Andre Rieu Soap Part 5
On the road to New York (February 2, 2007, Dutch TV TROS)
Translated by Ineke Cornelissen/Sonja.
André and the orchestra are backstage, waiting to start the show.
Someone is telling Andre: There is something wrong with Sanne. She is not feeling well
André: Let her sit down for a while. He walks towards Sanne. Shall I call somebody from
First Aid? Sanne: That is not necessary, I’ll just lay down for a moment.
André: No discussion, I’ll call them. I will not leave her alone like this.
A First Aid person comes to Sanne. Music sounds. André and JSO have to enter the hall. We see Sanne backstage
in a wheelchair, pushed by that person.
INTRO
Frank Steijns: Next month it will be 12 ½ year ago that I joined André, so it is
almost my 12 1/2 anniversary (In Holland, we celebrate 12 1/2 years as an
anniversary. 1/2 of 25 years the silver anniversary and we call 12 1/2 the copper
anniversary) . The orchestra was much smaller in those days. It has turned into
big business, an enormous circus you can say, traveling around the World.
You can now see if for yourself. We stay in the best hotels, we have buses with
reclining Seats, breakfast buffets, we even bring our own catering. We have
always stayed at good hotels, that is André’s philosophy, which goes further
than just taking care for his staff. With that you create a certain atmosphere
which re-pays itself and you see in the work on the stage.
(In the meantime we see pictures of Frank comforting Sanne, who is sitting in a chair behind the scenes, by rubbing
her arm)
During the intermission, backstage, André to Sanne (in her dressing room?): So you are not going to play?
Sanne, No, that is right. André: Okay.
Sanne: I really do want to very much.
André: When you get up, you feel dizzy? Sanne: No, not that, but my legs feel like rubber. They don’t do what I
want. Earlier I have eaten a pizza and later my eyes became red. Jenny gave me some eye-drops, which helped
good, minimizing the swelling.
André: Your legs minimized as well? Sanne: Yes, it seems that way.
André: Those pills were really for your eyes? Well, just change and lie down somewhere for a while.
Sanne: Thank you very much.
André: All the best and take care.
René Henket to Sanne (in het Maastricht's dialect): All the best as well, and keep quiet for a while.
Sanne: In general I feel okay, except for my legs. René: just change your dress and relax.
Sanne: I really want to play, but I don’t know. I really want to, but I am afraid I’ll regret it if I sit on stage.
René: You can try. If it does not work, tell us in time. You can leave past Roger and me, along the percussionists.
Sanne tries walking a little.
Frank: I have never had a concert where I thought: Oh, we HAVE TO play…… No, it is an honor to play….. When
that feeling is gone, I’ll stop. But in the past 12 ½ years I never had the feeling “We have to go on stage again…”
André to Sanne at the end of the intermission (Sanne had told him she wanted to give it a try,): we walk towards the
stage as usual. I think Frank is still behind. Don’t worry, the applause will take some time…. (Sanne was worried
about being late and she did not have her saxophone yet. Frank was getting it for her??). Someone brought her
saxophone and Sanne says: O, how sweet… And she hurries to the stage.
Frank: Even with the biggest headache we still go on. The funny thing is you get so much energy in return, both
from the orchestra and from the audience. So much energy that at the intermission, you think, Wow, I had a
headache and it is completely disappeared.
Sanne is entering the stage, has to climb stairs.
René shouts: Mario, Now we can start. We see tenor Gary Bennett giving Sanne a loving shoulder tap when she
walks passed him.
The orchestra is playing and we see André looking in Sanne's direction ( with his back to the audience) lifting his
eyebrows in the rhythm of the Music, towards Sanne. (I thought this was very funny!). (I tried it myself and could not
do it) We could see Sanne’s eyes twinkling. She could hardly prevent laughing, while she was played her
saxophone!
View of Manhattan.
We see 4 JSO members leaving the hotel: René Henket, Roger Diederen, Marcel Falize and Ward Vlasveld. To the
TROS camera crew: Come on guys, join us!
