photo which I thought everyone may like!!!
Today I got a fill of Viennese music, feel great . First this afternoon we went to the Place des Arts to a concert : "Homage a Vienne" with a conductor from Munich, a soprano from Hungary, a tenor from Vienna, the ballet dancers from Kiev and the orchestra from Montréal, 74 musicians, super , it was just splendid and tonight we watched the first narrating of the Viennese New Years concert with Julie Andrews from Vienna. She is a good replacement for Cronkheit, loved it. A musical beginning of the new Year I am in heaven. Inge
Inge, I am watching the Vienna concert with Julie Andrews right now. I love that New Year's Day concert. At the moment they are playing Strauss' Thunder & Lightening, something we've also heard from Andre.
I agree with you. Julie Andrews is a good replacement. She brings a dignity with her.
Hallo All!
Writing from sunny and warm Pretoria, South Africa. Wishing all Andre Rieu fans a wonderful and blessed 2009. We hope that we will soon be able to attend an Andre concert here in South Africa. Best wishes to all'
Elize Dreyer
Hi! any one know who Pierre married?
Toni L.
Pierre married Eefje von Hombergh whom he met when they were doing the Efteling DVD. I don't know exactly what she does but I gather it is something in film. I saw a posting from them to friends (it was either Facebook or My Space, can't remember now) who were witnesses at their wedding. The friends were traveling to Nepal etc. It was signed "Eefje von Hombergh - Rieu and Pierre Rieu - von Hombergh. They were married in October at the "Castle." I wish them nothing but the best, but to me, when he and Suzan broke up, it was like we lost our fairy tale. Andre said he and Marjorie think Pierre's wife is very sweet and they are very happy. In a recent interview, Andre said that after the wedding he and Marjorie were saying, "he's gone now. We've lost him." Pierre, who was also in the interview sais, "Right, I got married and then immediately left with my father for Australia for five weeks." When they see each other every day, they haven't lost him. He also lives around the corner from them.
The Rieu´s should not look at the wedding of Pierre that their son is lost to them, they gained a daughter, which they did not have before, I look at it this way when one of mine got married, I gained two sons-in-law and perhaps soon a daughter, haaaaaaaaa!
Inge, that is true, but I kind of understand what they felt. Our daughter will soon marry & I have a strange feeling of loss, something, I'm not quite sure. It's hard to explain huh?
Shirley, you might have a point there, I had that feeling of loss, when my 3 kids one after the other moved to Germany for their carriers and then of course when they got married, they were already out of the house, but in Pierre´s case, he is with his father all the time, they work together.
Thanks Andre for the DVD music, enjoying your Melbourne concert.
A friend has complete set of your concerts; of CD or DVD format, bye from Christchurch,New Zealand (The land of the Long White Cloud).
Hello Andre,
Enjoying your of Melbourne, Vienna, and New York extravaganzer concerts on DVD format, Best wishes from Christchurch, New Zealand.
I live in Brisbane, Australia. In a recent message I mentioned how I had become a very enthusiastic fan of Andre. I have now bought many DVDs and love them all!!!!!! I have also discovered that while many shops have Andre DVDs, the best collection I think is at JB Hi Fi which has several stores in Brisbane and they also have the best price!! I'm just wondering how I can discover the release dates of any new DVDs. I check Andre's official website but I can't find any new release dates in Australia. If anyone can offer any advice, I would really appreciate it. Many thanks, Yours TRieully, Helen
Hi Shirley. I have a question please. In Episode 5 on the DVD "Andre Rieu--On His Way to New York", Suzan Erens with Frank Steijns and Andre were discussing a song with sheet music on top of a piano. As Frank played the piano, Suzan finished the song on a very high note while Andre pointed to the ceiling. Do you recall the name of this song? Has JSO recorded the song on a CD or DVD ?? Thank you. Happy New Year. Ed Martin
Hello Ed, it's been awhile since I watched that one, had to go back to watch that part. I'm not exactly sure, but it sounds like it may be from West Side Story, a song that "Maria" sings, don't remember the name of it, but the last part of the song goes like this:"Hold my hand and we're halfway there.
Hold my hand and I'll take you there
Somehow,
Some day,
Somewhere"! Now I may be completely wrong on this so don't take this as gospel.
well here I am again, after listening to this melody again, it sounds more like "Maria" from West Side Story, but of that I'm not even sure. I hope someone else can come up with a sure answer. The music is so familiar, but I can't quite pin it down. Help! anybody else?
Ed I think the song you are talking about is I belong to me because I have seen that on one of her sites when she sings a high note.constance ox
Constance, you are absolutely,100 percent right!! Thank you.Why I couldn't get West Side Story out of my mind, I don't know! It makes much more sense for Suzan to sing I Belong to Me as she did the part of Sissi.I shall now go back to "music 101".
First photo from the Koln Arena on New Years Day. Photo taken by Gisela from Germany. I wrote to her and asked for some details of the concert. She took over 100 photos. I noticed they did the clog dance and then it looked like "party time" which I always loved. Will see what she says.
That is a great photo Gisela! Very Good.
I wish they would do the Clog Dance during North American concerts!
Thanks Jeanine Ann & Gisela
I can't believe it! How much stamina does Andre have? I've been imagining him collapsed in bed for the last couple of weeks recovering from his Australian tour and here he is doing a concert in Germany.
He's only a few years younger than me and I'm still recovering from the effort of just getting to Sydney for the show.
Thanks Constance...Thanks Shirley.....for connecting the dots. I stood in awe like everyone else at ANZ Stadium watching this goddess-with-the-heavenly-voice sing "I Belong to Me" (Full Blown Sensory Overload). But I did NOT connect this performance with the practice session observed at the piano with Frank & Andre. Perhaps it was the working Dutch phonetics that were disorienting. But now I see the connection. Here's looking at you, Suzan. Thanks again Ladies!
Well Ed, I wasn't much help.
Shirley it also fits for her private life, now she is not with Pierre anymore "I belong to me", Inge
hahaha..that's funny Inge!
Hey all,
Happy New year, i know its a little late lol. Did anyone see the violin autographed by Andre on ebay, there was also a picture of him autographing it. I bid on it and lost it went up to $400, a bit to much for me. thanks
-Jeff
Hi Jeff, how long ago was this? I saw one not too long ago and when I asked the guy for photos he kept saying they are coming and really stalled. All of a sudden he was expelled from Ebay. I hope it is not the same person who came back. He started out with 400.00 AU dollars.
Hey Jeanine Ann,
It ended 4 am this morning, no it wasnt that one, i know which one you mean. I will send u the link. thanks
-Jeff
I enjoy all the songs on the DVDs but they would mean so much more if we knew the English lyrics. Does anyone know where I can find the English lyrics? Thank you
Helen are there any certain song(s) you are interested in?
Yes, there are quite a few songs I'm interested in. One of my favourite is Carla singing Heia in den Bergen. Just love the ending when her high voice "breaks" the chandeliers and one of the violinist's glasses. This song would be much more meaningful if I knew the English lyrics. Also Tanzen möcht' ich; Wien, du Stadt meiner Träume; (the only word I know is Wien which means Vienna) and Adieu mein kleiner Gardeoffizier. If you could help, I would really appreciate it. Thanks to you and all the readers on this website.
On the photo: grandma Erna and myself.
I sent one photo of one of André Rieus oldest fan: grandma Erna (born in January 1910) visited the concert with age of 99. she looks music shows, tv talk shows (politics) and once per day the news, this belongs to her lives and all together holds fit. In the year 2006, she have had a complicated operation a severe gut. I got one ticket before the OP for a André Rieu concert in 2007. Given in a picture frame with photos from André. She look at it after their OP in the hospital. She makes consequently plans and recovered from her heavy operation. Their wish to go again to a concert was, in the first row, I granted her this wish and she could see André again in Bremen this year. Now, after André talk on stage of his hometown Maastricht, she would like to go in July to Maastricht and visit one of his concerts there. We are very happy, especially grandma Erna and her daugther. With Gods help, she will visit also the next concert in 2010 to its 100! birthday.
Since she likes also Semino Rossi very much, I arranged a meeting with him in his cloakroom. He was very pleased to see his "oldest" fan of high age. Now cross your fingers that there are got good tickets for grandma Erna and their daughter. I also sent photo from the AWD Dome in Bremen.
Since she likes also Semino Rossi very much, I arranged a meeting with him in his cloakroom. He was very pleased to see his "oldest" fan of high age. Now cross your fingers that there are got good tickets for grandma Erna and their daughter. I also sent photo from the AWD Dome in Bremen.
Hello Irene,I would like to see those photos. Your grandma Ema sounds like a very special lady. That she likes both Andre and Semino just shows what good taste she has.
I REALLY DO HOPE SHE WILL MAKE HER NEXT TRIP TO THE CONCERT. SHE IS LIKE ANDRE, HE WANTS TO BE 120!? GOD BLESS BOTH.
Thank you so much Irene. Good music is what keeps grandma Ema looking younger than her years & I like that smile!
Hi everyone, Simone from Germany has agreed to send us a report from the concert in Cologne on New Year day. Here is a little sneak peak at her photos. Report to follow. Thank you Mone
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ANDRE RIEU FANS ALL OVER THE WORLD. ADND WONDERFUL CONCERTS FOR 2009 WITH ANDRE. JUNE 12 2009 IN VANCOUVER IS MINE. AND TO LET YOU KNOW I HAVE 4 EXTRA TICKETS TO THE GMPLACE CONCERT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO PLEASE LET ME KNOW SOON. YOURS ELAINE BURCH.
HI JEANIE ANN, WHERE DOES ANDRE GET ALL HIS ENGERY. WOW HE REALLY LOOKS GOOD. LOVE PICTURE OF HIM. HE TAKES CARE OF HIMSELF.LOVES WHAT HE DOES. LOVE TO ALL FANS . ELAINE BURCH.
Hi Elaine, I think André gets his energy from his music and from his audience. When he is on stage he can feel the enthusiasm and positive energy coming from the fans and it gives him energy in return. He loves what he is doing and that also makes him want to keep going. What he does is not work to him. Not too many people can say that. Music is his life and he loves life. He really deserves all the success he has. I think he works very hard.
It is really nice to hear from you Elaine. Look forward to hearing from you again. Hugs
WOW! That above picture stopped me in my tracks!! Almost forgot what I came on to ask. I was listening to some oldies on the radio today & I would like to know if anyone remembers who sang "Ill Get By", it was a man but I can't place his voice. Wish the radio people would tell who sings what & the name of the song too. Sometimes I know the melody but can't remember the title, or the singer. Anyway, this is an oldie.
Well Shirley, I don't know if this is the same song you are thinking of...but "I'll Get By" (as long as I have you)...and IF that is the correct song, then it was sung by Buddy Clark. I don't know of any other.
Hey Marlene, that is the song, but guess what, I called the station(it's local here) and asked them about it, this particular recording was sung by Jerry Vale. Gosh, I didn't even know he sang that one but he did a very nice job of it.I really like this oldies station because it's a lot of the popular music I or my dad loved. Today I heard Jo Stafford, Andre Kostelanitz, the norman Luboff choir and Leroy Anderson. Finally had to get on with other things but I surely enjoyed listening for awhile. As for the song, I'll Get By, I'm sure many singers have sung that one, it's a real favorite of mine, whoever sings it. Thanks Marlene.
I do not know and have never heard of Maestro Andre Rieu or his John Strauss orchestra.
However, between, Dec 29th and 31, our local television repeated several times, his performance, in 2007 at the Imperial Hofteung Palace in Vienna.
"LIVE IN VIENNA" was excellent.
Besides the orchestrated music pieces,
this man can also teach "stage composure" , stage humour, stage introductions, audience involvement. , and so on.
I treasured the two hours...not alone but called all friends on my handphone
to tune in. EXCELLENT Sir. What I would love to see, one day is,a high powered,fast,orchestral music..2 hours
Great, to see trumpeteers have dinner as well. Thank you for the good show.
THIS IS WHY WE ALL LOVE HIM AND HIS , ORCHESTRA! MOST OF US STARTED TO KNOW HIM BY A PBS BROADCAST, WE HAVE NOT STOPPED WATCHING HIM SINCE!
