Oh, What A Beautiful Evening Andre Rieu in Wilkes-Barre
André Rieu's Concert in Wilkes-Barre
Oh What A Beautiful Evening
Oh What A Beautiful Night
I Had A Beautiful Feeling
Everything's Going To Be Right!
It was a beautiful day and beautiful evening as we made our way to Wilkes-Barre. I never dreamed that a small mining town in the mountains of Pennsylvania would be enjoying the concert of our Maestro André Rieu and yet this first appearance at the Wachovia Center proved to be the highlight of this area. Many wonderful reports have been written by the press and it was evident to all who were there that André conquered the hearts of this small town.
We began with a Meet and Greet with three of the JSO Orchestra, Stephanie Detry (Piano), Laura Meuleman (1st Violin) and Diana Morsinkhof (1st Violin) We were served free drinks and spoke with the girls and PBS employees took our photos with the JSO girls and we will receive a copy of the photo in the near future. There was no food present and we heard lots of complaints about this but fortunately we had spoken with PBS the day before and knew they would have drinks only so we stopped at a Red Lobster and had a delicious dinner before the concert. Of course by this time I cannot do justice to any kind of meal but it was good. When the doors opened I immediately hit the André merchandise stand and bought a 30th Anniversary Jacket, T-Shirt, Tote Bag and Key Chain. I really did not need another shirt nor tote bag but you know I just cannot resist. I must have everything with André's face or name on it.
We then made our way to the wonderful seats in the first row, section 3 which was on the left side facing the stage. We had three and four so they were great seats. The two seats beside us went unused so at intermission we and the entire row moved two seats over so that was even better. That 7 to 8 hour goes by mercilessly slow when you are so anxious for the start of the concert. Johann (André's bodyguard) walked by and smiled and said hello. I am sure he remembered us from Reading since we were at the M&G. The familiar strains of "76 Trombones" was suddenly heard and that is when my heart really falls to my stomach as I bolt out of my seat and place myself in position for a photo. I never really get a good photo because my real agenda is the hi-five but this time I noticed André was not doing this so I figured it was because of the flu that is going around and he probably had a big scare with Mirusia getting the flu and being so sick. This is very understandable so I missed number 4. André made his way to the stage and my camera automatically starts clicking as you will see from the Photos page. André had a terrible time pronouncing Wilkes-Barre. He kept calling the town Wil kes Bar. It is pronounced Wilkes (one syllable) and Barry. He had the audience laughing so hard. He asked a few people in the first row where they were from and one man said Mountain Top which is a town nearby. André said "you mean you live on the top of a mountain?" The man said yes so he seemed to go with that name rather than trying to stumble through Wilkes-Barre. He was so funny. I love to see how he pronounces the names of the various towns and cities in which he plays. Sometimes he says "is that in America" which he said Friday night.
I think all of you know the songs which André performs in concert this year so I will dispense with the list and just say that I used my camera to make a movie of songs like "Intermezzo Sinfonico", "My Heart Will Go On" and "Song Of The Volga" and of course "Marina" which I will try to get on the page. I tried hard to get a movie of "Music, Music" which I call the party time but when André started throwing the photos from the stage I started watching for my chance. Most were going toward the center and we were off to the side. But then André looked our way and carefully aimed at our aisle and this Polaroid came rolling down toward us and kept going up the aisle. Well I bolted out of my chair and slid on my knees and my hands landed right on the photo. Well that made my evening since I knew this was our last concert for the year. The audience was really enthusiastic and André seemed very pleased. The Tenors received a standing ovation as did Carla with her doll song. She does that so well. The only disappointment was the fact that Mirusia did not sing a solo and I suspect that her voice was not up to her usual standard due to the flu. Mirusia did wave to us during the "My Fair Lady" medley and I thought that was very nice of her. We had told her in Reading that we would be there that night to see her.
The lady in red (I call her the bull lady) was sitting directly behind us and before the concert Clyde said to her "I hope the bull goes after you and not my wife (I was dressed in red) and she said not to worry. She seems very pleasant. The very first time I saw her in André's DVD concert I thought she was a regular fan and wondered why she took off as the bull approached.
This was a great audience and you could see that André was just feeding off everyone's energy. They were shouting for more and he was giving his all as he always does. The encores ranged from "Libiamo" to "Lullaby" and he surprised us with "Adieu" and "Marina" and of course "America The Beautiful" which everyone sang. It certainly was a "beautiful evening" to top off a "beautiful morning".
