Andre Rieu Soap Part 6
On the road to New York (February 9, 2007, Dutch TV TROS)
Translated by Ineke Cornelissen/Sonja.
René Henket (trumpet) is crossing the street in front of the Radio City Music Hall. He says: Does it not look great,
André Rieu and his Orchestra SOLD OUT! That’s what we like to see.
Imagine, the stage we’re will be playing on has seen the Rolling Stones, The Beatles. All the great names of this
world have performed here.
We have the honor to play here, for me it’s the 3rd time. It remains very special! Absolutely.
INTRODUCTION
Ronald Gerards, percussion (the subtitles say Roland, but it must be Ronald!): It’s
a mighty feeling to be in New York, in one of the most prestigious halls of the world.
On this tour we looked forward to it. With all respect, it’s just a little bit different
from the other concerts. Unique! We are privileged to play here and make music
for the people.
Woman from the audience: He just takes you into another world. His music just picks you up and let you fly like in an
airplane. You feel you are in a much better world than this, when you are in his concerts.
A man guiding the audience. Giving instructions in a loud speaker: Ticket holders for Andre Rieu and the Johann
Strauss Orchestra, you’ll be getting in the theatre right now by using the side door entrances on 51st street. Next
quarter there is no way to get in the theatre right now. Doors are open now for the Andre Rieu and Johann Strauss
Orchestra performance tonight
The camera shows the people who are standing in line, waiting to enter. One man waves into the camera, saying :
“Hi Mom!”
A reporter from Dutch TV sender AVRO (it is on her microphone) is talking to
Kerstin Cornelis (tour manager): It’s a real spectacle over here.
Kerstin: Yes, the whole concert is a spectacle. To play in the Radio City Music Hall
in New York, that is really fantastic. As artist, when you can say: “I have played
in Radio City”…… it’s unbelievable.
Reporter: We are now even filmed by television.
Kerstin: Yes, that is right, we have a “behind the scenes team” with us, and this
will be shown on TROS (Dutch TV) in the beginning of 2007. We are followed 24 hours a day, including André of
course.
Reporter: But I meant: also on American TV. (We see pictures of a Van of Channel 4).
Kerstin: Yes, that’s right, when you become famous that’s part of the business.
You have to do all kind of interviews. André likes that as well. It is part of the job.
We see André, inside the (still empty) theatre, saying: Next….finished with one interview, Okay, Hi!
A reporter/cameraman comes, introduces himself as Bruno de Vos, from Talpa TV
(a brand new Dutch TV sender). Reporter greets: Welcome to New York, Mr. Rieu!
(And he is filming at the same time).
André, looking at the camera, remarks: “Talpa in New York still has to grow, I see…..
Reporter: “Yep, we still have to grow”… Mr. Rieu, I would like to start with the
difference between Europe and America. What’s the biggest difference for you as
performer?
André: As performer there is no difference. The only thing I notice is that the audience over here is more ‘hungry’ for
the music. They are willing to travel large distances to see an artist.
Back home that’s unusual. I live in Maastricht and nearby towns as Sittard and Heerlen have theaters as well.
People from Sittard will never come to Maastricht, that’s how exaggerated it is with us. While that is only a distance
of 27 kilometers (20 miles)! Here they travel thousands of miles, just to see an artist. You can feel the audience here
is really enthusiastic.
We see pictures of Bela Mavrak filming with his own camera the empty hall.
In the meantime the camera crew is interviewing people in the waiting line:
A woman: I came from Kentucky to see him.
Reporter: What do you like about Andre Rieu? Oh, I just like everything about
him: His music, his orchestra, the way he performs. My sister in law and I….
She introduced me. She also likes him. I came all the way from Kentucky
to see him. I am here for that. I am so excited to see him.
Other woman: He is very cute! Laughing….
Other woman: He is funny, funny, funny! That someone can make something so enjoyable, and bring humor to
something that sometimes is so deadly serious….
Bela Mavrak is still filming inside the theatre, singing an Italian song at the same
time.
Carla Maffioletti is practicing her voice and says: “Good acoustics here”!