HEIA,HEIA IN THE MOUNTAINS MY HOME COUNTRY
HEIA,OHEIA HIGH UP THERE WAS MY BIRTHPLACE
WHERE THE SHY BLOSSOMS EDELWIESS
WHERE ROUND GLITTER SNOW AND ICE
HEIA, OHEIA!-HEART BEAT WILD AND HOT
WHEN A GIRL SIEBENBURGER
IN LOVE WITH YOU
NOT TO PLAY, NOT FOR JOKES
IT GIVES YOU HER HEART
IF YOU WANT TO SELL YOU THE TIME
FIND ANOTHER SCHATZELEIN
ARE YOU MY - NEED TO KEEP MY , YOU
I HAVE TO WEAR YOU SEELL
DO I NEED TO HEAVEN AND HELL TO BE YOU
OLALA! SO I BUILT
OLALA! LET'S GO DANCE!
KISS ME, OH, KISSES ME
BECAUSE WHO IS BEST/ KISS/ CAN-
ONLY THE WILL MY HUSBAND!
IT IS HARD TO TREANSLATE, IT IS FROM EMMERICH KALMAN'S OPERETTA, WHO WAS HUNGARIAN, USUALLY OUTSIDE OF HUNGARY THEY DO SING IT IN GERMAN.
KATI
Thank you so much for these English lyrics. It was much appreciated.
I DANCE WITH YOU IN THE SKY
IF WE PUNCH IN WEIGHT
IS IT ME WHEN CAN I FLY
UP TO THE STARS THE SKY
DANCE MUSIC AND THE LIGHTS SHINE
I AM BLESSED AND POETS
I CAN THINK FO A SONG WHICH I SING TO YOU BEFORE
CHORUS
I DANCE WITH YOU IN THE SKY INSIDE
IN THE SEVENTH HEAVEN OF LOVE
THE EARTH IS SINKING AND WE TWO ARE ALONE
IN THE SEVENTH HEAVEN OF LOVE
COME LET US DREAM FOR QUIETER MUSIC
OUR ROMANTIC FAIRY TALE OF LUCK
AND DANCE WITH ME INTO THE SKY
IN THE SEVENTH HEAVEN OF LOVE
YOU KNOW I FEEL ME NOW
REALLY HAPPIER THAN HAPPY
BECAUSE I LOVE DRUM, I'M SO HAPPY
MOCHT HUNDREDS OF SONGS I SING
THE SOUND IN MY HEART
AND EVERY SONG SAYS: I LOVE YOU
Thank you Kati for the lyrics. They are beautiful!
I COULD EVEN SING THEM! HAHAHA. KATI
Kati, I figured you could be the one to come up with those lyrics.
01. Die Csárdásfürstin (The Gypsy Princess), Operetta: Tanzen Möcht'ich 02. Die Lustige Witwe: Lippen Schweigen 03. Der Zarewitsch: Es Steht Ein Soldat Am Wolgastrand 04. Giuditta: Freunde, Das Leben Ist Lebenswert 05. Zigeunerliebe: Hör' Ich Zymbalklänge 06. Die Lustige Witwe: Da Geh' Ich Zu Maxim 07. Die Lustige Witwe: Vilja, O Vilja 08. Der Vogelhändler: Schenkt Man Sich Rosen in Tirol 09. Countess Maritza, The, Operetta: Komm, Zigany 10. Giuditta: Meine Lippen, Sie Küssen So Heiß 11. Paganini: Gern Hab' Ich Die Frauen Geküßt (Girls Were Made to Love and 12. Die Lustige Witwe: Wie Die Blumen Im Lenze Erblühn 13. Das Land des Lächelns: Wer Hat Die Liebe Uns Ins Herz Gesenkt 14. Das Land des Lächelsn: Von Apfelablüten Einen Kranz 15. Paganini: Niemand Liebt Dich So Wie Ich.
While I'm thinking about it, what do you know of Bela Bartok? I had heard a piano concerto of his that I liked very much. Any recommendations about him?
Hi Shirley and Kati, thanks for the lyrics Kati. Shirley I would love that CD. I love Lehar and I also love Carreras and Domingo. I will look at Barnes and Noble. They usually have tons of classics. There are two books by Franz Lehar (for violin) that I was looking to buy but they are $30.00 each and I don't know which book has what music so I must try to find it in a music store and then choose one. Been spending too much on André : ) Thanks Shirley. Hugs to both of you
I DO NOT KNOW THE CD, BUT I SURE DO KNOW THESE SINGERS. I WOULD TRY MY BEST WITH THE TRANSLATION. ABOUT BARTOK, I DO KNOW AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE I NEVER DID LIKED HIM AND HIS MUSIC. SORRY.
hahahha.......well Kati, that was short & to the point!!! If you don't like him then I won't bother with him. I just happened to hear the piano piece on the radio & the announcer said his name & that he was Hungarian.
MOST LIKELY BECAUSE THEY DID MAKE ME STUDY HIM. KATI
SHIRLEY, YOU HAVE HERE DIE CSARDASFURSTIN BY EMMERICH KALMAN, THE GYPSY PRINCESS OPERETTA? LIKE #1?
#2 is your merry widow the song Lippen Scgweigen?
Thank you very much for the lyrics. The songs are much more meaningful now. I really appreciate your time to send the English lyrics. Thank you
I have just been watching Andre's DVD of Maastricht. It was wonderful. He has so much energy - I can't beleive he is 59 - I thought he was in his late 40's. Happy New Year to Andre and his team and all his fans.
Are there any other english fans out there. I live in Dorset in Southern England and would like to meet up with fans of Andre to perhaps listen to his music and have lunch?
Hey all,
Jeanine Ann what song, i will look in my library, also if any one esle needs sheet music i can help out, either getting my price at some stores i belong to or if i have it i will send it to you. Thanks
-Jeff
Hi there Jeff, I was looking for anything Lehar but in particular what André plays like "The One Who Married Us" (forget the German name,) "Gold And Silver" - in other words anything Lehar. Thanks so much Jeff you are a good friend. Hugs to you
Isn't this a great photo! Love his expression!
Belated HAPPY NEW YEAR'S to all André Fans - Cable net work off line a few days, up and running at the moment. Thanks for the photo Jeanine Ann. LOTS of heavy winds here, electricity flickering another day; better not push my luck and send this out before I am in the dark "again". SOO much to say, SOO little time. Back at ya later.
I really want to thank everyone for their information and comments. As I have mentioned before, I only discovered Andre a few months ago so I feel like a baby learning to walk!!! I mean I have so much to learn about Andre! I read the present comments and some of the Archives each time I turn on my computer. Everytime I am absolutely amazed at the wealth of information that people share on this website and I really want to thank everyone. After I watch the DVDs, my aim is to be able to "sing" the songs and humm the tunes without the DVDs. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I am humming the tune to some of the songs! Another aim is to really understand the performances. When Carla sang Heia in den Bergen in Hannover, she was dressed in a different costume from when she sang this same song at the Schonbrunn. Her costume at the Schonbrunn with the jacket over her shoulder is like the guards at the palace in Denmark. (I am also interested in the Danish royals because an Australian girl married the Danish Crown Prince.) After I watched Suzan sing "I belong to me" at the Schonbrunn, I did a search on YouTube about Empress Sissi. I discovered that Suzan was dressed exactly the same as in the original story about Empress Sissi even her hair was the same. Thank you again to everyone on this website.
CARLA'S COSTUME IN SCHONNBRUNN WAS AS CLOSE AS IT COULD GET TO THE COSTUME IN HUNGARY IN THE 1800'S. THE COMPOSER WAS HUNGARIAN BORN, MOST OF THEM LEFT FOR VIENNA OR OTHER COUNTRIES IN EUROPE TO FUTHER THEIR EDUCATION, BUT MOST OF THESE OPERETTAS ARE HUNGARIAN PLAYED ALL THE TIME IN HUNGARY AS OF TODAY. IT IS TOO BAD, ANDRE AND COMPANY NEVER WENT TO HUNGARY YET, I THINK, BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE BARRIER ALTHOUGH MOST HUNGARIANS SPEAK GERMAN ALSO.
Thank you so much for the information. I have read your comments on this website and you are such a gracious and helpful person to share your information. Thanks to you and this website, I'm learning something new about Andre every day. As they say, Andre has changed my life!!!
In the DVD "Gala Concert" I thought I saw Carla and Suzan in the choir behind the double bass players. I was just wondering when they became solo singers. As I have previously mentioned, I'm a 'newcomer' to Andre but I am discovering something new about him every day. From watching several DVDs, it has been really interesting to see how Andre's concerts have chanaged but his enjoyment, enthusiasm, interaction with the audience and his love of music have always been evident. Each time I go shopping now, I check out the music store for any new DVDs. It is so true that Andre has changed my life!!! He really is a remarkable person.
I PUT ONE TRANSLATION ON THE BIRTHDAY BLOG SITE IF YOU DO BELIEVE IT SHIRLEY?
DANCE MOCHTE I
DANCE MOCHTE I
JAUCHZEN MOCHTE I
INTO THE WORLD IT SHRINE
MINE IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF THE WOMAN
MINE ALONE
LET YOU SEIZE
LET YOU HOLD
KISSES ME ON THE NEW
WHO IS PROBABLY MORE BLESSEDLY TODAY
AS WE TWO? MORE SWEETLY , DEAR ME
BUT LEB'I
SO ONLY IS MY DREAM
THAT SO MUCH LUCK IT CAN GIVE
WUSST I HARDLY
LET US PRAISE
THAT THERE ABOVE
DER'S SO WELL MADE
SURELY THE HEART IT BEFORE JOY
SHIRLEY, HERE IS YOUR NEXT ONE.
LIPPEN SCHWEIGEN FROM THE MERRY WIDOW
LIPS ARE SILENT
LIPS ARE SILENT AS WHISPER PLAY THE VIOLIN
LOVE ME!
ALL THE STEPS SAY PLEASE LOVE ME
EACH PRESSURE OF THE HANDS
MIR'S DESCRIBED CLEARLY
HE SAYS CLEARLY, 'S IS TRUE, 'S IS TRUE
YOU LOVE ME!
HANNA
WHY?
WITH EVERYONE WHALE-CUT
ALSO THE SOUL DANCES ALSO
THERE THE HERZOCHEN HOPS SMALL
IT KNOCKS AND POUNDS IS MINE! IS MINE!
AND THE MOUTH DOES NOT SPEAK A WORD
BUT IT SOUNDS AWAY AND ALWAYS
I HAB' YOU SO DEAR, I HAB' YOU SO DEAR!
EACH PRESSURE OF THE HANDS
MIR'S DESCRIBED CLEARLY
HE SAYS CLEARLY, 'S IS TRUE, 'S IS TRUE
YOU LOVE ME!
Hi Kati, Merry Widow is one of my favorites by Lehar, but what is the "Dance mochte"? who is it by? You spoke of Carla's costume,I really liked that costume she wore in the Schonbrunn, but actually I've liked all her costumes, especially the Juliska & mein herr marquis.Her voice is outstanding and I miss her very much. Kati, I notice a lot of these songs we've talked about mention the word gypsy,like Gypsy Princess etc. What group are they talking about? I really do like the music of Lehar & Kalman .
GYPSIES ARE A GROUP OF PEOPLE, BASICALLY LIVING ALMOST ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, I COULD CALL THEM LIKE A MINORITY,JUST LIKE WE COULD CALL PEOPLE HERE IN THE STATES OF SPANISH ORIGIN. THEY DO HAVE THEIR OWN LANGUAGE, THEY DO HAVE THEIR OWN MUSIC, EXCELLENT IN MUSIC, PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS LIKE THE VIOLIN, DULLCIMMER, OR BASS, OR OBOE, OR CLARINET.
Well Kati, the first time I ever heard the word gypsy was after I saw this, now old, movie called Golden Earrings, i don't remember the lady who played the gypsy part but Ray Milland was the male star, but there was also a song, Golden Earrings that went with the movie. I was probably about 12 when I saw it and I was absolutely fascinated!
Oh does this bring back memories Shirley. My mother played Golden Earrings on the piano when I was a teen. I can still see the sheet music on the piano. I am trying to remember who the female star was. This would be a good song for André to play!
There's a story the gypsy's know as true
that when your love wears golden earrings
she belongs to you.
An old love story that's known to very few
but if you wear those golden earrings
love will come to you.
By the burning fire they will glow with every coal
You will hear desire whisper low within your soul.
So be my gypsy
make love your guiding light
and let this pair of golden earrings
cast their spell tonight.