In the subway: We are going to Battery Park at the south end of Manhattan. To check if we can see the Statue of
Liberty.
At Battery Park we see Nicolle Stein and Agnes Walter in a helicopter. René: Look there, a helicopter! Marcel: That
is Nicolle, one of our choir ladies in there They went for a helicopter flight.
Ward: Gentlemen! The Statue of Liberty!
Last time we went there, (to the island) it was impressive. At that time all was still normal here. We even stood on
top of those two wonderful towers which sadly enough are no longer there.
In front of the Radio City Music Hall, we see a truck unloading Andre Rieu cases.
André arrives in a black car, wearing sunglasses, greeting the camera crew: Hi,
fellows, how is life?
We see a sign: 44 Stage entrance. André enters. He meets Pierre in the hall.
Pierre: Hello sir! (He says meneertje “little sir”, we
often use the Dutch diminutive as a pet name)
They hug. André: Hi kid, how are things going
over here? Pierre: All is going well. Every day
I learn many new rules.
André: There are a lot of people walking around. Pierre: Yes, a lot. That guard…..
we have to keep him till the end. André: Yes I heard. That is the latest joke!
We see the preparations by the technical crew, before the concert.
Courtney Woo: Why are you filming me all the time? That is what I don’t understand. I hope you shot the pictures
where I cut my leg. You have that? Look, it is better!
André: (in a silly voice with a bad imitation of the Amsterdam dialect, I guess……) ”Can the TROS sit down in the
hall or “just get lost” please? We are going to start the rehearsals. Pafffff. (Shooting imitation?)
Ward is behind the organ and the Gospel Choir enters the stage singing “O happy
day…”
André: Stop! You are not walking, you are running! André is acting the way he wants
them to enter in a rhythmic way of walking to the beat of the music. Looking at a
“big mama” he says: Yes exactly, that is what I want!
They start again: André: Everybody ready? Applause, applause, applause……
Yeah! Oh happy day!
André jumps off the stage to stand in the middle of the hall, just between the sound crew and the stage. We see the
cameraman walking backwards, guided by a sound man.
André is instructing the sound crew, talking in the little mike on his jacket.
André to Marcel Falize: Marcel, play that again. Is it necessary to use those drumsticks at the end? (hihi I think that
is what he meant to say, what he actually says is, "Marcel do you have to do those end thingies with those thingies, can
you quickly get the other ones, and let me hear it again.) Get the other ones and let me hear again. André to the sound
crew: Deeper, deeper. Okay, thank you.
Frank: I play the carillon in Maastricht, and also with André. What is of most interest to me of course is seeing
carillons all over the World. This (the Riverside Church in New York City) is the biggest carillon in the World. 74
bells, with a total weight of 100 tons (100.000 kilo). You can only find these bells here. So it is a unique
opportunity to see them here. A dream come true. (Sign: Carillon console two floors above).
Frank: That little guy down there, that is me! Now you can see how enormous this bell is. This is the biggest carillon
bell in the world, weighing 20 tons (20.000 kilo), as much as a Sherman tank. In a while I am going to play them!
André: Ladies and gentlemen: this is Marvin Katz.
Marvin: Hi, am I on TV? André: Of course you are on TV. Marvin: American or Dutch
TV? André: Dutch TV. Marvin: Is it a special for TV? André: We are making a real
soap for the TROS. Marvin: A soap opera?? O, than you need a lawyer!
André: I told you! Without a lawyer nothing is possible in New York. Marvin: You
need three things: a lot of sex, a lot of money and a lawyer. André: You see, this is
my lawyer! Marvin: In that order!
Frank shows the carillon console. Every key is linked to a bell. From the smallest to
the biggest and everything in between. Let’s see if I can play Concerto de Aranjuez here as well. (is on the DVD
Homecoming / Songs from my heart, played on the carillon of the St. Servaes cathedral in Maastricht). Frank is
trying a few bells, says: Great! And starts to play the Concerto de Aranjuez.