Bela is singing a love song (?) for Linda Custers, holding her hands. Linda acts
to wipe away a tear of her eyes…. Bela did not expect that and looks very amazed…. Both burst out laughing.
We see André standing in the middle of the hall between the sound crew and the stage. “And two and three…” He is
conducting the orchestra, showing the cameraman the moment he has to turn the camera, right at the music, to the
stage. The tenors are singing.
We see pictures of 5th Avenue, the shop of Saks. We see Kerstin and one of the
wardrobe ladies: Jaqueline Treffers,
Kerstin says: We are shopping for André. He will have a photo shoot. We have
to buy some what?? No just a joke we are going to buy some shirts and other
nice items for the new cover of the CD and DVD.
Because it will be recorded in New York, we wanted to buy some stuff over here.
Later on we will go into town and make nice pictures. But first we have to buy
clothes for him.
We brought a bag with some of his belts in different colors. We use them as a reference to get something nice.
André to Frans Neus: Are they are all here? Frans: A few are still coming, it was a whole process to get them
inside.
André: They have to remove their badges.
Frans: Yes, I have told them, but I will do so again.
We see a police officer, saying: We are all here for the opening tonight. We want some order and conduct going on.
So have a happy night and enjoy your evening.
André to orchestra: (discussing the rehearsal going in and out the limo to enter the Hall) I exit first, and then it is the
intention that you form a line behind the limo, so everyone get’s in and out quickly. The police will stake-out the
area, nothing will go wrong.
We see pictures of the entrance: the limo is in front of the Radio City Music Hall, and the orchestra members jump in
on one side and jump out on the other side. (Now we know how they did it, they did confuse us, no limo is that big,
Fun, but it must have been a quite a feat, with those dresses!!) The audience is cheering, chanting André, André…...
André to the cameraman: When you see this on Dutch TV you first hear a roll and
…. ”Ladies and Gentlemen, The Radio City Music Hall proudly presents (with a
better voice than mine, a real American voice) …André Ruuu, for that is they call
me here, and his famous Johann Strauss Orchestra” and then you see this…..
and we enter the Hall. Is it not fun? I like it!
We see a lady with a red cocktail: O, he is just wonderful! But I have never seen
him in person. So I am beyond excitement. I have just seen him on television.
I think he is wonderful. He has such a sense of humor. And treats everything so
excited. He makes you want to get up and do it.
We see pictures of dynamic New York City.
André: Where is my orchestra, are they roaming the streets again? Ah yes, as usual! But that’s o.k., they are still
kids.
We see Frank Steijns and Suzan Erens walking in the streets of New York. Frank
has an umbrella and together they are singing and dancing: “Singing in the sun….
What a glorious feeling, I am happy again..”
Suzan to Frank: You should rotate around a light post.
Frank: O, yes, you are right. (and he is singing and rotating….) (My conclusion:
he has a very nice voice!)
We see René, Roger, Ward and Marcel, giving money to an Antillean kettle drummer. They are laughing, saying: O,
he is joking! The street musician thinks it is not enough money. René says: But we are only poor musicians…..
The Kettle player says; "Only 5 dollars, that is not enough to be filmed by such
a big camera.
He plays the Dutch National Anthem on the kettle drum. Applause, Bravo!
Drummer: I play just a short version, for you did not pay enough. Have a good day.
Marcel says to the cameraman: Music is very expensive nowadays…….
Audience:
Woman: We love his music, we love himself, we love his orchestra. He is wonderful, he is a great person. He makes
such a big difference in the music world. Her husband says: Andé is part of the family. Woman: Yeah, we love him.
In the camera: Go on André!
We see pictures of the rehearsal of “Singing in the rain”, done by all male orchestra members. Akim is in the hall,
jumping with delight.
We see Karl Moik and his wife Edith entering. André is greeting them in German: There he is! (Hugs Karl).
Karl Moik: Hello André
André: Hello Edith, nice to see you (three kisses for Edith).
Karl: Thanks for the invitation.
André: No thanks, it is nice to have you here. For all you have done for us, this is
the least I could do for you. I really enjoy having you here.