Oh this reminds me when we were doing song titles about André. I was searching for sheet music last evening and came across a book with songs for the violin I never heard before and one was called "All At Once You Love Him". Guess all this golden earring talk has me in a kind of romantic mood. But then I look out at the weather and I don't know what mood I am in : ) Think we will watch an André concert. We had to go early today and tomorrow for Clydes treatment. Hugs
Jeanine Ann,I never heard of that piece of music. It's ironic that we both have been searching music, I know that at one time I had bookmarked a piece that Andre had on you tube, but it is no longer available. I don't even know what cd or dvd it might be on, all I know is the title and it was "komm mit nach Varasden.I must have liked it or I would not have bookmarked it. Maybe Kati or someone can tell me more about it. BTW, hugs for Clyde!
Good Morning(?) Jeanine Ann, well after I thought of this old movie I checked on Amazon & they still had it listed. The lady who played the gypsy was Marlene Dietrich. Thank you for the words to the song,I still hear the music in my head. I think because of all the music Kati was talking about & the Gypsy Princess reminded me of that movie. I'd like to watch it again sometime. It sure impressed me as a young girl.
Kati is that "Dance mochte" Tanzen möcht ich??? the translation in English, I would translate it with: " I want to dance!"
It is very sad if Carla and Suzan have left Andre. They sang beautifully. Are there new solo singers now? Is Carmen still with Andre? I hope Mirusia will be with Andre for a few years.
Yes Helen, it is sad, especially with Carmen & Carla, who were probably the first ones we saw with Andre, and then later, Suzan, who fit right in perfectly. Now they have gone on to pursue their own individual careers. If you will check out their web sites you can kind of keep track of what they are doing.Carmen has been very busy working in Brazil & says she is also working on a solo cd. That's exciting news. Carla is with a group called The Strings & looks like she & Bela Mavrak give concerts in Germany too.Just check out their web sites. I don't think most of them have ever signed a lifetime contract, sooner or later they will move on, maybe when they have the time, they might be able to appear with Andre. But as we know, Andre is always on the lookout for young new talent, and we are never disappointed, but we do try to keep up with the ones we really liked over the years don't we? And we can always relive with our favorites on our dvds & cds. BTW, have you seen the latest pictures on Andre's web site, the ones from Hasselt? Seems like the young trumpeter, Melissa Venema is with him for several concerts. She is very good for someone so young. I always enjot the many guests & new talent that Andre chooses, people we might not ever have known about, even the local Maastricht talent. just think about all the different guests we have seen over the years & come to know a bit about. Yep, Andre gives us the best of the best.
Shirley, Suzan was with André first, she was first on the choir and then as a soloist, very stiff at first, I did not like her performance, but she has changed and grown so much, she got better, then he brought on Carla and Carmen and then they did all 3 perform, when Pierre was going out with Suzan, she was brought more and more in the center by André, they had all 3 a good start on his stage but Carla and Carmen were already young performing in their home country. The 3 tenors will not stay for ever, neither did the 3 gifted Russians he picked from the street. It would be nice if all would come back once in a while, but I cannot help it, I miss them, even so I knew it won´t be for ever.
Hi Inge, gosh, I didn't know Suzan was before Carmen & Carla. I guess I never paid that much attention. The first dvd I watched was the Dublin one.And I think Suzan did actually improve from when I first saw her. Those Russians, were they called the St Petersberg Trio? I liked them a lot. Someone asked about Laura Engels, I saw some pictures of a New Year concert in Cologne & Laura & Suzan,& Mirusia were singing. And I see that Carla & Suzan have both joined the platin scala. What exactly is that group?
Hi Shirley, yes, we watched the new Champaign-Melodies the other night, which is a cut through all his concerts and their was Suzan in the choir and I remember when André brought her the first time to Montréal, she also did that Angel, but not flying over the heads , she stood there like a statue, but she did change, I guess it was her start. Carla I saw the first time as Olympia from tales of Hoffmann, I loved her doing that doll. That Laura must be the one that replaced Carla, but no offense, she is no comparison to her. The group that Carla and Suzan joined and also the Platin tenors, they give concerts and are moderated by a TV anchor from Germany, but more I do not know, I have read one article about them in the Sauerland express. The Russians were the St. Petersburg Trio, André said he literally picked them of the street in Maastricht.
I haven't been around for a while. I have found a wonderful woman to share my life with and have been somewhat preoccupied. lol
I am truly sorry to see Carla and Carman leave Andre. They are truly magnificent. I was never a fan of Suzan, but I must admit she has improved the range, strength and quality of her voice. She still has much work to do on her enunciation and stage presence.
My new sweetie had never seen Andre so I exposed her to my DVD collection and she has become a fan. We are going to catch him on his US tour - probably either Phoenix or Denver or whatever close location has a good venue. I did catch his show in Albuquerque last year but I thought the venue ruined it. It was cheap and tawdry. Shame on PBS.
I wish all the Rieu fans the best for 2009. If 2009 is a good for me as the last quarter of 2008 it will be exceptional.
The best to all from "The Land of Enchantment"
Grampa Mike
We missed you Grandpa Mike but I am very happy for you. It is wonderful when you find someone nice who can share your life. You even made her an André fan - that is great! You will need to catch up on all the Australian news. There are lots of articles to read. Glad to have you back with us. I truly hope you will be happy with your new "sweetie". Big hugs
I AM NOT SURE EITHER WHO'S THIS WEBSITE IS, ARE THEY PART OF A THEATRE ON A PERMANENT BASIS OR WHAT? THEY ARE SHOWING SOME SINGERS I NEVER HEARD OF, BUT IT IS A GERMAN GROUP.
wien do stadt meiner traume
Vienna, you city of my dreams
. My heart and my sense
Rhapsodizes always only for Vienna,
For Vienna, how it cries, how it laughs!
There know yourself I out,
There are i stop z'Haus,
With day and still more at the night.
And none remains cold
Whether young or old,
That Vienna, how it is real, knows
Müsst' I once away
Of the beautiful place,
Since nähm' my longing none end.
Then hört' I from far distance a song,
That sounds and sings, which lures and pulls:
Refrain:
Vienna, Vienna, only you alone
The city of my dreams is to always be!
, Where the old houses stand
, Where the lovely girls go!
Vienna, Vienna, only you alone
The city of my dreams is to always be!
, Where I am lucky and blessed,
If Vienna is, Vienna is, my Vienna!
2. With each Gaudé
Well, it wissen's eh
I participate always alike.
I b'halt my Hamur
Until late in the Fruah
Me is all then all kinds of.
And if I with the wine
Then sits to two
And longing an arm me loops,
If secretly and powerful
The homeland at the price
A Straussi tome rings out:
Then listen I from far distance a song,
That sounds and sings, which lures and pulls:
If skies are clear tonight, Saturday, go out at sunset and look for the giant moon rising in the east. It will be the biggest and brightest one of 2009. I will be looking but i'm not sure our skies will be clear enough. Wolf Moon, Snow Moon, or Old Moon seems to be the names.
Hi! Does anyone know where and when Suzan Erens is singing currently ?? Thank you.
Suzan is looking at doing more musicals in the future, but for the time being she is working with Platin-Scala, mostly in Germany. This puts her with the Platin Tenors and Carla Maffioletti is also with them when she is not with "The Strings". The website below will have to be translated from German but has some nice photo's of our old friends.
http://www.platin-scala.com/
Look out for the automatic translators on-line. The one I used translated Tomas' (Platinum Tenor) last name as "abomination." Hardly flattering for such a magnificent voice.
Grampa Mike
KOMM MIT NACH VARASDIN by Emmerich Kalman from the operetta Grafina Mariza
Duett uit Mariza: Come along after Varasdin
I please, do not laugh, the Ise, the things, the Amor,
That packed me in such a way!
The Urkraft of the impulses, the fire of the love,
I white exactly as one does not say there!
I find'es ergötzlich that it so suddenly,
So stormily their heart for me discovers,
They did not save, with words, with tender,
But they must still wait, them me frightened!
That cannot be done! I do not seal, I red'nicht,
I am not also no poet, I legend only
Refrein:
Come along after Varasdin! So long still the roses blüh'n,
There woll'n we lucky its, we both all alone!
You are the most beautiful Fee, from Debrecin to disk lake,
Drum would like with you I after Varasdin!
Because my passion, burns hotter still than Gulaschsaft
And in the chest heart dances to me ago and Czardas!
Come along after Varasdin, so long still the roses blüh'n,
There the whole world is still red, white, green!
There one can make nix, the Ise, the things, the Amor,
That is already once like that!
The Spitzbub only it plays, then it laughs, then it aims,
Then it shoots and meets us somewhere!
They speak very drastically, them schildren very plastic,
They cut completely attractive me the Cour,
A suitor with Temprament and fires like her, works tremendously
Auf's heart and pour l'amour.
Yes!if i it look at only so brenn'ich and brenn'ich
has so kenn'ich only one
happy new year to all, very late. just stopped by to say hello. wishing everyone a wonderful 2009!
loved that golden earring movie with marlene dietrich...she was something else...pbs just did a special about wwii and the film industry...marlene dietrich's story was in it...i fell asleep though and never got to see it.
shirley, bartok was yehudi menuhin's fav composer and he and many other musicians feel he was the very best. i can understand kati's feelings. bartok needs alot of getting used to...but i think he was amazing. his music definitely is possessive and required alot of attention though...not exactly easy listening. art of violin has a couple of pieces by bartok and yehudi's comments on him.
have a great new year all, it was nice visiting you...lots of new fans who i had not yet me....L
And a very good 2009 to you too Lorraine! Nice to see you here, haven't seen you in a while. Take care and know that I'm thinking of you.
Hi Lorraine,I will have to go back & listen to Art of The Violin, it's been awhile. the piece I heard was a piano concerto, I don't know which one but I enjoyed it.
Has anyone watched the old Sissi movies from the 1950s? I watched them and it's amazing to see the costumes. Worth renting if you can find them.
Hi Virginia, I have not watched those old movies, but will look for them. I enjoy old movies, the colors, the texture, the lighting. Some times it appears today's movies want to dazzle us with tech-mation, and forget to give us dialog and substance.
Virginia I have watched those old Sisi -movies over and over again, here they show them often in French, but I have seen them when they came out in the 5Os and Romy Schneider is my age, or she would be, if she was still alive. The story is almost true, but I have a book about Sisi, that was written for her lOO anniversary of her murder, it is based on letters from her mother-in-law, her husband the emperor and a lot of the diary of her lady in waiting and a lot of letters from herself to all of them. It comes as close to the truth as it could be. She was a very smart woman, but also neurotic, she was only occupied with her beauty, she never smiled much because she was afraid to show her rotten teeth, she got from bulimia, she was so obsessed to stay slim and fit that she had already then a gym built in the castle, she did her duty to the country and gave the Kaiser 4 children, one died with 2 and the only son committed suicide with his lover in the castle Meierling, both were married to other people. Rudolf was like his mother, very sensitive and as they were all related to each other, like Franz Joseph and Elisabeth were first cousins, their mothers sisters, they inherited some kind of dementia, in Sisi it showed as being very depressed. Her mother´s cousin the king of Bavaria was homosexual and engaged to the sister of Sisi, but never married her, he was either murdered or committed suicide, nobody knows for sure. The story about the love of Sisi and Franz Joseph is true, she loved him and he adored her, but the mother from Franz was a big influence on their marriage and not for the best, Sisi fought her hole live for freedom and still tried to do her duty.
Yes, as you know, in the movies Sissi's mother-in-law was the mother-in-law from hell. The song that Suzan sings from the musical is spot on. Both Sissi and her husband tried to do their duty but she was very narcicisstic.
Sounds like a normal family!!!
YES, IT IS BY EMMERICH KALMAN DIE CSARDASFURSTIN MELODIE
It is sad when some of the wonderful singers and musicians of the JSO move on. Does Laura Engel still perform an ocasional solo? She was in the chorus when they appeared in Peoria, IL USA in April of 2008. Also does Resi perform any solos?
Hi,Everybody.Hope 2009 is beginning to start out ok for you all.Hopefully here in Innisfail North Queensland, we don't get hit by another cyclone.It looks very ominous from here,as Cyclone Charlotte has crossed the coast in the Gulf & we are copping the heavy winds/rain here.My darling husband has been madly trying to block off all the water pouring in the doors,it is so heavy.Innisfail is starting to look really pretty now with all the trees etc regrowing,so please say a prayer for us & the other towns further north.Not very happy subject eh?
I'll talk about something much more pleasing like our beautiful Andre.What a magnificent human being!!His energy & love for what he represents is sensational.It really touched my heart strings when I saw his tears while playing Waltzing Matilda on the Australia dvd,also he was so emotional when he played at his home town Maastricht.He truly has a beautiful soul, & I hope he is around for a long time yet.I am sure going to miss Carla, Suzan & the Tenors,they were wonderful. Cheers,Laurene.