I thought I would put a different ending to this concert rather than the traditional floating out of the concert hall after the last song. I am using a few of André's songs to say how I feel.
So dear André it is "Time To Say Goodbye" until next year. I have taken your music into my heart in "My Way". You have brought more joy, peace and even "Romance" into my life. "All I Ask Of You" is that you continue to bring your beautiful music into everyone's life. "I Love You" for the selfless way you work to make all people happy. I look forward to the next concert; until then "My Heart Will Go On".
"Yours Forever"
This is what I always fall for!
What a beautiful report Jeanine Ann.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and living every moment with you.
Great article, Jeanine! I wish you could have come to Baltimore as well. It would have been fun to see you again. I still think of all the fun everyone had in Toronto. Do you think Andre will bring that show to the United States?
Thank you Bruce. Next year if Andre comes to Baltimore we will try for it. I wish too we had been there but expenses kept us down to two concerts. It would be great to see you again. I think it would be fitting if Andre would bring the Castle to the United States for an finale. Hugs
Jenine Ann, I think André should use you for his advertising campaign, you can write so full of enthusiasm that I almost like it again, almost, but I have to have a long break from him, I thought when my husband is in Germany now for 5 weeks, I will look at the DVDs from André, but so far I did not look at one, I just cannot be bothered. I think I loose really interest in him, still love the music and I play it in the car also from Robert Stolz, but you sure wrote a good report and he can be proud of you, if he reads it.
Inge my friend I will get you interested again somehow! When I get tired of Andre you will never hear from me again because I will be dead : ) The time between concerts is so long and without the CD/DVD's I would go crazy. Thanks for your nice comments. I will be putting that gift on the blog soon. Take care and thanks again. Hugs to you
Jeanine Ann, you've done it again! Your concert experiences leave me smiling. "sliding on the knees"? You paint a picture that lets us be there too.I like your ending, with all the songs titles.The only one I would add, although Andre has not played it, is the title "HOPELESSLY DEVOTED TO YOU".
Jeanine Ann, you just make me laugh, such a devotion!
Jeanine Ann you are a dyed-in-the-wool André VENTILATOR. I always wanted to use this dyed-in-the-wool because I learned only last year about that, haaaaaaaaaa!
What an exciting evening you had and the way you describe it makes it seems so real.
Thank you for another wonderful concert report Jeanine Ann! Every word you use to describe an experience can be felt.
I enjoyed the song titles in the ending, it was very creative and enjoyable.
Yes, "My Heart Will Go On" is a perfect title for the ending of an André Rieu concert. His concerts are a blink in our lives with regards to time, but last a lifetime in our hearts!
I just checked out the pictures, Jeanine Ann, they are wonderful! You got a lot of André's expressions, which are fantastic!
All the pictures are great, thanks so much for sharing your experiences and pictures with us!
Jeanine Ann, you had me Dreaming with this report, and I am certain you were in Romantic Paradise watching Andre Rieu and his JSO again.
JEANINE ANN, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO DESCRIBE YOUR LAST EVENING WITH ANDRE FOR THIS YEAR.
CLYDE YOU ARE QUITE A GENTLEMAN TO HELP HER ACHIEVE HER DESIRES AS IS MY HUSBAND RICHARD. JOKINGLY, HE TELLS ME I WILL HAVE TO BE CONTENT WITH HIM FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR. WE LIVE CLOSE TO THE KENNEDY CENTER SO WE HAVE MANY OTHER ARTIST TO SEE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
JEANINE ANN, I AGREE WITH INGE, YOU SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF ANDRE'S U.S. ADVERTISING. SEND ME HIS ADDRESS & I WILL SEND HIM A NOTE TO READ YOUR CONCERT REPORTS & SUGGEST IT. YOU NEVER KNOW, IT COULD HAPPEN. GOD BLESS
Wow, Jeannine what a story to tell!
Thank you Martha and Marguerite and all who left nice comments about my concert report. I appreciate every one of them. I have such a good time at every concert and I like to share what I have just experienced. That is why I take so many photos - for all of you. I have thousands but I still like to take more because you never know when that extra special thing will happen like when Andre picks up a llittle baby or a young boy with a toy violin. Everything is so electric at the time and you never know what can happen. Hugs