Karl into the camera: My name is Karl Moik. I created the ‘Musikantenstadl’…
(on German TV). About 10 years ago, I saw André Rieu on a small Dutch TV show
on a private station and I thought: “Wow, I want to have this guy for Austria,
Germany and Switzerland”, and I succeeded.
Woman in audience: It is really interesting when you look around: how many different ages are here. It does not
matter if you come in a wheelchair, you come on flip-flops or sneakers. No matter how you come here. It seems that
you are guaranteed a good time. It is just a fantastic “buffet” of music. It is really the art of music and how many
different interpretations of music, of instruments, of singers. It is a show that we’ll probably never get to see again in
our lives, but we would never miss.
Karl Moik: We have got to know and care for each other during a quarrel.
André: Yes that’s how it started. I was a small act, I traveled to Germany to play
in the big show of Karl Moik and thought: I want to play the Second Waltz from
Shostakovich.
And Karl said, sit down, take a break, relax. Have a coffee, we are here in Austria!
Then we had a real head strong fight. I said, if you take this piece then you will
have success!
But finally we played the Czardasfürstin, also with great success.
Thanks to this performance I became successful in Germany and my career really took off.
Yes, Karl determines everything in his shows himself. That is the right way. I do the same.
Halleluja sounds, we see André, Pierre, Frans and Kerstin walk upstairs.
They are in a meeting room discussing the program with Allan and Anna Bailey, leaders of the Harlem Gospel Choir.
André: For example, at the big finale I would like to do the Hallelujah of Haendel. (André sings the melody) and that
in a very classical way. So I would like to have the Harlem Gospel Singers to join us. Anna Baily: I will just clarify, it
is the Harlem Gospel Choir.
André: O, yes, sorry! For once and for all: The Harlem Gospel Choir. But on your
CD, the announcer in Argentina says The Harlem Gospel Singers….
Anna: Yes, we had to shoot him for that!
André: Aha, okay, I was not wrong that I heard it. Okay.
Allan: Our show is high energy. It is very difficult to control when they start speaking
in tongues (“speaking in tongues” is a special “prayer language” many assert that it is
inspired by the Holy Spirit and it takes them deeper than regular prayer).and so on.
on. It is not like your way. You’re more strict. Ours is: where is it going to stop? It
goes on and on and it builds and builds…
André: Yes, that is okay, I like it. We will go of stage and you’ll stay there for hours,
that’s what happens…..
André: The creativity we have in the group! It is a balance between what Marjorie and I -we do this together- think
up and the group. During a rehearsal this surfaces. A hundred strange ideas are put forward, of which 99 can
immediately be shredded, but one remains and that’s why it is so nice to work with the orchestra. Whether it is a
creative act, a joke or a musical twitch of someone…
Imagine, I have a flute player who has his whole life played the flute a certain way,
a very nice way.
Then I have something in my mind and want him to play like that. But he plays it
differently, but very nice as well. Then I think: leave it as it is and only change it
slightly so it fits the idea I had in mind.
(We hear Teun Ramaekers playing flute: the amazing grace).
We see André saying goodbye to Allan and Anna Bailey. Thank you so much.
Allan is shaking hands with Pierre: Is this your son?
André: Yes, he is my son.
Allan: younger or older?
Pierre: I am younger than him (looking towards his father). All laughing.
André: He is my youngest son.
Okay, thank you very much, bye. Bye.
In an after discussion Kerstin says to André: They said they wanted to go
off-stage and bring the audience back on stage. Is this a good idea to bring your
fans on stage?
André: Absolutely, it will happen. They’ll lead that process. We will have to
rehearse it.
On that CD I heard the announcement, but that was way too long.
Kerstin: It is usually that long.
André: That’s why I want to rehearse it. It’s for television, you know…..
We see the rehearsal in the hall. André is checking the sound. The Harlem Gospel
Choir is singing “Amen”. André runs to the middle of the hall, to listen. Runs back
to the stage, runs upstairs and listens next to the singers. He gestures to the
sound crew (to increase the volume of the microphones?)
A couple in the audience: He is very theatrical and I think he is wonderful You
know, the way he brings people to see the classical music who maybe sometimes
never listened to it. But with him and all the costumes and everything….