Good luck with that weather Laurene. Sounds pretty scary.
I was touched by Andre's emotion during Waltzing Matilda too. I'm glad he didn't edit it out, I guess the whole night had just overwhelmed him and the beautiful tune and everyone singing was too much. He must be very sensitive. It's a pity there aren't more people with such a gentle heart running the world politics.
How do you know Carla, Suzan and the Tenors are leaving? Have I missed something?
Jill, Carla has not been with Andre for about 1 year now. She wanted to expand on her love of "classical guitar" which she plays beautifully, hence she joined a group called "The Strings". She also performs with "The Platin Scala" which includes the Platin Tenors and now Suzan.
I posted a link to their website a few posts above. Suzans last performance with Andre was in Brisbane. I have not heard any thing on the Platin Tenors leaving. I think Inge or someone may have submized that would happen and of course we all know it will eventually.
That brings me to the question ??? Who is the new soloist Andre had at Arnhem and Hasselt since his return to Europe (photo's on Andre's website) There is Carmen, Mirusia and another blonde girl.
Could it be Kalki Schrijvers?
Yes, I think you are right Prudence. I can not get the photo to enlarge clear enough, but all the features are that of Kalki. Thanks.
Thank you Grayeme, also for the update on Helmut. I can't understand why his wives keep letting him get away - he'd be so decorative to have around the house...
In Australia, we say that the Aussie Salute is when we brush away the flies with our hands, especially in country areas. You may have seen pictures of a hat with corks hanging down and this is for the same reason to keep the flies away. Now however I think the Great Australian Salute is waving our hands like we do when we listen to Andre's music. When I watch Andre's DVDs, I cannot sit still so I also wave my hands like the audience or even sometimes try and learn their dance like in the Clog Dance. I absolutely love the Clog Dance although Andre made a comment that they got sore feet from the wooden clogs. I have also found information about The Red Rose Cafe. It is in the town of Hoorn 35 km north of Amsterdam. The real name of the café is "Het Schippershuis" and it is opposite the harbor. The composer is Pierre Kartner but he was also
named "Father Abraham". He lives in the Dutch province of Limburg. Maybe this is where (on a DVD) Andre and the JSO performed the Red Rose Cafe which starts slowly but then it gets really lively with everyone joining in and dancing. I love it!!!!
Best Wishes Sally on your next big step, but don't overdo it. You have come so far on the road to recovery and we are all very proud of you. Go Girl.!!
Someone told me about a little video clip that showed Andre doing a cooking demonstration!!! Can anyone please help me find it? It sounds like fun!! Can't wait to see his concert in Melbourne in Oct 09 - we have tickets.
I THINK, HE HAS IT ON THE MY DREAM COME TRUE DVD.
Hi Denise - the cooking segment is on a documentary Andre made for PBS in America called "Just For You" He cooks in the kitchen at his castle. You won't be able to get this in Australia. However, I do have it, if you email Webmaster Sally at the contact email for this website and ask her to give you my email address, then contact me.
Your most welcome.
I have a DVD "Welcome to my World, it was sent to me by PBS as a gift because I always pledged for tickets in Montréal, on that DVD he cooks his famous "Stampftopf" and he introduces Pierre and Marc, shows his castle and his studio and also he drives to Marc and the collection of Pierre´s military vehicles from the 2nd World War.
Thank you so much for your quick response, however I understand that this little video clip was actually on a website. Maybe someone knows how to find it!
Hello Denise, please check your email.
I would also like to see this video clip If I may, Thanks, Marguerite
Some news for Helmut Lotti fans. Helmut will marry his new lady, journalist Jelle van Riet in Antwerp on 9th of May.
This will be the third marriage for 39 yr old Helmut, so lets hope he has some better luck this time around.
I certainly wish him happiness. I hope this one works and brings them both JOY.
I can hear a million hearts breaking. All 'those' fans of his...
Well I am happy for him. I wish them a happy life.What is it "they" say? "Third Time's A Charm"? or lucky. Anyway, maybe he will be an even better singer, hmmm?
I know I could be accused of bias here, but, I have just watched the Andre "Live in Australia" DvD for the umpteenth time. It was as overwhelming and tear jerking then as the first time I saw it, even with having seen the concert "live" twice. The emotions of this occasion are tearing at you from the opening moments when you witness members of the audience hugging each other with sheer exuberance simply because it is finally happening. Apart from a very emotional Andre, the JSO are simply on fire. No one can fake their obvious sheer delight at performing there. All fans, wherever you may be, should make the effort to get this DvD, it is a must have. It is just incredible how this DvD actually picks up and throws at you the raw emotions and total delight that the audience of 36,000 fans display at finally being at an Andre concert.
You will never regret buying this DvD,
I promise you.
Well Grayeme, as Andre himself has said,. "It was an overwhelming experience. The warmth of the audience was overpowering." I'm sure this will be another "must have" for all fans. Personally, I've always loved to watch the audience's faces in all the dvds. This one has got to be exceptional because they waited so long for Andre to come.
Grayeme, I have had Live in Australia (NTSC version) on order from Andre's boutique since Dec 5th and was told by them that only PAL versions are on sale as of now, so be careful when you order that you get the proper one for your area especially if you order on ebay as all of theirs are PAL version. I found out the hard way by ordering one and when I got it, it wouldn't play then I looked and it said PAL, so since I opened it I have not received a refund. Hope this helps in ordering. Marguerite
Most DVD players nowadays should play both. Download DVD Decrypter to your computer and run the video through as an ISO File. Then burn a copy and it will play. I get DvD's from all over the world and very rarely have a problem. Anything you buy in Australia will be Pal.
Grayeme. I am in my 70's and have no clue what you are talking about and wouldn't begin to know how to do all that. There are a lot of Andre lovers in my age group and I wanted them to be aware of what they are ordering. I know that I am getting the right one from Andre's boutique but Amazon doesn't always tell you. Thanks for the info anyway as others could use it.
Suppose I better tell you where to get it. Online, probably the best place now is Sanity Music in Australia. On present exchange rate it will cost you US$17.40 add postage to most anywhere in the world and it will cost you about US$24 in total.
http://www.sanity.com.au/product/product.asp?sku=2119737
Hi, I just made a boo boo! & wrote in the birtday section.As I said there,I am thrilled at having just viewed Andre in his 1452 kitchen cooking a scrumptious meal he is such a wonderful larrikan!The site is Ovation-Schofield.He also does other interviews with Leo Schofield from Australia.
Cheers,Laurene.xo
Laurene, thanks for the Ovation-Schofield site. It is a great site and I loved all three interviews of Andre & his castle & Andre cooking in his castle. There is much more to see and I enjoyed all I have seen so far & will watch more as time permits. Great site.
Good news!! I got an email from the andre rieu company. They said they were very sorry for the delay on the new australia dvd NTSC and they will ship it out today to me! Hope every one gets there too, they said i would have hin in 3 or 4 days!
Thanks
-Jeff
I THINK, THEY DID MENTION, THAT THE DVD WILLL BE AVAILABLE ON THE 7TH WEEK, JUST A LITTLE MORE WAYS AWAY.
My email said the 7th week also. Jeff, who do you know over there?? : ) This is one I am dying to see. I did see one on Ebay and ordered it because I couldn't wait any longer but with the hospital every day which I hope is over now, I did not get to see it. We did watch Maastricht 2 and it was just magnificent as is everything André does. Hope everyone is having a great day. Hugs to all
Guess I am confused. What does "week 7" mean ???? Is that 7 weeks from the original order date (7 Dec 2008) or the 7th week of the New Year (2009) or Seven Weeks from NOW ?? Any Guesses Anyone ????
WEEK 7 IN 2009. SO, IT DES FALL TO FEBRUARY.
Jeanine Ann, I got the same message from them and I wrote back, if they have it in PAL, they should send me that one, wonder if they do???
USUALLY THEY DO. I DID THE SAME THING
Inge that could be that they do have it in PAL and are sending that one. I can play PAL so I don't care which one I get. I should write and tell them that also. Thanks much. Hugs to you
Hello Constance. I received the following email from AR Help Desk. Has anyone else received a similar note?? What does this mean??? See Below: Dear André Rieu fan,
There has been an unforeseen delay in the production process for the international NTSC version of the DVD Live in Australia that you ordered in our boutique at AndreRieu.com
The DVD will be released and send out to you in week 7.
Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience.
Yours sincerely,
Helpdesk André Rieu
Yes, I got the same message. I'm sure we will get the dvd as soon as possible.
Personally, I can't wait to see it, but in waiting, it also builds my anticipation, which I enjoy. I know it will be here in good time.
It will be worth it Marlene, trust me !!! Let that anticipation have no boundaries.
Thanks Grayeme.
I know it will be here soon.
Those of you who vote for Andre for Person of the Year on the Dutch website know that he's in second place, just behind Elvis Presley and one vote ahead of Benny Neyman. Unfortunately they allow persons who are no longer with us to be voted for.
Let's all focus on getting Andre into first place again as he was in 2007. Here are directions for those who are new to the voting:
Website: http://www.persoonvanhetjaar.nlIn box on right side choose english.
Scroll down to Andre, click on Vote.
On next screen confirm Vote.
Enter email address and click on option to remember your address.
Click on Vote again.
You will receive a confirmation email.
Click on the blue line and you'll get the website letting you know that your vote is confirmed.
It's a great way to start the day!!
I wonder what their criteria is for person of the year? Is it just a popularity contest ? Time Magazine states that their aim is to pick "the person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or for ill, and embodied what was important about the year, for better or worse". In any case, I would prefer to see "person of the year" be someone who has done something positive & good. After looking at all the ones who are listed on this site, who has done more to spread happiness and good will around the world, than Andre Rieu? For that reason alone he should be voted #1, even though all his fans already consider him to be #1. As for those no longer living, their time has past & should not even be nominated. But this is just a fun thing to do, so I will vote this year.
I've just voted - and noticed Andre has slipped down to 4th place. Let's hope lots more vote for him.
Have just driven from the UK to Dusseldorf and back again, and would do it all again staright away... FANTASTIC performance, worth every mile. although the 'Dome' staff kept evryone waiting for 30mins in -7 degrees whilst deciding to open the doors!
BUT WHEN WILL ANDRE COME TO THE UK ?
Laurene, You have described Andre's personality in one word - "larrikin" - a "mischievous person" according to the Collins English dictionary!! Sums up his humour (in my view)beautifully!!
Denise, He is such a loveable character,I could listen & watch him forever.HaHa! my hubby's even jealous of the time I spend on these fan sites & watching his DVD'S.I even made a calender with his photos for my 88 year old Mum & I we love him so much.His orchestra/singers are certainly fantastic also.I hope to be able to get to Brisbane next year to see him.I can't go too far due to my Mum's poor health. Cheers, Laurene.
Hey all,
Funny you guys should mention the welcome to my world dvd, i just bought a brand new welcome to my world dvd still rapped on ebay for only $6.99. Great dvd. thanks
-Jeff
Jeff, Lucky you for getting "Welcome to my world" I have searched all over and haven't been able to find one. Went to ebay and they don't have it so you must have gotten the only one available. Enjoy, Margueite
Re voting. Note that for the week Andre is no. 3 but in the overall standing he is no. 4 same as last year. Let's see if we can move him up!
WATCH THE NEWS EVERYBODY ! NOW! US AIR JET WENT DOWN IN THE FREEZING HUDSON RIVER, ALL HELPERS AROUND, BUT PEOPLE WERE STANDING ON THE WING, MY GOD, I HOPE THEY WERE ABLE TO SAVE SOME IN THIS FREEZING WATER, AND THE JET SANK.
I DO HOPE THE GREAT NEWS IS ALL 150 PEOPLE OFF THE PLANE, NOW IT IS JUST THE QUESTION OF INJURIES. THANKS GOD.
Yes Piano, everyone is off the plane and there are just some minor injuries according to the news. Thank God for that.
Thank God for that experienced pilot. He turned that plane and glided it with no power, into the best possible, under those conditions, landing.
Watching this on the news made me cry. First for feeling scared for all the people and then for joy as they were all alive and safe with few injuries.
*The pilot lives in Danville, about an hour from me.
Hooray for that wonderful pilot who lives in Danville! Thank goodness this pilot was able to save all those lives.
AMEN to that Marlene.