We see Central Park and a horse drawn carriage. The coachman says to André:
Here are some of your fans! Irish people!
André: O yes? You are from Dublin? People in the carriage: No, from Derry.
André: We have performed in Dublin. People: That is right, we have seen it on
TV. Can we take a picture?
André: Sure. He approaches the carriage for the picture. There we are. We will
return to Ireland, I am sure. I would like to give an open air concert. But you
know…. In Ireland it is always raining. People: it does… André: We do a lot
of preparations and than the day of the concert……… (makes a gesture of rain
that is pouring down..)
So, if you take care for sunshine, we’ll come back to Ireland! People: We’ll try, have a nice day. Thank you, Bye.
André in Central Park: Why do I go to the USA? Because I like to play for the
American audience. It is also a challenge to play here. A lot of people like my
music, they think it is fantastic. But how to handle that market. How do you
let the people know “Here comes André and his orchestra!” That was a real
challenge and I like to take on difficult challenges and to keep at it until you
are successful.. It think it is exciting to take on challenges and make sure they’ll
work out. It is really simple. Rent a hall, sign a contract, and announce you are
coming! Than you hope people will buy tickets. It is about how it is. And you can
see the results when people start to enter the hall. It has become a routine…..
from town to town, in the bus, play again…..
It really was not always like that, in the beginning it was very difficult. For years we performed here with big losses.
Till the point where I had to decide what are we really doing, we had to make the decision: do we to stop or
continue. That was when I decided to start to do everything myself.
In the hall again, at the rehearsal. André helps Akim on stage. (His mother is still
standing in the hall).
André: Akim is a boy whom I met 2 or 3 years ago. On my website someone
wrote about him in my guestbook.
Now that happens almost daily..”my son is an excellent violinist, my daughter
plays the flute so well, please let them join your orchestra….” But this message
was just a bit different, so I invited him over. And then I let him play in Kerkrade
were we had a concert in a soccer stadium for 18.000 people (DVD the Flying
Dutchman). It turned out to be fantastic, a real experience.
From that moment I have followed him and at a certain moment thought you know I am going to invite him to come
to New York City.
To the light crew: This the light setting for the announcement. Okay.
Ladies and gentlemen, there he is, the one and only…. Akim Camara! The stage opened up, and from behind a
curtain Akim enters the stage.
André: Yes! The stage has to close. Immediately close the stage again. Someone from the orchestra says: "but
not too early! Andre laughs, not too early, Okay.
To Akim (in German): You did that very well! Now we try the same thing, but with the smoke.
To the light crew: Did you setup those lights like that? I did not see it, for I was watching Akim. Yes? Okay?
To Akim: This time we’ll use smoke. There will be smoke and than you walk in this direction, yes? Let’s try.
Again the announcement: Ladies and gentlemen: there he is, the one and only….
André to cameraman: I forgot to tell him that standing underneath Mireille, those drum rolls make an awful noise. So
stupid! He entered and I noticed something was wrong. I realized: O my God, those drums…..
To Akim: were you afraid? Everything okay? A bit scary maybe? A little bit?
Akim: yes.
André: The noise… Now you know there will be that noise. Let’s do it again. Yes? Once more.
André: It is unbelievable. I have never seen such talent before. I really mean it. He listens and plays the whole piece
note by note ….. by heart. While we are playing the rest of the program, he is playing with his little violin everything
we do….. by heart….. without sheet music.
When you talk to him, does not matter which subject, you notice how smart and clever he is.
But that has also its downside. Because he is so smart, he often controls the situation. But not with me!! I think that
is what he often misses at home: someone who is stronger than he is! He needs that, otherwise he turns to be an
insufferable “wonder child”. And those we already have enough!
Ground Zero.
In the picture: René Henket and Roger Diederen. René: Last time we were here,
there was a footbridge full of fireman’s helmets, flowers, handwritten letters.
Very impressive.
Marcel Falize: Yes, absolutely! Still, to return and see it all again…..