I don’t know, I just love him.
Reporter: Are you going to dance tonight?
Woman: Who knows!
In the bus: André is working with his Nokia communicator. Kerstin comes and asks:
Can you come and get changed?
André: O Yes, I am curious what you bought.
While he is taking of his pants Andre says to the camera man: Please stay there
and keep that camera pointed up.
If you dare to point it downwards!
Kerstin: There is a mirror on the other side! Hilarious laughing because you could
see him take of his pants in that mirror.
André: Darn! (And he hangs his trousers over the camera).
He shows off a black outfit. (Makes him think of the mafia, I think) He pretends to
smoke a big cigar….. We see his red colored shoes. Next he is fitting a new suit
now in grey. The bus is bumping. Kerstin and the wardrobe lady Jaqueline Treffers
are looking critical. They put up their thumbs, so they are content with the result.
We see Frank Steijns tuning Akim’s violin. When it is okay, Frank gives the
violin back to Akim. The bow was not his (too big), and Akim looks surprised and
asks: Where is mine?
Close up of Frank, he says: This is a field trip, it’s just like Club-Med, as we say.
Nothing will stop you, it’s one big party. We see pictures of the orchestra members walking the Conga line in the
bus, singing and dancing.
Next we see pictures in some catering room. They are throwing bags of noodles to each other. André is sharing a
table with Frank and Sanne. André is also catching and throwing the noodles…..
We see pictures of Agnes Walter and Suzan relaxing in Central Park.
Agnes (she is Polish, but speaks Dutch very well): Yes, it really feels like one big family on tour. That’s it.
Suzan: To travel all around the world, to see everything. Be at the nicest places…
Agnes: you have the best atmosphere ever to work in, with people you love and who
love you… I never expected it to be this good. I played in another orchestra before....
But never had this feeling with other jobs. Never.
Suzan: It’s the cohesion that’s really nice, everyone takes care for each other. Yes,
I don’t know…
Agnes: Last summer I had a long holiday. I really missed it! Was thinking: it has been
enough, let’s go again!
We see and hear the rehearsal of the march: “Washington Post”, in which the orchestra members walk in line over
the stage.
A couple from the audience: The woman: I have been in love with André since high school. I saw him in a concert
Live in Tuscany. I saw him and I fell in love. So I am here for my first concert. So I really love André Rieu (starts
giggling, with her husband next to her).
Mother and son: He plays with his heart and soul. He touches people. Mother: He touches me. The first time I saw
his concert…. Son:: She cried! Mother: I cried so much! It was
so beautiful. I said: I have to see it. It is my first concert in New York. So, I am glad that I come with my son. Son: It is
awesome. I want to see it. I am so anxious, really. I want to have his autograph when I go out.
We see André during the photo shoot in Central Park. Kerstin is there and also
two photographers. André to the photographer: Yep, that is better, please do
that. Hey guys, this will be the one. Now another lens, I get really warm now.
This thing radiates quite some heat. (Kerstin is laughing a lot, seeing André
being baked)
André, spreading his arms: Aha, there he is….. ladies and gentlemen….
Photographer: Yes, Okay, relax. Look at me, into the camera….
Next: André is playing the violin in Central Park. He plays “My Way”.
He does not like the sound, concludes: there is no more resin on the bow. “It is too hot here”.
He walks to his body guard, who looks after the violin case. He takes the resin and put it on.
People in Central Park walk by, while André is playing “My Way”….
Pictures of the Radio City Music Hall, where people are entering for the performance.
Behind the scenes we see Ruud Merx and Akim. Akim is blowing Ruud’s
trombone. Together they walk around, Ruud carrying the instrument and Akim
“playing”.
We see André backstage, very nervous, while
the music of “My Way” is swelling on……
The text in the picture says: Immediately after “Ster” (that is the block advertising)
the NY concert part 1 will follow.
For six weeks we were able to enjoy a peek behind the scenes. What fun, but now the soap opera is finished now!
What a pity! Let's hope they will do it again sometimes.