I spent the entire afternoon watching André DVD's. It was only in the teens today and my sister said it was 4 when she woke up around 7 so I don't know what the low was. Wind chills are bad also. You know I thought Maastricht was fantastic (and it was) but I just adored the Dresden concert (Semperoper). It was filled with all the music I love, André was incredible and all the duets were fantastic. When Carmen sang "Hor Ich Zimblaklange"(sp) with André I almost died. I love to see him play that and Carmen looked just beautiful. The Platin Tenors were just wonderful with the Puccini aria (cannot think of name at moment) and that new Tenor is just fantastic and I loved the duet with Mirusia "That's All I Ask Of You". The whole setting was just beautiful. I am now out of adjectives to describe this concert and I haven't even seen Live In Australia. Saving that for last.
Then we watched the Federation Square concert and the pre-concert special from Melbourne. André looked fantastic as usual in all these concerts. The pre-concert was mostly interviews, I have a little left to watch, but it is very informative and I love to see these candid moments. Hugs to all
Well, compared to what I did today, I would much rather have done what you did today Jeanine Ann, what a nice way to spend the day.
Just don't go outside...way too cold!
Brrrrrrr
It got down to 24 here last night and I thought that was way too cold.
We had been watching all this unfold on TV.Thanks to the pilot with a cool head and 40 years experience, not to forget the crew and rescue crews who got there so quickly, this really did turn into the "miracle on the Hudson". There are many people whose lives have been changed. God must have been one of the co-pilots.
What a nice comment Shirley. I guess they did have Him on board.
Not much to report on Andre from Australia at the moment, so I thought I would spread my wings a bit. I was very pleasantly surprised to learn this week that Mary Duff (of Daniel O'Donnell fame) is about to embark on her first solo tour of Australia and US/Canada. I think Mary is a wonderful talent and I am sure she has plenty of fans here on the blog as well from her years with Daniel. She will be touring Australia in March and early April, and then starts her US tour on 11th May at Tri-Lakes Theatre in Branson MO. Guess we won't be hearing from Shirley that week.
The nice part is that she will be performing at Boonah QLD near my home 2 days after my birthday so I am shouting myself a present. We often talk on this blog about Andre's stamina, well Mary has some too. On her Australian tour she is performing 26 concerts in 31 days, then she has a break before finishing her tour in Perth. She then tours England and then the US. All this and she is still recovering from a broken ankle. Have a look at her itinary http://www.maryduff-international.com/page4.htm
No announcements as yet on when Daniel will next have a concert tour in either Australia or the US. But he will be doing a promotional tour to the US in March visiting PBS Stations that at the time will be airing the concert he recorded at Branson MO last November that our Shirley attended, so we will have to look out for her in the crowd. Don't know anything about when that one is going to be released on DvD. Cheers.
I would love to catch one of Mary Duff's concerts, if possible. Branson is so crowded anymore, we try to catch a tour-type bus to go there.Especially if it's tourist season. There is bumper to bumper traffic, moving 5 miles an hour, not to mention all the hills and curves of that area. When we went to see O'Donnell in 2007, it wasn't so bad, but we still went by bus. It's just easier to leave the driving to someone else. We tried to go in 2006, but that year came snow & ice so we had to wait. We love the Branson and Eureka Springs areas, but those Ozark hills and curves can get pretty hairy.
When the Lotto comes in, I will be off to Branson MO for an entire season. It is No1 on my list, 125 Shows running there this coming season, that must be like living in heaven. Daniel O'Donnell is there again 3-22 November. Do you know Daniel owns a cottage in the Tri-Lakes Resort that he stays in when there. All decked out with O'Donnell memoribilia and photo's and when he is not there it is available for public rental. How cool would that be around the table with friends. "Oh, we stayed at Daniel O'Donnells place !!!". Like my new handle ??
Yes, I knew Daniel had a place there, never saw it though. Branson is a lively place for sure. When we first went there, probably in the 60's & 70's, there was hardly more than a cave and a cabin. They've come a long way, baby!! At one time we could have bought a piece of land down there for a song. HA, little did we know!
I'm going too Grayeme! I have never been. I would love to see the shows and concerts.
That and travel. My Lotto Dreams.
I've just bought tickets to see Mary Duff at Rooty Hill RSL on 27th March. The girl said they only have a handfull of bookings so I hope it's not cancelled. I guess there's plenty of time left yet though.
Last time I went to that club for a concert was to see Lovelace Watkins years ago. Now, that was definitely a WOW moment! Double WOW.
"LOVELACE WATKINS"!!!! wow Jill, that's a long time between drinks !!. No One ever worked as hard on stage as Lovelace, he was a class act. I booked my Mary tickets for Boonah as well. First 5 rows were gone so I took centre aisle row 6. Looking forward to a great night.
Well.....I have to look this up now!
Lovelace Watkins. that's a new name to me. I have to look it up.
He toured Australia extensively and very regularly in the 60/70/80's. He was hugely popular in Australia. Brilliant singer and like I said, he gave it all on stage 150% every time.
He was marketed here as 'Mr Las Vegas'and performed in our biggest clubs. He lived in Las Vegas and performed there several months of the year.
That last time I saw him he was mingling with the audience after the show, as he always did, and I overheard a middle aged woman and her elderly mother telling him they'd been saving for a couple of years and were finally coming to see him perform in his home town and had tickets for the following month. He took a serviette from a nearby table and wrote on it. As he handed it to the elderly lady he said, "if you need a friend in Vegas this is my number."
I was VERY impressed by such a spondtaneous act of kindness and remember thinking, "you're not only the sexiest man alive, you're also one of the nicest."
My husband and I had it on our 'to do when the children grow up list' to also go and see him in Las Vegas, but very sadly he died of leukaemia before we could do it.
He had a wonderful deep singing and speaking voice. He made me think of velvet every time he spoke. He had very dark skin but silver hair even when quite young. In all the concerts I saw him in I don't think the audience stayed seated for more than the first two or three songs. People would be on their feet, and often standing on the tables and chairs, cheering him on.
It is a fitting tribute to him, that you carry such fond memories. It sounds as if Lovelace never forgot how to be humble. He must have been a people person.
ATTENTION ALL USA CONCERT GOERS!!!!! Carla Maffioletti will be with Andre Rieu in The concert. I cant wait to see her agian!
Thank Aire for the information. Thanks
-Jeff
Jeff, I saw that on Carla's agenda. this should make all Carla's fans very happy indeed.
And all in Aussie will be hoping she hangs around for our next tour in October.!!
She certainly makes me happy, hope she comes to Montréal with him.
Since both Suzan and Carla have left Andre for Platin Scarla, I have noticed in the Cologne concerts, a third unamed singer, in white.
Could someone put a name to her please?
Hello: You are asking about Kalki Schrijvers. She is in the choir and sometimes upfront as a soloist.
Kalki is very nice as well as being very pretty. I met her in Sacramento, California. She had the prettiest smile!
This what Andre says.....
Kalki comes from a musical and artistic family. She herself began her musical career as a cellist. When it was discovered during her training that she also had a wonderful voice, singing became more and more her great passion!
Kalki really does have a beautiful warm voice and I am incredibly happy that she is now travelling with me on tour to give concerts all over the world!
Many thanks for identifying the replacement singer as Kalki Schrijvers and wonder if she does any spectacular solos as did Zuzzann and Carla?
PS the name Kalki is the same as an area in our snw country. It may have some such meaning.
PPS Hope Andre releases some of his European concerts on DVD?
regards from David Down Under
In Australia tonight, Ovation channel has just screened an Australian Premiere "Max Raabe & Palast Orchestra - Live in Berlin".
I understand that this has been seen on PBS. I was not sure what to expect, and now I have seen it, I am not sure what I saw. It was so different, the German music, hits of the 1920s/1930s was beautiful and I think what was meant to be comedy from Max was brilliant. He is just so "deadpan". Watching a German sing an Italian love song in French whilst you follow the English subtitles is no easy feat. The audience, which was huge certainly loved him. It was at the Berlin Waldbuhne which Andre recorded one of the DvD's at but I can't remember which one at the moment. I remember it threatened to rain. Anyway I enjoyed it, has anyone else seen him ???.
Hi Grayeme
I just clicked onto this site wondering if I should ask if anyone watched Max Raabe last night and there your comment was.
He was interesting, wasn't he - another one we've never heard of! Do you think it's because they're not part of the English speaking world they forget we are down here?
Anyway, I'd just finished watching Deal Or No Deal, which ran late, and flicked onto Ovation to see what was happening and there was Max, looking so "odd", but well into the concert. I nearly turned it off straight away but then the camera turned onto the audience and I saw the huge crowd, obviously enjoying themselves, so I decided to give him three songs. He got me in, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole concert, would certainly like to see another of his performances. I wonder if his demeanor is always so strange. His dialogue was quite witty though and he has a beautiful voice, doesn't he?
My husband came home near the end and said ,"whatever are you watching?" I didn't quite know how to describe just what it was I was watching so encouraged him to just sit and listen and Max got him in too. We loved the music. It reminded us of the movie 'Cabaret'.
Is PBS the USA version of pay TV?
Anyway, I'm glad you saw last night's concert and will be interested to see if anyone else here did too. I must say I'm enjoying this site. We all seem to have the same tastes and it's nice we can exchange ideas on so many musical topics.
I loved the story of the violinist in the Metro. I don't think I really look at buskers although I usually give them a few coins. My 9 year old neice recently went to the Mall in Queanbeyan without her parents knowledge and started singing with a hat on the ground in front of her, She came home about an hour later with $34. Her parents were horrified - they hadn't even noticed she was gone.
Jill, I am pleased someone else saw it.
Sounds like it got you exactly as it got me, there was no way I was turning it off. I was so pleased I had the foresight to record it. I too was hoping someone here may be able to enlighten us further on Max. Maybe they are all on their way to "Washington" !!!
Jill, PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) is the American equivalent of our ABC. I should say what our ABC used to be like when it had concerts on it. Many of the shows we get on Ovation are from PBS. The Michael Buble concert which was on Ovation on Saturday night was also a PBS concert.
http://www.pbs.org/
Grayeme, Love your new title "Reporter Grayeme". I have just received Andre's latest Newsletter in which he says that there is a new DVD called "Wedding at the Opera". Do you know anyhing about this?
Hi Marie, the handle has changed again.!! The DvD is the concert from Semper Opera House in Dresden. It starts of with the wedding. It is available at Andre's Boutique and it is called "Dancing Through The Skies" with sub-title "Wedding at the Opera". I think Andre does that just to confuse us. As far as I am aware it is not available in Australia as yet, but I will check it out.
WHILE HE DOES HAVE THIS SUBTITLE IS BECAUSE, THERE WAS AN ACTUAL WEDDING FOR A YOUNG COUPLE FROM VIENNA, WHO WERE PART OF THE DEBUTANY DANCERS, AND HAPPENED, THEY DID PLAN THEIR WEDDING ON THIS DAY OF THE CONCERT, but they really wanted to be the part of this concert, SO INSTEAD, THEY HAD THEIR WEDDING IN DRESDEN. IF YOU ORDER THE DVD, YOU CAN SEE THE COUPLE And the tribute to them.
ONE OF ANDRE'S NEWEST DVD CALLED DANCING THROUGH THE SKIES HAVE A SUBTITLE WEDDING AT THE OPERA. THE DVD ITSELF IS VERY BEAUTIFUL. ORDER IT IF YOU CAN.
Well now, you have aroused my curiosity. I've never heard of this Max Raabe before. If he has been on our PBS channel at all I've missed it. I checked out youtube & he does have some of his music on there but I would have to see him in an actual concert setting to give an opinion. I did find out that he has even been to New York City's Carnegie Hall. How about that? Well I had never heard of Andre Rieu either til I saw him on PBS.
Jackie shared this with me, and I recalled the chat about Max Raabe here. So what did I do? I went to his website, fell in love with the music and already ordered a DVD & CD.
I am so impressed with the Wonderful Music I am learning about. Thank You!
What a beautiful thought for the day. and did you notice it was the children who wanted to stop? Just take a walk with a child and you will see & hear the beauty of the world. Sometimes we hurry too much to notice life's little miracles. Better to "stop and smell the roses".
"You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last"
Yes Shirley I did notice that it was the children who wanted to listen. I certainly would have stopped to listen. No matter where I am if I hear a violin or any beautiful music I stop what I am doing and listen. It just gets my attention. Of course I am a very observant person. I have gone up to people in church who I know are having a bad day (I can usually tell if they are around me) and tell them they need a hug today. Sometimes I hear them talking. Clyde says "how do you know all these things" and I just tell him I am very aware of what is going on around me, but then I am not a talker. I just sit and listen. I hope I am not being nosy but I believe that one of my things in life is to make a person's day a little better with a hug or a few words. Hugs
Great story. Interesting indeed. It's amazing how preocupied people get with getting to where they are going, and what they are doing, whether it be to work, to play or whatever. A child will see things that adults don't see because they don't have a lifetime of schedules to keep, chores to do, life to live. They have the moment.
