SA André Rieu Friendship Group October 2009
SA André Rieu Friendship Group
Lyndall Freeman one of the Fabulous Fans from Australia shares her Andre Rieu Friendship Club. She has been extra busy planning get togethers and promoting Andre with her local media! 
I've had a steady rate of enquiries and hopefully a few new members will come from these. I had a message left on the answering machine this afternoon, from a different reporter from the paper to ring him tomorrow re the Pre-concert dinner, so fingers crossed, we will get some much needed publicity, as we only have 13 coming at this stage. Blahhhh !!!! Who needs the letters to the editor? It such a relief the Messenger has taken up our cause. Here is the text of the wonderful news article: By Jeff Crawford All are welcome at the SA Andre Rieu Friendship Club – except perhaps a few carping critics who dismiss the Dutch waltz king as “froth and bubble”. Club manager Lyndall Freeman willingly jumps on her “hobby horse” at the mention of anti-Andre classical purists. “I get so sick and tired of hearing people saying ‘we are purists and he is just someone out to get the money’.” Freeman says. “Well, that’s not right. He is now introducing classical music to people who wouldn’t know Strauss from Shakespeare. It’s these people who are going to be our next Adelaide Symphony Orchestra goers.” Freeman, a self-confessed “Strauss-ophile”, was bitten by the Andre bug in 2007 and started the club five months ago, after playing a part in bringing him to Australia last year. “I thought this year I’d step right back but there were people requesting a friendship group be started here, so my husband (Rob) and I bowed to the pressure and started the club.” Freeman says the club is all about making new friends, listening to and watching Rieu and his orchestra and even swapping some gossip. She says the main attraction to the Andre phenomenon is the pure joy he and his musicians get from the music itself. “He used to go as a child to see his father conduct and he’d be lost in this music and be hypnotized by the violinists. “He’d be smiling and swaying and he’d look around at all these people and couldn’t understand why they weren’t allowed to smile.” But she and her husband are yet to live the dream of meeting him and are unable to afford the $1500 for a meet-and-greet ticket. “Unfortunately it’s a pre-conceived idea that because I have done so much in this country to promote Andre that I have keys to the back door of his castle, but that’s not the case.”
**The SA Andre Rieu Friendship Club meets monthly at the Directors Hotel, Adelaide.
|
I think the critics have been silenced! They cannot match the power of Friendship Club. (bet they wish they had a club!) Way To Go !
Reply to this
As someone once said,"Classical music is thought of as a world of formal wear, red velvet seats and Mozart concertos".
Andre Rieu broke down this traditional view, which at times is seen as stiff & boring,especially to the younger crowd, who it seems that a lot of musicians would like to attract.
Andre has found the magical formula and that is what drives the "critics" mad. His concerts are fun and appeal to all ages. It's not just "your grandma's" music, it's for everyone, young & old alike.
Reply to this
Great article! Lyndall, I remember seeing your name in Andre's guestbook, way before he even came to Australia, and I remember thinking, at the time, well this lady will be the spark that starts the fire! Soon many people from Australia started to beg Andre to come to Australia, and lo and behold, what do ya know, HA, he did! Not only once, but now twice, and I'm sure he will return again & again. I think the Friendship groups are an excellent idea and I hope yours grows and grows. Now that you've got the media's attention, all I can say is YOU GO GIRL! Thanks for your story. I really enjoyed reading it.
Reply to this
Way to go, Lyndall! How do I become a member of the Friendship Club? I can't say I would be able to make it to the city very often though.
Reply to this