Radio City Music Hall: Picture of the sound crew and music
“Don’t cry for me Argentina” is heard.
Agnes Walter (speaks Dutch with a Polish accent: It is quite strange to have the
possibility to play in the Radio City Music Hall, THE concert hall of the world.
You don’t end up here by chance…. As an orchestra or soloist….. Very special
for me, absolutely.
Suzan Erens is sitting next to her: Quite frightening! You are on Broadway! New
York habitants are spoiled by all the music. They can attend every musical they
want. To be there…. To sing your songs…. Really fantastic!
Suzan on stage, rehearsing 'Don’t cry for me Argentina'. We see Akin in the hall.
Suzan: My last year at the Conservatory in Maastricht, I heard that Andre Rieu
was holding auditions to put together a large choir. I auditioned and was hired.
The choir traveled with the orchestra for a year. One time, we were in Vienna,
Frank was playing the piano. Frank asked: Come and sing with me. André stood
nearby. He liked what he heard and asked me to sing for him. From that moment
I became a solo singer.
We see pictures of André, Frank (playing piano) and Suzan, practicing the song
“I belong to me” (for the Vienna special: DVD at Schonbrunn). André is
instructing and conducting Suzan, shouting at a certain moment: Breathe!
Pierre: Yes Suzan, she is my girlfriend. What she achieves here, is terrific. She
is very successful every evening. It is very nice to be on tour with her (for then
she is with me). Unfortunately in October she’ll stop singing with us. Her big dream is to
sing in musicals. That’s where her roots are. That has been her wish since childhood. All the numbers that she
has sung with us are all pieces from musicals. She realizes: if I don’t do it right now - whatever the outcome is -
she would regret that she never tried. We had lengthy discussions about it. I think she just has to do it. I fully
support her. We will not see each other as often any more, but she has to do it. I am very proud that she is going to
try. She will certainly succeed!
We see the sign Broadway. Suzan is standing underneath the announcement of the musical Chicago. She sings
“Don’t cry for me Argentina”. People walking by are applauding. Suzan laughs: At least I have sung on Broadway
once!
A lady in the street is listening to Frank's carillon music from the church tower.
She looks up to the tower, saying: Wow! (Frank is playing the Dutch hit song
“Heb je even voor mij”, (Do you have some time for me) by the popular and very
nice Dutch folk singer Frans Bauer. That fun Dutch folk song sounds over the
streets of New York City! (Wonder if Fransje knows) .
A group of JSO members (Teun, Pierre, Cord,
Judith, Kalkie, etc) are on a sightseeing bus.
Cord Peters and Judith Luesink are sitting next
to each other.
Cord: that American flag over there.
André (and his lawyer) are walking in Central Park. Hé, look there! I see Europeans
walking over there. We see pictures of Cord and Judith, walking arm in arm, towards
André. Cord: We already saw you standing there. (I think this meeting was staged)
André: Just by sheer coincidence! I am checking where we’ll put the stage for the performance here. Judith: Really
here? André: Yes, here. Cord: I thought it would be in the Radio City Music Hall.
Will it be here? André: The special is in the Radio City Music Hall, but next time
we are here…… Judith: Really??? Wow! André: Yes, I have to plan ahead, of
course.
Cord: Great!
André: Yes, the famous Simon and Garfunkel concert was held here. Diana Ross,
all the famous stars have been here. I can imagine it will be nice to perform here!
Everybody in New York listening. Sounds good to me!
(Music is playing: My way…..)
We see René crossing the street, in front of the Radio City Music Hall, saying: Looks great! André Rieu and his
orchestra, SOLD OUT! That is what we like to see! (picture of the announcement on the Music Hall.
We see a man with a Bull horn, telling the incoming people to enter via a side entrance in 51st Street. André is
arriving in a whote limousine, waving to the people.
THE END of part 5.
Next week the last part of this docusoap, followed by the New York concert (DVD New York Memories).
On the road to New York (February 2, 2007, Dutch TV TROS)
Translated by Ineke Cornelissen/Sonja.