I think that's why they are able to appreciate things adults tend to overlook...even the beautiful things of life and people.
It's truly sad when we cannot stop and smell the roses or listen to an incredible violinist playing in a metro station.
I don't know that I would say "perception", "taste" or "priorities" were 100% involved, however, given the setting, at least a portion of these were.
Good questions were asked...one that I thought was great..."In a banal setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?"...I guess we got the answer to that one.
I would like to think that I will always have time to stop and appreciate beauty, I've always tried to.
Sometimes I wonder where the beauty is in everyday life, but I know it's there, we just have to look and we have to go after it, putting aside all hates, dislikes, criticism, selfishness, and jealousy. Preoccupation with life...we definitely need to stop and enjoy beauty, no matter where it is or where it comes from.
I think that all of us here on this blog does enjoy beauty to the fullest. I've never seen so many wonderful stories, beautiful hearts, friendly words and caring, loving, concerned people.
I also believe that André, his music, his sincere character brings out the best in everyone. If you don't have sincerity, love, compassion, integrity, and an ability to dream...in your heart and soul...then you would be just like those who missed one of the finest musicians in the world, at the metro station.
Thanks Jolanta for finding this great story, and thanks Jeanine Ann for putting it here to read.
Hi I really enjoy the comments that come up on this medium, however sometimes I am completely at a loss to know what a person is commenting on?
They may say SHE is beautiful and are referring to the an earlier item they are replying to. However a sometimes reader like myself is lost!
I recommend that when folk do a reply they preface it with a heading such as:
re Mariska she is beautiful etc
Then precede with the comment ie
She is beautiful! or whatever
Then we will all know who is beautiful, without having to churn back through earlier comments etc There was one such reply this morning that left me wondering?
regards from Dave
Hi Dave, most of the time, when someone responds, they can do so...by clicking on "reply" directly under the comment they are referring to...and yet.. yes.. sometimes this is difficult and hard to follow.
Even I get lost at times. ~<@@>~
YEAH! ARIZONA CARDINALS! goin' to the Super Bowl! yeah team! Yeah Kurt Warner!
I just got a mail from André´s web, they have shipped my DVD from Australia off, and it is NTSC, Inge
I just got the same notice Inge!!! Cannot wait to watch it. I have another copy but was catching up on Maastrich 2 and Semperoper. As you know we have been quite pre-occupied lately. Hope all is well with you my friend. Hugs
Jeanine Ann, we had watched those same dvds recently. Dan says the Maastricht 2 is the best Andre concert he has seen.He really liked the men's choir and the little Melissa playing the trumphet. Also thought the choice of music was great. I can't wait for us to see the Australia one. We also watched an older Trier concert with DJ Otzi, he really liked that one too because he likes DJ. There was one song he sang that we'd never heard before, called Oh Mosella. I know it must be something about wine but seems the audience liked it too as they kept singing it. I think I have eye strain with all the TV coverage and trying to watch a bunch of videos too, not to mention the computer. Think I will have to start wearing my sunglasses to watch anything at all.
Hi Shirley, yes I remember that song Oh Mosella and never heard of it before that concert which we also love. I think too that Maastricht 1 is the best of his home concerts. What did you think of the Dresden concert? I love that new Tenor and the Platin Tenors singing Puccini was just fantastic. Looking forward to Australian concert too. Was going to watch it today and still might. I have laundry and things to do also. I will try to find out more about Oh Mosella. Must be a German song since everyone knew it. Clyde also love DJ and so do I. We have so much fun when he sings.
I hope your eyes are not being strained too much. I am on the computer all the time. We have a TV new blackout around our house just now so we watch André instead : )
Speaking of Clyde, I know a lot of you have been praying for him and we thought sure we would be going back for six more weeks of infusion therapy but the doctor called this morning and said if six weeks did not do it, six more will not make a difference so the big toe and surrounding affected tissue will need to be removed on Thursday. It will be outpatient so will not be too bad and then some therapy. It could be much worse so we are thankful for that. He said he will be ready to dance for André by April! Thanks to all for the prayers, we still need them. Hugs
Oh Jeanine Ann, I was certainly hoping for that first round of infusions to work, but guess we have to do what is necessary. You know you both are on our minds & would that we could be there to encourage you both. I have no doubt that Clyde & you will be ready to dance at your concerts this spring. How is Patches doing?
Thank you Shirley so much. Clyde will be fine and ready to go soon. We want to get the surgery done asap so the infection does not spread to any other area of his foot. Patches is ok right now. She had a coughing spell last night after she growled at Micetro so we are just giving her the antibiotics until we can take her for another opinion. We will get Clyde taken care of first, then Patches and then see about bringing Micetro inside. She must be spayed and tested before we can bring her in the door. We don't want to wait because we don't want our home to turn into a maternity ward : ) She is a sweet little girl and I don't know when kitty season starts but we have no place to keep her. Hugs to you
Jeanine, I really do think of you and Clyde often. I am sorry. Do the powers that be know what caused the infection? I hope all goes well and will certainly be thinking of you on Thursday. We had 14" of snow and Joey loved it. He had a ball watching all the seagulls. When one lands on the roof, Joey runs up to the second floor thinking he can catch it I guess. Anyway, all the best.
Thank you Virginia. We have no idea what caused the infection and I guess we never will. We have friends who go to Florida for the winter and they said two people they no down in their village have the same thing and must undergo the same treatment. I sure hope it works for them. I guess after 6 weeks if it is not gone it won't get any better. We were hoping and praying but I guess it was not to be.
You really got a lot of snow. We had about 4 inches so that is not too bad. I don't think Joey would have a chance with the seagulls but I bet he is fun to watch. We may soon have a new kitten so I must kitten-proof the house. I think it was 7 years ago when Patches was a kitten. They are so cute to watch and sometimes a little bad : ) Hugs to you
Hey Jeanine Ann,
How is Clyde doing? Hope that he is feeling well!
Lucky you guys only got 4 inches of snow i got about 2 feet last night. LOL
ontop of the 3 feet still on the ground!
We got so much snow this year! I hope that it stops lol.
thanks
-Jeff
Hi there Jeff, gee you have more snow than Virginia! Our local weathermen did not even forecast this one. I am just glad it was only 4 inches. Well Clyde must have his big toe and surrounding infected area amputated on Thursday. This is not what we expected. I thought sure the infusions would work. But he will be fine. Thanks for asking my friend. I will keep you informed. I didn't get to see Live In Australia but we will watch while Clyde is recuperating. Take care Jeff
YOU BOTH ARE IN OUR PRAYERS EACH DAY & EXTRA ROSARIES ON THURSDAY. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH. KEEP US UP TO DATE ON CLYDE'S RECOVERY. MUCH LOVE
Thank you so much Marguerite. We appreciate the prayers so much. Everyone has been so supportive and so kind. I will keep you up to date on what happens. I just never dreamed it would come to this, what we thought was a simple infection went into the bone so quickly. I really do think they should have taken an MRI when I first took him to the ER in October (the 3rd). Then we went to a foot doctor and he thought it was the gout. Then when it got worse I took him in again to the ER and that is when the surgeon took over and he drained the area for a culture but nothing grew. After that his foot felt a little better but it was still swollen and red. We went back to the surgeon and then he ordered the MRI but in the meantime there was so much time wasted on trying to diagnose something that the MRI would have told them right away. On Dec. 2nd he started the treatments so you can see there were just about 2 months delay with these doctors trying to figure out what was wrong. Well as long as it turns out ok, that is the important thing. God has a plan for everything and everyone. We both trust in Him. Love and hugs to you.
"Oh mosella, you searched Yes so much Wine...."
It was while planned, NE
and we have all either ...
Last weekend it was so far
on Mosel ... we were to all.
Twelve of us are already early arrived...
Only No 13... The has also called on bitburg!
The döner kebab schööön for your face and the pants a well-oiled machine
Is clear, the us all laugh animated!
The first wine tasting made we Nicole.
My god ... what were the glasses everywhere.
Then we went to the road after ürzig...
And there ... there was not only the Elvis Herby.
The small "piazzetti" little dominicain,
Could we simply not cultural relic...
We have sung, geschunkelt, laughing...
A beautiful evening spent.
The next day then we went to Beilstein,
a place... sooo sweet, sooo clear and pure.
We were there together in the vault
And thanks to a "nonnenfürzchens killbill i funny on my cheese plate.
When winzer Klemm returned we on the way,
and the next wine tasting, the had to be there!!
After a great steak in Loghouse,
Man, we were so tired we "kugelten" out there.
The last day was then in bernkastel...
And then had already left.
Only remains for me to say that it was simply splendid...
With such a jecken clusters is always something going!!!
"And a ... we have here still drunk!!!"
Kati how did you know the words to this song? I only knew there was a wine called Mosella, therefore I figured this must be a song about wine. I still don't understand some of the lyrics though.
I do have the german words. Translating sometimes is very hard, you do not find the perfect word for it, but Mosel is one of the biggest river in Germany, in a so called tri river area is the most famous for Germany's best wines.
YES, AUSTRALIA IS COMING TO THE US!!!
Jeanine Ann, I meant to answer you about the Dresden concert. I definately liked that one, not only to see that beautiful opera house, but the wedding was special and enjoyed hearing Morschi Franz sing, wish he's had another solo song though. To tell the truth, I know he's listed as a tenor, but I thought he sounded a bit lower pitched than a tenor. Whatever, he's so adorable. As for favorites, I guess I don't really have any anymore because each time i watch one I think oh, I think this is it, then I watch a different one and I think oh this is it. So, each one has it's own specialness to me.
Jeannine Ann, I hope you, Clyde and Patches and the new female kitty are soon all o.k.
I loved Dresden , too, especially the fun with Peters he really did the Saxony dialect well, perhaps he is from the area? I mean him and the Figaro, haaaaaa!
Thank you so much Inge. We will be ok when this is all over. Wasn't that funny with Cord? I kept saying this guy looks so familiar (I didn't know it was Cord Peters) but could not place him. It is really a great concert. Hugs to you
I wonder if Andre ever looks in on this blog? I think he'd be very pleased to have his name associated with the nice caring people you all are.
Thank you Jill, you are one of the nice caring people too. I do hope André checks our blog but doubt he has the time. He may have someone who looks every once in a while. I am sure he gets the word on the blogs and websites who treat him with love and respect which he deserves. Big hugs to you
Hello
I was wondering if someone knows if André is really coming to Brazil. I know that Pierre should come and see the possibilities, but do they will really come?
Regards
Adriana - Blumenau/Brazil
I WOULD SAY IF PIERRE IS GOING, THAT MEANS, HE IS PART OF A GROUP OF ANDRE'S COMPANY TO NEGOTIATE BUSINESS. LOOKS LIKE IT IS A VERY SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO GO AND VISIT BRAZIL.
To all our Aussie friends on the blog, have a great Australia Day Weekend.
Keep up the traditions :- plenty of snags and lamb chops on the Bar-B followed by fresh hot coals baked Damper with Cockies Joy (Syrup). Wash it all down with a big enamel mug full of billy tea (or beer if you must).
I am off down to NSW for a few days.
Aussie-Aussie-Aussie-oi-oi-oi.
January 26 (Monday) is Australia Day, when we celebrate the white settlement of Australia with the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. Governor Phillip planted the Union Jack on the beach at Botany Bay (made famous again by Mirusia & Andre).Botany Bay is the large bay about 5 miles south of Sydney. However the site proved totally unsuitable and after overland exploration, 6 days later they packed up and moved around to Sydney Cove in Port Jackson that had escaped discovery by Captain Cook in 1770. The new settlement was made virtually on the site where our Opera House stands today in Sydney. That was also the start of our Aussie family, as two of Lynne's G...Grandparents and one of mine.. all convicts, were on the First Fleet. That makes us extra proud Aussie's on this day.
Sounds like a really fun weekend.Very important in your history. Is it ok to say Happy Australia Day? You'll have to explain that menu to me but it all sounds delish!
Happy Australia Day and weekend to all our sweet Aussie friends. I just read a little about the day and it is very interesting. I hope this will be a weekend filled with all great things and lots of fun and food!! Don't forget the music! Today we will watch André's Live in Australia DVD. That seems appropriate. Hugs to all of you.