On the road to New York (February 9, 2007, Dutch TV TROS)
Translated by Ineke Cornelissen/Sonja.
René Henket (trumpet) is crossing the street in front of the Radio City Music Hall. He says: Does it not look great,
André Rieu and his Orchestra SOLD OUT! That’s what we like to see.
Imagine, the stage we’re will be playing on has seen the Rolling Stones, The Beatles. All the great names of this
world have performed here.
We have the honor to play here, for me it’s the 3rd time. It remains very special! Absolutely.
INTRODUCTION
Ronald Gerards, percussion (the subtitles say Roland, but it must be Ronald!): It’s
a mighty feeling to be in New York, in one of the most prestigious halls of the world.
On this tour we looked forward to it. With all respect, it’s just a little bit different
from the other concerts. Unique! We are privileged to play here and make music
for the people.
Woman from the audience: He just takes you into another world. His music just picks you up and let you fly like in an
airplane. You feel you are in a much better world than this, when you are in his concerts.
A man guiding the audience. Giving instructions in a loud speaker: Ticket holders for Andre Rieu and the Johann
Strauss Orchestra, you’ll be getting in the theatre right now by using the side door entrances on 51st street. Next
quarter there is no way to get in the theatre right now. Doors are open now for the Andre Rieu and Johann Strauss
Orchestra performance tonight
The camera shows the people who are standing in line, waiting to enter. One man waves into the camera, saying :
“Hi Mom!”
A reporter from Dutch TV sender AVRO (it is on her microphone) is talking to
Kerstin Cornelis (tour manager): It’s a real spectacle over here.
Kerstin: Yes, the whole concert is a spectacle. To play in the Radio City Music Hall
in New York, that is really fantastic. As artist, when you can say: “I have played
in Radio City”…… it’s unbelievable.
Reporter: We are now even filmed by television.
Kerstin: Yes, that is right, we have a “behind the scenes team” with us, and this
will be shown on TROS (Dutch TV) in the beginning of 2007. We are followed 24 hours a day, including André of
course.
Reporter: But I meant: also on American TV. (We see pictures of a Van of Channel 4).
Kerstin: Yes, that’s right, when you become famous that’s part of the business.
You have to do all kind of interviews. André likes that as well. It is part of the job.
We see André, inside the (still empty) theatre, saying: Next….finished with one interview, Okay, Hi!
A reporter/cameraman comes, introduces himself as Bruno de Vos, from Talpa TV
(a brand new Dutch TV sender). Reporter greets: Welcome to New York, Mr. Rieu!
(And he is filming at the same time).
André, looking at the camera, remarks: “Talpa in New York still has to grow, I see…..
Reporter: “Yep, we still have to grow”… Mr. Rieu, I would like to start with the
difference between Europe and America. What’s the biggest difference for you as
performer?
André: As performer there is no difference. The only thing I notice is that the audience over here is more ‘hungry’ for
the music. They are willing to travel large distances to see an artist.
Back home that’s unusual. I live in Maastricht and nearby towns as Sittard and Heerlen have theaters as well.
People from Sittard will never come to Maastricht, that’s how exaggerated it is with us. While that is only a distance
of 27 kilometers (20 miles)! Here they travel thousands of miles, just to see an artist. You can feel the audience here
is really enthusiastic.
We see pictures of Bela Mavrak filming with his own camera the empty hall.
In the meantime the camera crew is interviewing people in the waiting line:
A woman: I came from Kentucky to see him.
Reporter: What do you like about Andre Rieu? Oh, I just like everything about
him: His music, his orchestra, the way he performs. My sister in law and I….
She introduced me. She also likes him. I came all the way from Kentucky
to see him. I am here for that. I am so excited to see him.
Other woman: He is very cute! Laughing….
Other woman: He is funny, funny, funny! That someone can make something so enjoyable, and bring humor to
something that sometimes is so deadly serious….
Bela Mavrak is still filming inside the theatre, singing an Italian song at the same
time.
Carla Maffioletti is practicing her voice and says: “Good acoustics here”!
Bela is singing a love song (?) for Linda Custers, holding her hands. Linda acts
to wipe away a tear of her eyes…. Bela did not expect that and looks very amazed…. Both burst out laughing.