André and the orchestra are backstage, waiting to start the show.
Someone is telling Andre: There is something wrong with Sanne. She is not feeling well
André: Let her sit down for a while. He walks towards Sanne. Shall I call somebody from
First Aid? Sanne: That is not necessary, I’ll just lay down for a moment.
André: No discussion, I’ll call them. I will not leave her alone like this.
A First Aid person comes to Sanne. Music sounds. André and JSO have to enter the hall. We see Sanne backstage
in a wheelchair, pushed by that person.
INTRO
Frank Steijns: Next month it will be 12 ½ year ago that I joined André, so it is
almost my 12 1/2 anniversary (In Holland, we celebrate 12 1/2 years as an
anniversary. 1/2 of 25 years the silver anniversary and we call 12 1/2 the copper
anniversary) . The orchestra was much smaller in those days. It has turned into
big business, an enormous circus you can say, traveling around the World.
You can now see if for yourself. We stay in the best hotels, we have buses with
reclining Seats, breakfast buffets, we even bring our own catering. We have
always stayed at good hotels, that is André’s philosophy, which goes further
than just taking care for his staff. With that you create a certain atmosphere
which re-pays itself and you see in the work on the stage.
(In the meantime we see pictures of Frank comforting Sanne, who is sitting in a chair behind the scenes, by rubbing
her arm)
During the intermission, backstage, André to Sanne (in her dressing room?): So you are not going to play?
Sanne, No, that is right. André: Okay.
Sanne: I really do want to very much.
André: When you get up, you feel dizzy? Sanne: No, not that, but my legs feel like rubber. They don’t do what I
want. Earlier I have eaten a pizza and later my eyes became red. Jenny gave me some eye-drops, which helped
good, minimizing the swelling.
André: Your legs minimized as well? Sanne: Yes, it seems that way.
André: Those pills were really for your eyes? Well, just change and lie down somewhere for a while.
Sanne: Thank you very much.
André: All the best and take care.
René Henket to Sanne (in het Maastricht's dialect): All the best as well, and keep quiet for a while.
Sanne: In general I feel okay, except for my legs. René: just change your dress and relax.
Sanne: I really want to play, but I don’t know. I really want to, but I am afraid I’ll regret it if I sit on stage.
René: You can try. If it does not work, tell us in time. You can leave past Roger and me, along the percussionists.
Sanne tries walking a little.
Frank: I have never had a concert where I thought: Oh, we HAVE TO play…… No, it is an honor to play….. When
that feeling is gone, I’ll stop. But in the past 12 ½ years I never had the feeling “We have to go on stage again…”
André to Sanne at the end of the intermission (Sanne had told him she wanted to give it a try,): we walk towards the
stage as usual. I think Frank is still behind. Don’t worry, the applause will take some time…. (Sanne was worried
about being late and she did not have her saxophone yet. Frank was getting it for her??). Someone brought her
saxophone and Sanne says: O, how sweet… And she hurries to the stage.
Frank: Even with the biggest headache we still go on. The funny thing is you get so much energy in return, both
from the orchestra and from the audience. So much energy that at the intermission, you think, Wow, I had a
headache and it is completely disappeared.
Sanne is entering the stage, has to climb stairs.
René shouts: Mario, Now we can start. We see tenor Gary Bennett giving Sanne a loving shoulder tap when she
walks passed him.
The orchestra is playing and we see André looking in Sanne's direction ( with his back to the audience) lifting his
eyebrows in the rhythm of the Music, towards Sanne. (I thought this was very funny!). (I tried it myself and could not
do it) We could see Sanne’s eyes twinkling. She could hardly prevent laughing, while she was played her
saxophone!
View of Manhattan.
We see 4 JSO members leaving the hotel: René Henket, Roger Diederen, Marcel Falize and Ward Vlasveld. To the
TROS camera crew: Come on guys, join us!
In the subway: We are going to Battery Park at the south end of Manhattan. To check if we can see the Statue of
Liberty.