Dear Moderator Grayeme, "Thank You" for keeping us in the loop with your joyous celebration of "Australia Day". I know I am always happy to learn the history of our Aussie friends from Down Under. I have purchased some books to learn more interesting facts, and learn some fun slang which I try to use carefully when emailing my new found most friendly
Aussie's. So here's to y'all:
AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE, OI, OI, OI. A big "cheer" from me to "thee".........
Happy Australia Day !
I cannot imagine how those sent to Botany Bay felt. The world was a very large place at the time. Families disrupted. And yet today we see the birth of a people and of an island nation that brings the world such joy. Congratulations. Enjoy your day!
Thank you Sally and you other dear people for the Australia Day wishes from the Aussies on the blog.
I imagine there would have been some very exciting and adventurous people coming here on the first few fleets. The convicts had no choice but the free settlers and the sailors and soldiers must have loved adventure. Australians now love to travel, almost everyone has been and explored other countries. I think we must have that in our genes. I remember an American lad asking me in a youth hostel in Holland eons ago now if it was a national requirement for young Australians to visit Europe. He couldn't believe the numbers he was meeting despite our small population (which has grown to over 20,000,000 in recent years).
What must have been terrible for the First Fleeters was a second fleet wasn't sent for 18 months. Whatever was the English government thinking? The people here had no idea when the next lot would arrive, and meantime the crops had failed and supplies ran out. If it hadn't been for the aboriginal people they would all have starved. The Governor of the colony put everyone on the same rations, free settlers, soldiers and convicts alike, much to his credit I think, so there were quite a lot of survivors to greet the Second Fleet.
I think it's very impressive Grayeme that you and your wife both had ancestors on that fleet, mine didn't arrive till the early 1800's.
Well everyone, that's your history lesson for the day! I wonder what Andre is doing?
It certainly makes for a large extended Australian family Jill, well in excess 100,000 people now. Our First Fleeters were Mathew Everingham, William Hubbard and Ann Forbes. We have the whole family documented. Bringing all the branch's together has been almost a 30 year project for Lynne and I. A few years back we started to enter it all on our website and it is still ongoing.
We have concentrated on the families that have not been well documented elsewhere, so we are not even 20% through the project as yet.
Our Family website :- http://lynneandgrayeme.kinpendium.com/
Certainly makes for some very family reunions which we enjoy very much. Our little grandaughter is 10th generation Australian, That is just about the maximum you can be.
It is very difficult for us to even to begin to imagine what the hardship was like. Lynne and I have both studied this first period extensively and we have just about everything ever printed on the subject in our library. We have copies of the day to day journals of 3 of the First Fleet officers that give an account of life in those first 3-4 years. However Australian author Jack Egan put it all together in a very easy to read book aptly titled "Buried Alive"
If you ever come across this book it is well worth reading.
Hi Grayeme!
This is amazing - I was quoting from "Buried Alive" when I talked about the ration distribution etc yesterday The book gives so many interesting bits of information that were never talked about in the history lessons at school.
I came across this book from my 94 year old neighbour a year or so ago.. She brought it over saying, "My nephew has written a book. I thought you might be interested in reading it". It certainly was an interesting read.
About "Buried Alive"
'Tis now about two years and three months since we first arrived at this distant country; all this while we have been as it were buried alive … our hopes are now almost vanished."
The Reverend Richard Johnson 9 April 1790
This is the story of the first five years of the European settlement of Australia, of how a collection of petty criminals, the outcasts of an old society, were sent to establish a new society, on someone else's land, on a strange, unexplored continent, on the other side of the world.
The story is told by the people who were there, through their journals, diaries and letters home, and illustrated by some of the 800 sketches, drawings and watercolours dating from the first few years of the settlement.
It tells of the often surprising relationship with the Aboriginal people, the hunger as storeships failed to arrive, the horrors of the hangings and floggings, the intermarriage between officers and convict women, the life and customs of the Aboriginal people, and the gradual development of the settlement at Sydney Cove to a stage where it seemed likely to survive.
Above all, perhaps, Buried Alive shows that in many ways, despite the different circumstances, they were ordinary people, not much different from us.
Jack Egan is a Sydney-based writer whose books and films including The Bradman Era, Tennis - The Greats and The Cricket Archives, have been sold in Australia and overseas. This documentary Buried Alive is based on the book of the same name published by Allen and Unwin in 1999.
Thank you Grayeme. This is very interesting. "Buried Alive" sounds like it would be a very interesting book to read. I love history and I have always had an interest in Australia.
Marlene - I can not find "Buried Alive" as an E-Book anywhere. But if you would like, the best account of the settlement of Australia are Journals written by a member of the marines on the First Fleet, Watkin Tench. Tench had two Journals - one for the voyage to Botany Bay and another for the first 4 years of settlement at Port Jackson. These journals are very descriptive and give a day by day account of events. The voyage journal is about 100 pages and the settlement journal about 170 pages. I have the original publication from London, I bought it from an Antique dealer and paid a lot of money for it, so I can not lend it. ha ha.
However they are both available as E-Books through the Gutenburg Project. I find it difficult to read long volumes online but it can be downloaded and printed out if you really want.If you go to this link to read about Tench, you can then click on the E_Book link and they are listed there to either read or download. These are not second hand accounts, it is the writing of a person on the spot.
http://gutenberg.net.au/pages/tench.htmlAnother good account of early Australia is "For The Term of His Natural Life" by Marcus Clark. This is a novel,about the life of a ficticous convict, who could have been anyone of the thousands that came here. Clark has wound the story into actual happenings and using real characters of the time. This is the most thought provoking book I have ever read. It is also available as an E_Book.
http://freeread.com.au/ebooks/e00016.txtEnjoy.
I mucked up the link to Tench
http://gutenberg.net.au/pages/tench.html
And the other one - wow
http://freeread.com.au/ebooks/e00016.txt
Thanks for all the great links Grayeme, I have bookmarked them for a later read.I am saving my eyes right now to watch the Live In Australia tonight!
While I'm here, have to say to Grace, a lovely story. you do know that angels wear fur don't you?
I WOULD LOVE TO WATCH MINE, BUT DID NOT COME YET. CHECKED MY MAILBOX ABOUT 10 TIMES YESTERDAY, MAYBE TODAY!?
You are like me Moderator Piano, I check my mails often. It will be here, of course...but not soon enough.
Hi Grayeme. Thanks for those links. I'll certainly go and check them out. I do appreciate it.
As soon as I read your story about "Buried Alive" I checked Amazon to see if they had the book. They had five books, new starting at about $86, and used starting at about $22, which I ordered one (used). Now, I'm not sure if it's the same book you were talking about...the official title of this is "Buried Alive: Sydney 1788-1792: Eyewitness Accounts of the Making of a Nation". I couldn't find anywhere that tells what this book is about, so I took a chance and ordered it. By what the title says this book does sound interesting, so I don't think I'll go wrong even if it's not the one you were talking about.
That is it Marlene. You will enjoy it I am sure.
I will see if it is at my Library. I just started reading (again) We Thought We Heard The Angels Sing. As soon as I finish, I am going to the Library.
I like History, and the story behind the story type books.
Sally, what is "We Thought We Heard the Angels Sing" about? Sounds interesting. I didn't think about the library for books...duh!
I love books, but I always think that I need to buy them.
We Thought We Heard The Angels Sing, by Lt. James Whittaker
Hi Marlene and Everyone
I'm back at work and a bit MIA here lately.
The book is about the successful / intentional downing of a plane in the Pacific Ocean in 1942 war time. The men floated at sea for 23 days with no food or water, and all but one, who was ill and injured to start with, lived. It is one of my favorite books. I have a signed copy.
Here is a blub from Anderson R. Rearick
Recently there has been an email about "Old Eddie" going about the web which recounts how Captain Rickenbacker, even as an old man, regularly fed sea gulls with shrimp and thanked them for the part they played in his and his men's rescue from sea.
Some wondered about its truthfulness, but I actually read about the ordeal of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker and his crew-mates and their eventual salvation through a sea gull years ago in the library's edition of "We Thought We Heard the Angels Sing." I talked about it often in class but until Amazon came along I always got it mixed up with another WWII text ba "God is My Co-Pilot" ).
Although I was a bit fuzzy about this book's title, the story had a profound emotional affect upon me. Among other things I recall the narrator quoting Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" to help describe their intense physical suffering: "Water, water everywhere and all the boards did shrink/ water water everywhere and not a drop to drink." It would be years later that Coleridge and his poem would become one of my favorite works and which always is covered in my Introduction to Literature class at MVNU.
I also recall vividly how Capt. Rickenbacker and his crew got it into their heads how good a strawberry milkshake would be so that they could hardly bear to fire off their flares because the red light would bring it all crashing in on them. After being rescued, it was one of the first things they asked for but the ship's cook had heard about their wish and so filled it with flavor that they could hardly bear to drink it all.
Of course the whole narrative is also cradled in deep religious faith, which may explain why it is sadly out of print. It is a powerful read and yet so clear that even young readers will find it easily accessible.
I can only imagine what it would be like to be at sea in a raft or the likes with nothing to eat or drink for 23 days. Sounds like it would be a very interesting story. I guess we can all imagine what it would be like to have to endure this. I would hope that I could handle it, as I try always to rise to the occasion of whatever situations come about.
I'm curious about how a sea gull saved them. I'm sure this book is very appropriately named. Thanks for sharing this Sally.
Thank you Grayeme!
Hi Grace, I loved your story about the Red Ribbon. It is beautiful. When you mentioned about bringing in a helpless animal on a cold windy day it just reminded of what we did today. We have been feeding a little kitten since last summer, well there were about 6 or 7 of them but this one little kitten kept coming back after all the others had either gone somewhere else or they were taken in. She is so friendly and always meowed every time I opened the door to feed her. Well you know how you feel when the cold winter comes and this little face is looking at you through the window and shivering when it was real cold here the last few weeks. So last night we fed her and told her this is the last day you are going to be cold and brought her in. I had to put her in the one bathroom until we had her checked today at the vet for anything that could possibly harm our other two kitties. She checked out ok so she is now inside. We still have her in the bathroom until we can introduce her to Cotton and Patches. Her name is Micetro and she is so cute. I will get a photo up as soon as I can. I have a new photo of Johann Strauss (aka Joey) from Virginia which I want to put on first.
I decided to paint the laundry room so all this will keep me busy for a while. Clyde must still take it easy until he sees the doctor again but he is doing fine. Hope everyone had a great day. Hugs
I wonder what it will be like in the summer?
--Virginia Baker
This kitty looks so much like our Jazz, and who also loves high places.
Did everyone see there is now a FIFTH concert in Maastricht? I think I will not even look to see how the tickets are selling. I have to come home at some point!
Why Virginia? I would never come back!
Tickets go on sale Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 10:00am Maastricht Time.
Well, Jeanine, there is the problem of three kitties, and everything I own, etc. Seriously, if I lived in Europe (which I did years ago before anyone knew of Andre) can you imagine how much I would be spending on tickets?
Please give us an update on Clyde when you have a chance. I know many have had him in their thoughts and prayers.
I know Virginia I would be doing the same thing, spending money on tickets : )
Clyde is doing pretty good. The surgeon took the infected bone out of his big toe and saved the toe. We were very happy with that. He cannot move the toe but that is ok. He will be able to walk. We don't know yet if he will need a special shoe. At least the infection is gone and we hope it stays away. Thanks for all the prayers everyone. I do believe that it helped save the toe. We thought sure that it was gone. He had a good surgeon. Hugs to all
A few photos from Simone from the Enfurt Concert! Thanks Mone
More to come!
May the new year bring as much peace and joy to you and your orchestra as you bring to your fans.
Happy Australia Day to our Aussie friends! I know this is late, but you do celebrate all weekend? I'm always interested in Australian news, history and everything in between. Thanks Grayeme for filling us in of the history of this day.
I'm happy that André will be having a fifth concert. If I lived there I would be broke all the time due to concert tickets.
Jeanine Ann, I'm happy that Clyde's foot is now on the mend! My best to you both.
Thank you Simone for these great pictures. André pictures always brighten my day.
Take care everyone. I've had a long day and I'm going to my chair and relax before bed. Have a great weekend!
i wanted to take this time to say a precious and sincere thank you to a great lady jeanine ann and to a great man clyde. Thanks so much for the card. You are always thinking of others, when in this world there is so much stress and haste. God Bless You Jeanine Ann and Clyde.