We see André standing in the middle of the hall between the sound crew and the stage. “And two and three…” He is
conducting the orchestra, showing the cameraman the moment he has to turn the camera, right at the music, to the
stage. The tenors are singing.
We see pictures of 5th Avenue, the shop of Saks. We see Kerstin and one of the
wardrobe ladies: Jaqueline Treffers,
Kerstin says: We are shopping for André. He will have a photo shoot. We have
to buy some what?? No just a joke we are going to buy some shirts and other
nice items for the new cover of the CD and DVD.
Because it will be recorded in New York, we wanted to buy some stuff over here.
Later on we will go into town and make nice pictures. But first we have to buy
clothes for him.
We brought a bag with some of his belts in different colors. We use them as a reference to get something nice.
André to Frans Neus: Are they are all here? Frans: A few are still coming, it was a whole process to get them
inside.
André: They have to remove their badges.
Frans: Yes, I have told them, but I will do so again.
We see a police officer, saying: We are all here for the opening tonight. We want some order and conduct going on.
So have a happy night and enjoy your evening.
André to orchestra: (discussing the rehearsal going in and out the limo to enter the Hall) I exit first, and then it is the
intention that you form a line behind the limo, so everyone get’s in and out quickly. The police will stake-out the
area, nothing will go wrong.
We see pictures of the entrance: the limo is in front of the Radio City Music Hall, and the orchestra members jump in
on one side and jump out on the other side. (Now we know how they did it, they did confuse us, no limo is that big,
Fun, but it must have been a quite a feat, with those dresses!!) The audience is cheering, chanting André, André…...
André to the cameraman: When you see this on Dutch TV you first hear a roll and
…. ”Ladies and Gentlemen, The Radio City Music Hall proudly presents (with a
better voice than mine, a real American voice) …André Ruuu, for that is they call
me here, and his famous Johann Strauss Orchestra” and then you see this…..
and we enter the Hall. Is it not fun? I like it!
We see a lady with a red cocktail: O, he is just wonderful! But I have never seen
him in person. So I am beyond excitement. I have just seen him on television.
I think he is wonderful. He has such a sense of humor. And treats everything so
excited. He makes you want to get up and do it.
We see pictures of dynamic New York City.
André: Where is my orchestra, are they roaming the streets again? Ah yes, as usual! But that’s o.k., they are still
kids.
We see Frank Steijns and Suzan Erens walking in the streets of New York. Frank
has an umbrella and together they are singing and dancing: “Singing in the sun….
What a glorious feeling, I am happy again..”
Suzan to Frank: You should rotate around a light post.
Frank: O, yes, you are right. (and he is singing and rotating….) (My conclusion:
he has a very nice voice!)
We see René, Roger, Ward and Marcel, giving money to an Antillean kettle drummer. They are laughing, saying: O,
he is joking! The street musician thinks it is not enough money. René says: But we are only poor musicians…..
The Kettle player says; "Only 5 dollars, that is not enough to be filmed by such
a big camera.
He plays the Dutch National Anthem on the kettle drum. Applause, Bravo!
Drummer: I play just a short version, for you did not pay enough. Have a good day.
Marcel says to the cameraman: Music is very expensive nowadays…….
Audience:
Woman: We love his music, we love himself, we love his orchestra. He is wonderful, he is a great person. He makes
such a big difference in the music world. Her husband says: Andé is part of the family. Woman: Yeah, we love him.
In the camera: Go on André!
We see pictures of the rehearsal of “Singing in the rain”, done by all male orchestra members. Akim is in the hall,
jumping with delight.
We see Karl Moik and his wife Edith entering. André is greeting them in German: There he is! (Hugs Karl).
Karl Moik: Hello André
André: Hello Edith, nice to see you (three kisses for Edith).
Karl: Thanks for the invitation.
André: No thanks, it is nice to have you here. For all you have done for us, this is
the least I could do for you. I really enjoy having you here.