At Battery Park we see Nicolle Stein and Agnes Walter in a helicopter. René: Look there, a helicopter! Marcel: That
is Nicolle, one of our choir ladies in there They went for a helicopter flight.
Ward: Gentlemen! The Statue of Liberty!
Last time we went there, (to the island) it was impressive. At that time all was still normal here. We even stood on
top of those two wonderful towers which sadly enough are no longer there.
In front of the Radio City Music Hall, we see a truck unloading Andre Rieu cases.
André arrives in a black car, wearing sunglasses, greeting the camera crew: Hi,
fellows, how is life?
We see a sign: 44 Stage entrance. André enters. He meets Pierre in the hall.
Pierre: Hello sir! (He says meneertje “little sir”, we
often use the Dutch diminutive as a pet name)
They hug. André: Hi kid, how are things going
over here? Pierre: All is going well. Every day
I learn many new rules.
André: There are a lot of people walking around. Pierre: Yes, a lot. That guard…..
we have to keep him till the end. André: Yes I heard. That is the latest joke!
We see the preparations by the technical crew, before the concert.
Courtney Woo: Why are you filming me all the time? That is what I don’t understand. I hope you shot the pictures
where I cut my leg. You have that? Look, it is better!
André: (in a silly voice with a bad imitation of the Amsterdam dialect, I guess……) ”Can the TROS sit down in the
hall or “just get lost” please? We are going to start the rehearsals. Pafffff. (Shooting imitation?)
Ward is behind the organ and the Gospel Choir enters the stage singing “O happy
day…”
André: Stop! You are not walking, you are running! André is acting the way he wants
them to enter in a rhythmic way of walking to the beat of the music. Looking at a
“big mama” he says: Yes exactly, that is what I want!
They start again: André: Everybody ready? Applause, applause, applause……
Yeah! Oh happy day!
André jumps off the stage to stand in the middle of the hall, just between the sound crew and the stage. We see the
cameraman walking backwards, guided by a sound man.
André is instructing the sound crew, talking in the little mike on his jacket.
André to Marcel Falize: Marcel, play that again. Is it necessary to use those drumsticks at the end? (hihi I think that
is what he meant to say, what he actually says is, "Marcel do you have to do those end thingies with those thingies, can
you quickly get the other ones, and let me hear it again.) Get the other ones and let me hear again. André to the sound
crew: Deeper, deeper. Okay, thank you.
Frank: I play the carillon in Maastricht, and also with André. What is of most interest to me of course is seeing
carillons all over the World. This (the Riverside Church in New York City) is the biggest carillon in the World. 74
bells, with a total weight of 100 tons (100.000 kilo). You can only find these bells here. So it is a unique
opportunity to see them here. A dream come true. (Sign: Carillon console two floors above).
Frank: That little guy down there, that is me! Now you can see how enormous this bell is. This is the biggest carillon
bell in the world, weighing 20 tons (20.000 kilo), as much as a Sherman tank. In a while I am going to play them!
André: Ladies and gentlemen: this is Marvin Katz.
Marvin: Hi, am I on TV? André: Of course you are on TV. Marvin: American or Dutch
TV? André: Dutch TV. Marvin: Is it a special for TV? André: We are making a real
soap for the TROS. Marvin: A soap opera?? O, than you need a lawyer!
André: I told you! Without a lawyer nothing is possible in New York. Marvin: You
need three things: a lot of sex, a lot of money and a lawyer. André: You see, this is
my lawyer! Marvin: In that order!
Frank shows the carillon console. Every key is linked to a bell. From the smallest to
the biggest and everything in between. Let’s see if I can play Concerto de Aranjuez here as well. (is on the DVD
Homecoming / Songs from my heart, played on the carillon of the St. Servaes cathedral in Maastricht). Frank is
trying a few bells, says: Great! And starts to play the Concerto de Aranjuez.
We see Central Park and a horse drawn carriage. The coachman says to André:
Here are some of your fans! Irish people!
André: O yes? You are from Dublin? People in the carriage: No, from Derry.