Love and Peace
Grace
xoxoxoxoxo to infinity
Thank you Grace so much. You are such a wonderful lady and we enjoy your writings so much. You never know when something you say helps someone's day. Are you planning any concerts for this year? I hope you can get to at least one, maybe two?? Take care of yourself and please know that you always have friends here who love you. Big hugs
The Red Ribbon - a tale of a tail
Once upon a time, a while ago there was a young girl named Katerina. she had beautiful locks of curls that cascaded down her back. Her mother would place a ribbon in her hair to keep the curls from dangeling about her face. Each day was a different ribbon colour. Sunday was violet, Monday was indigo, Tuesday was blue, Wednesday was green, Thursday was yellow, Friday was orange, and lastly Saturday was red. Katerina never asked why she had to wear a particular colour on a particular day. She just loved the way they made her beautiful mane that reached all the way to her waiste.
You see Katerina loved to skate. She received for a birthday gift a pair of beautiful white skates with laces of gold. They gleamed in the sunlight when she skated outside in the sunshine. Everyday you could see Katerina out on the pond skating, twirling, and twirling,her hair dancing in the breeze as she flew around the ice. Some people would stop and watch Katerina in all her glory as she skated. They remarked at her hair and the beautiful ribbons she wore.
Well one Saturday, red ribbon day, Katerina went out to skate on the pond. Her mother said be careful, it is very windy and you might fall. "Okay", said Katerina. Out she went with her golden skates and her fresh red ribbon falling amongst her tresses. She tied up her skates and began what she believed would be her biggest performance of all! Little did she know that that old north wind was swaying its way around her. She paid no mind. Suddenly the wind sent her crashing down onto the ice. As Katerina tried to get up and balance herself, that wind took the red ribbon from her hair. She began to cry, "my ribbon!" Katerina wept as she removed her skates and began to walk home. How was she going to tell her mother? Katerina just went home and went to her room and cried.
That evening her father came home from work. Katerina's mother told him about the lost red ribbon and the accident. Katerina's father scratched his head a moment with an obscure look. "What is it?" asked Mother. "Well, I was on my way home from work, said Father and I found a poor little dog on the side of the road. He was shivering and had no tags. I picked him up and put him in the back of the car. I covered him with a blanket and petted him gently. He looked up at me with as much to say thank you for saving me." Father left the room and came in with the dog. Suddenly he stopped in his tracks. "What is it?" asked mother. "This dog has a red ribbon around his neck! It was not there before!" Mother took a closer look. It was Katerina's red ribbon from her hair. Suddenly The Angel of Rainbows appeared. "I placed the ribbon around the puppy's neck", said the angel.
You see when one really cares about someone or something enough to take in a poor helpless animal on such a cold windy day, angels are there to give back a gift of love, in this case the red ribbon which Katerina loved so much.
This is a very nice story Grace. I loved reading it. Thank you.
You have a very special way of writing your stories with a lot of heart and feeling.
Thanks Marlene. I enjoy and am inspired writing them.
love peace
and
grace
xxoo
Jeanine Ann, it is nice to read that your husband is on the way of recovery, must be a stone from your heart.
I have not been in the web for a few days, I am busy for my exhibition at the end of March, also preparing a workshop I will take next Saturday, an artist comes from Florida and teaches us to make a chandelier in mini with Swarovsky crystals. But I have to tell you, I got my Australian DVD today from Maastricht, but we can only look at it tomorrow, tonight is the second part of the last Templer and I have to see that.
Just finished looking at the DVD "live in Australia". It was lovely to see the happy faces of the Australian audience, the Australian songs were new to me, but the rest, as we say in Germany: "Olle Kamellen!"
On a snowy, cold evening, we were finally able to watch Live In Australia. I can tell you that the audience is what warmed our hearts, and apparently Andre's as well.
Several touching moments, some new songs, it's another dvd to have. I would give this one a new name, instead of "Live In Australia", I would name it "Alive In Australia".The people, the audience, are the stars in this one. Gotta love those Aussies.
I DO AGREE SHIRLEY! WHAT ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL TEARS AT THE END?
Piano, I have to tell you, I have seen his eyes water, but never before have I seen the teardrops roll down the cheek. That picture, alone, speaks volumes. No words are necessary.
THIS IS THE TIME, THAT SHOWS ME ,HIS SOUL, HIS FEELINGS TO THE MUSIC THEY DO PLAY, I WAS CRYING WITH HIM. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!! PEOPLE, WHO NEVER SEEN AND HEARD THEM, MAYBE JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS. JUST GAVE ME GOOSBUMPS BECAUSE THE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, THE SET, HOW THE PEOPLE WERE ACCEPTING THEM? YOU DO NOT GET THIS FEELING VERY OFTEN. I GOT THIS FEELING ON A NEW YEAR'S DAY CONCERT, JUST GOES TO YOU SOUL.
Sorry I was not around today but I am painting the laundry room with the help of my sis.
You must be talking about Australia Live. Isn't it incredible!! When I saw those tears rolling down his face, they were rolling down mine also. Like Piano said you can see the soul of this man and the love for the music, the people. These are the moments the music critics do not see. They do not have the ability to see what we fans see. When you love someone you can see how they feel and how they communicate these feelings to the fans. When I watch him play I can feel his heart sending out the love he has for the music and also the love he has for the people. I have never had this feeling with any other person. For a moment I had a tinge of jealousy, I was wishing he was crying for the fans here in America, I mean he gives his all here in the concerts but I have never seen him give his tears. I don't want to sound like I am jealous of the love he has for his Australian fans because I think the fans there are extraordinary. I could see how happy they were to finally realize their dream - to see André and his JSO in front of them. I guess they were afraid it would never happen. I am so happy for them that it did because I know what a dream is. I was afraid I would not get to a concert until I found this site and they encouraged me to get a ticket and I went to Miami for my first concert. Now my dream is to stand beside André for a photo that I can cherish forever. But for the Aussie fans it was a big dream to first of all just see him live and get his autograph. I could see how they were hugging each other as if to say Wow it has finally happened. So I feel a little guilty for my moment of jealousy but I hope someday to see those tears here in the USA. That to me is the ultimate tribute to an audience because like we were saying it shows his soul and his heart to the fans. Hugs to all
JUST WATCH THE DVD AGAIN, THAT THEY DID HAVE IN RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL, WHEN HE PLAYED, I DID IT MY WAY!. HOW, EMOTIONAL THE TIME WAS FOR HIM, AND SHOWED, WHEN HE PLAYED MAYBE, THE TEARS ARE ABSENT HERE A LITTLE MORE, BECAUSE, HE DID NOT HAVE A CONCERT HERE OF THIS MAGNITUDE, YET. BECAUSE GOING AROUND TO SO MANY CITIES, THE CONCERTS ARE SMALLER, HIS ORCHESTRA IS SMALLER ALSO.
I feel so justified now in my "urging" of all not to miss this DvD. As you are all saying, it is the reaction of the people that made this concert different.
Of course that reaction was felt by Andre and the JSO and they really did pour it on. I will never forget (not shown on the DvD) but in Brisbane, Marcel standing there with tears rolling down his face as he received a standing ovation after Bolero, he was totally overwhelmed. So pleased everyone is enjoying the Aussie adventure.
Anticipation, anticipation, anticipation...I'm waiting for my Australia dvd...Hmmmm, maybe tomorrow!
MY 5 YEAR OLD FRIEND KENJI IS IN REMISSION FROM HIS CANCER. HE WILL HAVE MAINTANANCE CHEMO FOR 6 MONTHS BECAUSE THE CANCER CAN COME BACK AS QUICKLY AS IT WENT INTO REMISSION AND CAT SCANS.SORRY I WROTE IN CAPITAL LETTERS BUT THIS GIRL IS ON CLOUD 1 THOUSAND.CONSTANCE OX
This is very good news Constance and I think little Kenji is very lucky to have a friend like you. thank you for the update.
I wrote this once, but it seems to have disappeared into cyberspace.
Thank you Constance on Kenji's update. That's very good news! God, prayers and positive thinking all have a way of working miracles.
That is wonderful news Constance. I hope the cancer stays in remission forever. That will be our prayer for him. Thanks for letting us know. Hugs to you
Things are very quite with news from Andre, I have hardly had an "alert" in the past 2 weeks. But that tends to happen when Andre is touring in Europe, it is all "old hat" to them. But, it won't take long for March to come and we will have Japan, then America/Canada, Maastricht 4 concerts this year and then Australia again and New Zealand. So I guess we should enjoy the lull. Nice time to talk about other interests and just enjoy "good old fashioned friendship".
While everyone is freezing in
Europe and the USA, we are having a heatwave here in Australia. Many states have had at least 5 days over 40 degrees celcius(107 degrees farenheit). I have been watching the Australian Open Tennis in Melbourne and really feel for the players. We moved from Melbourne several years ago to the Gold Coast in Queensland to get away from the cold drizzling weather, but it has been cooler here than Melbourne and Adelaide, where it has reached 45 degrees. Somebody rang up the TV Channel this morning and said that they went out fishing and each fish that they cught was "fried". (ha ha) I keep watching the Andre Rieu DVD from Melbourne and never tire of it. Also we were lucky enough to have front row seats at the Brisbane concert. Harry (my husband)took a great video and it is wonderful to know that we were there. People still ask me what I thought of the concert and I tell them that words cannot describe the experience. Hope you all have received the video by now.
That's too warm for me...when the fish come out of the water fried! haha...that's funny.
Oh I would give almost anything for some of that hot weather right now. We have ice on the trees and I just hate the cold. The hot summer is my kind of weather. Why I ever left Florida is beyond me. Oh well! The sun is out so it is up to 29F right now - up is not the right word! Hope everyone has a wonderful day. Hugs
My goodness Marie! 107 degrees? YIKES! That would tend to "fry" the fish or anything else for that matter. Could you please blow a little of that warm air up our way? It is winter for sure here in the States. Where we live, in the central part, it's always a rollercoaster winter, a couple of semi-warm days & then back down to freezing or below. I, like Jeanine Ann, am more of a summer person & the older I get the more I dislike the cold, but I have to tell you, I don't think I'd care for that 107 either!
What about 75 to 90? That would be ideal for me. I guess Florida is the place for me. Hugs
That would probably be ok too, but when it hits 90, arond here, the humidity is the problem. We always say, it's not the heat, it's the humidity, dahlin'!
THAT IS WHAT I SEE WOULD BE A PROBLEM FOR ME TOO, THE HUMIDITY, IT IS JUST AS BAD AS THE 90, IN FLORIDA. EITHER WAY, IT IS HARD TO TAKE THE HEAT, AND HARD TO TAKE THIS EXTREME COLD, AND ICE.
"Weather Forcast for tonight: DARK"
Prudence you have just given the most accurate forecast I have ever heard. : )
Okay are you ready for this?? This is Micetro. Please excuse the surroundings but this is where she hangs out : )
IF YOU HAVE TO GO, YOU HAVE TO GO!
Piano, I like that! very funny.
Oh Micetro sweetie, you look like such a shy little girl. Don't worry, you will soon expand your horizons.
Oh she is Adorable!!!!!!!
Micetro looks like my Monki. Except Monki has a tan cheek on the left side of her face...really cute. One day when I'm organized and have the time and brain working together, then I'll get a picture uploaded and send it in.
I just love those eyes Jeanine Ann xx
Yes she is a real sweetie Jill. She is very shy though. She is still in the bathroom and doesn't come out much. I think the trip to the vet was very traumatic for her. It had to be done though before we could bring her in because of our other cats. It will take her a while. Hugs
I am so happy to know she's warm and safe. Do you know how old she is? Is she allowed out or will she be strictly indoors? Johann Strauss was an outdoor cat at five months. He is now almost eight months and wants to go out all the time. I go out the back door with him sometimes and follow him around. He loves it. I will send you a picture from two days ago. I was scared to death but guess that's the way it's going to be. You may post it if you wish. Oh, look at those eyes on Micetro. Doesn't she melt your heart?
THE FORECAST OVER HERE IS ALSO VERY DARK FOR TONIGHT. ESPECIALLY, THAT BLAGO IS GONE!
I would consider perfect weather as being between 50 and 70 with SUN... if there is no sun, then I like 60-80.
I can't handle extremes either direction.
Yes, it's great to enjoy some good old fashioned friendship isn't it Grayeme?
It's also interesting to hear what people have to say about this or that in the "off" time that André and JSO are not as pronounced as normal. However, I'm always anxious to hear any concert news.