Karl into the camera: My name is Karl Moik. I created the ‘Musikantenstadl’…
(on German TV). About 10 years ago, I saw André Rieu on a small Dutch TV show
on a private station and I thought: “Wow, I want to have this guy for Austria,
Germany and Switzerland”, and I succeeded.
Woman in audience: It is really interesting when you look around: how many different ages are here. It does not
matter if you come in a wheelchair, you come on flip-flops or sneakers. No matter how you come here. It seems that
you are guaranteed a good time. It is just a fantastic “buffet” of music. It is really the art of music and how many
different interpretations of music, of instruments, of singers. It is a show that we’ll probably never get to see again in
our lives, but we would never miss.
Karl Moik: We have got to know and care for each other during a quarrel.
André: Yes that’s how it started. I was a small act, I traveled to Germany to play
in the big show of Karl Moik and thought: I want to play the Second Waltz from
Shostakovich.
And Karl said, sit down, take a break, relax. Have a coffee, we are here in Austria!
Then we had a real head strong fight. I said, if you take this piece then you will
have success!
But finally we played the Czardasfürstin, also with great success.
Thanks to this performance I became successful in Germany and my career really took off.
Yes, Karl determines everything in his shows himself. That is the right way. I do the same.
Halleluja sounds, we see André, Pierre, Frans and Kerstin walk upstairs.
They are in a meeting room discussing the program with Allan and Anna Bailey, leaders of the Harlem Gospel Choir.
André: For example, at the big finale I would like to do the Hallelujah of Haendel. (André sings the melody) and that
in a very classical way. So I would like to have the Harlem Gospel Singers to join us. Anna Baily: I will just clarify, it
is the Harlem Gospel Choir.
André: O, yes, sorry! For once and for all: The Harlem Gospel Choir. But on your
CD, the announcer in Argentina says The Harlem Gospel Singers….
Anna: Yes, we had to shoot him for that!
André: Aha, okay, I was not wrong that I heard it. Okay.
Allan: Our show is high energy. It is very difficult to control when they start speaking
in tongues (“speaking in tongues” is a special “prayer language” many assert that it is
inspired by the Holy Spirit and it takes them deeper than regular prayer).and so on.
on. It is not like your way. You’re more strict. Ours is: where is it going to stop? It
goes on and on and it builds and builds…
André: Yes, that is okay, I like it. We will go of stage and you’ll stay there for hours,
that’s what happens…..
André: The creativity we have in the group! It is a balance between what Marjorie and I -we do this together- think
up and the group. During a rehearsal this surfaces. A hundred strange ideas are put forward, of which 99 can
immediately be shredded, but one remains and that’s why it is so nice to work with the orchestra. Whether it is a
creative act, a joke or a musical twitch of someone…
Imagine, I have a flute player who has his whole life played the flute a certain way,
a very nice way.
Then I have something in my mind and want him to play like that. But he plays it
differently, but very nice as well. Then I think: leave it as it is and only change it
slightly so it fits the idea I had in mind.
(We hear Teun Ramaekers playing flute: the amazing grace).
We see André saying goodbye to Allan and Anna Bailey. Thank you so much.
Allan is shaking hands with Pierre: Is this your son?
André: Yes, he is my son.
Allan: younger or older?
Pierre: I am younger than him (looking towards his father). All laughing.
André: He is my youngest son.
Okay, thank you very much, bye. Bye.
In an after discussion Kerstin says to André: They said they wanted to go
off-stage and bring the audience back on stage. Is this a good idea to bring your
fans on stage?
André: Absolutely, it will happen. They’ll lead that process. We will have to
rehearse it.
On that CD I heard the announcement, but that was way too long.
Kerstin: It is usually that long.
André: That’s why I want to rehearse it. It’s for television, you know…..
We see the rehearsal in the hall. André is checking the sound. The Harlem Gospel
Choir is singing “Amen”. André runs to the middle of the hall, to listen. Runs back
to the stage, runs upstairs and listens next to the singers. He gestures to the
sound crew (to increase the volume of the microphones?)
A couple in the audience: He is very theatrical and I think he is wonderful You
know, the way he brings people to see the classical music who maybe sometimes
never listened to it. But with him and all the costumes and everything….