André: We have performed in Dublin. People: That is right, we have seen it on
TV. Can we take a picture?
André: Sure. He approaches the carriage for the picture. There we are. We will
return to Ireland, I am sure. I would like to give an open air concert. But you
know…. In Ireland it is always raining. People: it does… André: We do a lot
of preparations and than the day of the concert……… (makes a gesture of rain
that is pouring down..)
So, if you take care for sunshine, we’ll come back to Ireland! People: We’ll try, have a nice day. Thank you, Bye.
André in Central Park: Why do I go to the USA? Because I like to play for the
American audience. It is also a challenge to play here. A lot of people like my
music, they think it is fantastic. But how to handle that market. How do you
let the people know “Here comes André and his orchestra!” That was a real
challenge and I like to take on difficult challenges and to keep at it until you
are successful.. It think it is exciting to take on challenges and make sure they’ll
work out. It is really simple. Rent a hall, sign a contract, and announce you are
coming! Than you hope people will buy tickets. It is about how it is. And you can
see the results when people start to enter the hall. It has become a routine…..
from town to town, in the bus, play again…..
It really was not always like that, in the beginning it was very difficult. For years we performed here with big losses.
Till the point where I had to decide what are we really doing, we had to make the decision: do we to stop or
continue. That was when I decided to start to do everything myself.
In the hall again, at the rehearsal. André helps Akim on stage. (His mother is still
standing in the hall).
André: Akim is a boy whom I met 2 or 3 years ago. On my website someone
wrote about him in my guestbook.
Now that happens almost daily..”my son is an excellent violinist, my daughter
plays the flute so well, please let them join your orchestra….” But this message
was just a bit different, so I invited him over. And then I let him play in Kerkrade
were we had a concert in a soccer stadium for 18.000 people (DVD the Flying
Dutchman). It turned out to be fantastic, a real experience.
From that moment I have followed him and at a certain moment thought you know I am going to invite him to come
to New York City.
To the light crew: This the light setting for the announcement. Okay.
Ladies and gentlemen, there he is, the one and only…. Akim Camara! The stage opened up, and from behind a
curtain Akim enters the stage.
André: Yes! The stage has to close. Immediately close the stage again. Someone from the orchestra says: "but
not too early! Andre laughs, not too early, Okay.
To Akim (in German): You did that very well! Now we try the same thing, but with the smoke.
To the light crew: Did you setup those lights like that? I did not see it, for I was watching Akim. Yes? Okay?
To Akim: This time we’ll use smoke. There will be smoke and than you walk in this direction, yes? Let’s try.
Again the announcement: Ladies and gentlemen: there he is, the one and only….
André to cameraman: I forgot to tell him that standing underneath Mireille, those drum rolls make an awful noise. So
stupid! He entered and I noticed something was wrong. I realized: O my God, those drums…..
To Akim: were you afraid? Everything okay? A bit scary maybe? A little bit?
Akim: yes.
André: The noise… Now you know there will be that noise. Let’s do it again. Yes? Once more.
André: It is unbelievable. I have never seen such talent before. I really mean it. He listens and plays the whole piece
note by note ….. by heart. While we are playing the rest of the program, he is playing with his little violin everything
we do….. by heart….. without sheet music.
When you talk to him, does not matter which subject, you notice how smart and clever he is.
But that has also its downside. Because he is so smart, he often controls the situation. But not with me!! I think that
is what he often misses at home: someone who is stronger than he is! He needs that, otherwise he turns to be an
insufferable “wonder child”. And those we already have enough!
Ground Zero.
In the picture: René Henket and Roger Diederen. René: Last time we were here,
there was a footbridge full of fireman’s helmets, flowers, handwritten letters.
Very impressive.
Marcel Falize: Yes, absolutely! Still, to return and see it all again…..
Radio City Music Hall: Picture of the sound crew and music
“Don’t cry for me Argentina” is heard.
Agnes Walter (speaks Dutch with a Polish accent: It is quite strange to have the
possibility to play in the Radio City Music Hall, THE concert hall of the world.
You don’t end up here by chance…. As an orchestra or soloist….. Very special
for me, absolutely.
Suzan Erens is sitting next to her: Quite frightening! You are on Broadway! New
York habitants are spoiled by all the music. They can attend every musical they
want. To be there…. To sing your songs…. Really fantastic!
Suzan on stage, rehearsing 'Don’t cry for me Argentina'. We see Akin in the hall.
Suzan: My last year at the Conservatory in Maastricht, I heard that Andre Rieu
was holding auditions to put together a large choir. I auditioned and was hired.
The choir traveled with the orchestra for a year. One time, we were in Vienna,
Frank was playing the piano. Frank asked: Come and sing with me. André stood
nearby. He liked what he heard and asked me to sing for him. From that moment
I became a solo singer.
We see pictures of André, Frank (playing piano) and Suzan, practicing the song
“I belong to me” (for the Vienna special: DVD at Schonbrunn). André is
instructing and conducting Suzan, shouting at a certain moment: Breathe!
Pierre: Yes Suzan, she is my girlfriend. What she achieves here, is terrific. She
is very successful every evening. It is very nice to be on tour with her (for then
she is with me). Unfortunately in October she’ll stop singing with us. Her big dream is to
sing in musicals. That’s where her roots are. That has been her wish since childhood. All the numbers that she
has sung with us are all pieces from musicals. She realizes: if I don’t do it right now - whatever the outcome is -
she would regret that she never tried. We had lengthy discussions about it. I think she just has to do it. I fully
support her. We will not see each other as often any more, but she has to do it. I am very proud that she is going to
try. She will certainly succeed!
We see the sign Broadway. Suzan is standing underneath the announcement of the musical Chicago. She sings
“Don’t cry for me Argentina”. People walking by are applauding. Suzan laughs: At least I have sung on Broadway
once!
A lady in the street is listening to Frank's carillon music from the church tower.
She looks up to the tower, saying: Wow! (Frank is playing the Dutch hit song
“Heb je even voor mij”, (Do you have some time for me) by the popular and very
nice Dutch folk singer Frans Bauer. That fun Dutch folk song sounds over the
streets of New York City! (Wonder if Fransje knows) .
A group of JSO members (Teun, Pierre, Cord,
Judith, Kalkie, etc) are on a sightseeing bus.
Cord Peters and Judith Luesink are sitting next
to each other.
Cord: that American flag over there.
André (and his lawyer) are walking in Central Park. Hé, look there! I see Europeans
walking over there. We see pictures of Cord and Judith, walking arm in arm, towards
André. Cord: We already saw you standing there. (I think this meeting was staged)
André: Just by sheer coincidence! I am checking where we’ll put the stage for the performance here. Judith: Really
here? André: Yes, here. Cord: I thought it would be in the Radio City Music Hall.
Will it be here? André: The special is in the Radio City Music Hall, but next time
we are here…… Judith: Really??? Wow! André: Yes, I have to plan ahead, of
course.
Cord: Great!
André: Yes, the famous Simon and Garfunkel concert was held here. Diana Ross,
all the famous stars have been here. I can imagine it will be nice to perform here!
Everybody in New York listening. Sounds good to me!
(Music is playing: My way…..)
We see René crossing the street, in front of the Radio City Music Hall, saying: Looks great! André Rieu and his
orchestra, SOLD OUT! That is what we like to see! (picture of the announcement on the Music Hall.
We see a man with a Bull horn, telling the incoming people to enter via a side entrance in 51st Street. André is
arriving in a whote limousine, waving to the people.
THE END of part 5.
Next week the last part of this docusoap, followed by the New York concert (DVD New York Memories).
Riverside Church
That little guy here is me, Frank
This is Marvin Katz
Irish fans in Central Park
For years we performed with big
losses.
losses.
Marcel at Ground Zero.
Agnes Walter
Suzan, Singing on Broadway
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Exactly that is how I want it.
Akim Camara