I don’t know, I just love him.
Reporter: Are you going to dance tonight?
Woman: Who knows!
In the bus: André is working with his Nokia communicator. Kerstin comes and asks:
Can you come and get changed?
André: O Yes, I am curious what you bought.
While he is taking of his pants Andre says to the camera man: Please stay there
and keep that camera pointed up.
If you dare to point it downwards!
Kerstin: There is a mirror on the other side! Hilarious laughing because you could
see him take of his pants in that mirror.
André: Darn! (And he hangs his trousers over the camera).
He shows off a black outfit. (Makes him think of the mafia, I think) He pretends to
smoke a big cigar….. We see his red colored shoes. Next he is fitting a new suit
now in grey. The bus is bumping. Kerstin and the wardrobe lady Jaqueline Treffers
are looking critical. They put up their thumbs, so they are content with the result.
We see Frank Steijns tuning Akim’s violin. When it is okay, Frank gives the
violin back to Akim. The bow was not his (too big), and Akim looks surprised and
asks: Where is mine?
Close up of Frank, he says: This is a field trip, it’s just like Club-Med, as we say.
Nothing will stop you, it’s one big party. We see pictures of the orchestra members walking the Conga line in the
bus, singing and dancing.
Next we see pictures in some catering room. They are throwing bags of noodles to each other. André is sharing a
table with Frank and Sanne. André is also catching and throwing the noodles…..
We see pictures of Agnes Walter and Suzan relaxing in Central Park.
Agnes (she is Polish, but speaks Dutch very well): Yes, it really feels like one big family on tour. That’s it.
Suzan: To travel all around the world, to see everything. Be at the nicest places…
Agnes: you have the best atmosphere ever to work in, with people you love and who
love you… I never expected it to be this good. I played in another orchestra before....
But never had this feeling with other jobs. Never.
Suzan: It’s the cohesion that’s really nice, everyone takes care for each other. Yes,
I don’t know…
Agnes: Last summer I had a long holiday. I really missed it! Was thinking: it has been
enough, let’s go again!
We see and hear the rehearsal of the march: “Washington Post”, in which the orchestra members walk in line over
the stage.
A couple from the audience: The woman: I have been in love with André since high school. I saw him in a concert
Live in Tuscany. I saw him and I fell in love. So I am here for my first concert. So I really love André Rieu (starts
giggling, with her husband next to her).
Mother and son: He plays with his heart and soul. He touches people. Mother: He touches me. The first time I saw
his concert…. Son:: She cried! Mother: I cried so much! It was
so beautiful. I said: I have to see it. It is my first concert in New York. So, I am glad that I come with my son. Son: It is
awesome. I want to see it. I am so anxious, really. I want to have his autograph when I go out.
We see André during the photo shoot in Central Park. Kerstin is there and also
two photographers. André to the photographer: Yep, that is better, please do
that. Hey guys, this will be the one. Now another lens, I get really warm now.
This thing radiates quite some heat. (Kerstin is laughing a lot, seeing André
being baked)
André, spreading his arms: Aha, there he is….. ladies and gentlemen….
Photographer: Yes, Okay, relax. Look at me, into the camera….
Next: André is playing the violin in Central Park. He plays “My Way”.
He does not like the sound, concludes: there is no more resin on the bow. “It is too hot here”.
He walks to his body guard, who looks after the violin case. He takes the resin and put it on.
People in Central Park walk by, while André is playing “My Way”….
Pictures of the Radio City Music Hall, where people are entering for the performance.
Behind the scenes we see Ruud Merx and Akim. Akim is blowing Ruud’s
trombone. Together they walk around, Ruud carrying the instrument and Akim
“playing”.
We see André backstage, very nervous, while
the music of “My Way” is swelling on……
The text in the picture says: Immediately after “Ster” (that is the block advertising)
the NY concert part 1 will follow.
For six weeks we were able to enjoy a peek behind the scenes. What fun, but now the soap opera is finished now!
What a pity! Let's hope they will do it again sometimes.
Allen and Anna Bailey
I am younger than him.
Sigar?
Conga line and party in the bus
Andre and Karl Moik
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