André Rieu's TV Special Oct. 1, 2011 on ZDF

André Rieu's ZDF TV Special

To Bring Ode To The Mother City Of Waltz, Vienna

Maastricht Aktueel: September 29, 2011 André Rieu's new TV special "Wien, du Stadt meiner Träume"(Vienna, You City of My Dreams) will be premiered on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 8:15 PM by the German TV station ZDF. With this special the Maastricht world star wants to pay tribute to the city of the waltz. According to André Rieu the absolute highpoint of the performance will be the waltz composed by film star Sir Anthony Hopkins "And the Waltz Goes On". At least for the TV viewers. This waltz was previously performed by Rieu, during the Maastricht concerts.

Homage To Vienna
This special is completely composed of famous Viennese waltzes, marches, songs and famous Viennese operettas. The stand-alone violinist and his Johann Strauss Orchestra are supported by guest appearances of the Vienna Debutantes from Vienna's famous Elmayer dance school . Rieu also gives a special behind the scenes look in this special. In this case, literally. In addition, the viewer also gets to see how the famous Austrian Schönbrunn castle was reconstructed.

Sir Anthony Hopkins' Waltz
For him, especially this year it was a complete surprise says André Rieu from his castle in Maastricht, when he unsuspectingly entered the Marble Room of the Belvedere castle, and very shortly thereafter was honored by the Republic of Austria with the "Gold Medal of Merit". That same night was also the world premiere of Sir Anthony Hopkins' waltz, "And the waltz goes on ". In order to be present for this affair, Anthony Hopkins and his wife were especially flown over from Los Angeles.

Rieu World Tour
For the fans, the André Rieu circus is back in full swing. This week he visited the British show of Alan Titchmarsh. Next week he starts with a series of eight concerts in Mexico, followed by two tours in U.S. and Canada. In November and December, he will perform four concerts in Brussels, Antwerp and Hasselt. In December Rieu will again perform in the Netherlands with a concert in the Gelredome for which he has especially flown in The Harlem Gospel Choir and the Soweto Gospel Choir. These choirs previously performed this year during his yearly concert series on the Vrijthof Square.

Finally, this weekend, in and around André Rieu's Castle at the foot of the St. Peter, several recordings will be made for his Christmas Special. In apparently very summer like conditions a winter atmosphere will be created and Christmas songs played.

Thanks To John for his Translation of this article

André Rieu ZDF "Vienna City of My Dreams"

André Rieu, "Vienna City of My Dreams"

Saturday October 1, 2011 on ZDF

Presseportal, Germany: "André Rieu, Vienna, City of My Dreams", star violinist meets world star Anthony Hopkins. It will happen on October 1st, 2011 at 8:15 PM in three-quarter time with André Rieu, traveling through Vienna. Barbara Wussow and the star violinist will travel in a carriage through the city of waltzes and present to the ZDF viewers the points of interest of this Habsburg city.

"Vienna, City of My Dreams" is a tribute to the city of Vienna, which starts with an André Rieu concert in Vienna's city hall. The Maestro and his Johann Strauss Orchestra present in an incomparable manner the most beautiful waltzes and Viennese songs. Also appearing are the Platinum Tenors, sopranos Mirusia Louwerse, Kalki Schrijvers and Kimmy Skota.

It is no wonder that for his contribution in spreading the Viennese music all over the world, Rieu has now received the highest honor: In July he received the "Golden Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria" at the Belvedere Castle, where the carriage ride with Barbara Wussow also happens to end. In the castle André Rieu meets Sir Anthony Hopkins. The superstar who not only is a fan of the violinist, and what was far less known, is even a musician and composer. One of the best conditions for the cooperation between the two.

Thanks to Elke Bliefering from the German Fansite for this and Johns Translation of it

André Rieu Number ONE in England!!

André Rieu Number ONE in England!!

September 27, 2011: Everything is going great for André Rieu in England, as it happens his DVD is in first place. The Limburg Maestro's music is consumed there like tea and biscuits.

André Rieu is extremely proud to have his disk as number 1, "Ahead of Justin Bieber and ahead of Michael Jackson!" André told RTL Boulevard jubilantly on Tuesday, "it is unimaginable. This DVD, which we made in Mexico, was the one that Universal in the beginning did not want to have anything to do with, and now we are Number 1 with it in the UK!"

André almost attained that coveted top spot last year, but then the folks from "Take That" threw a wrench in the works.

Thanks to John and Ineke for this

Carla Maffioletti Joins André Rieu's Mexico Tour

Carla Announces Joining Tour in Mexico!

For all the fans in Mexico ... ►Carla Maffioletti  has just announced on her FB Page that she will be joining André on his Tour in Mexico!! That tour also includes San Antonio and Dallas, so we would (think) she'd be at those 2 concerts also.

André Rieu JSO Members in Their Spare Time!

New Page! JSO Members in Their Spare Time

A Great NEW Page Ineke and Ruud have created on their Website! ► Click HERE To See JSO Members In Their Spare Time!

Many JSO members participate in other musical events when not performing on tour. We have created a new page on this website dedicated to current and ex JSO members performing away from the JSO environment. Marcel Falize has formed a new percussion group called “Lift -Off”. Frank Steijns travels with his mobile carillon, Linda Custers and Renate Dirix (ex JSO member) are members of the medieval rock band “Reïncarnatus”. Carla and Carmen free lance with solo performances ... Ineke and Ruud

Haley Westenra Sings on André Rieu's New CD!

Haley Westenra Sings 'Dreaming of New Zealand' 

On André Rieu's New CD "And The Waltz Goes On"

Translation from Elke Bliefering's 'Rieu~Treff' ... If you look at Andre Rieu's web site, at the track listing of his new CD, and you were able to listen to the excerpts of the songs, you may have noticed two things: One song track is on the CD twice, once as an instrumental version and the other at the end of the track listing with a vocalist. The track in question, "Dreaming of New Zealand". The music was composed by André himself, and as a vocalist he selected the young Hayley Westenra, a singer with an amazing voice! Renate, had googled her and found videos of Hayley and forwarded me the following link: ► Click HERE To The Link . I was thrilled, and spent some time on youtube, watching more videos of this young singer. And of course I wanted to know who this singer with the great voice actually was.

Hayley Dee Westenra (born April 10, 1987) is a singer from Christchurch, New Zealand, with Irish and Dutch roots. Currently she lives mostly in London. Her parents Jill and Gerald Westenra have two younger children, Sophie and Isaac.There is quite a musical background in their family. Her grandmother Shirley Ireland was a singer and her grandfather a pianist. At an early age of six, Hayley appeared on stage the first time. She sang the lead role in a musical nativity play. A teacher advised her mother Jill, that Hayley should learn to play an instrument in order to advance her talent. Soon afterwards she learned to read music, play the violin, piano, guitar and recorder. At age 11 she had already participated in over 40 stage productions, sung on TV shows and had appeared in major concerts.

In 2000, at the age of 12, Westenra recorded her first CD. Followed by additional recording contracts, which made Hayley first in New Zealand known and famous and then later on internationally. In 2003 her first international album "Pure" was released. "Pure" was the best-selling debut album in the history of the "UK Classical Charts." In New Zealand "Pure" became 12-times platinum. With that, Hayley Westenra holds the sales record in the history of the country, regardless of genre.

Hayley has received several international awards and on 5 September 2006 was the first New Zealander to be awarded as one of the ten outstanding young people in the world, the Junior Chamber International award.

In August 2006, Hayley Westenra was a member of Celtic Woman. ► You can see them singing HERE . In June 2007 she and the group toured the U.S. where they were scheduled to perform in 88 venues across the country. When the tour ended, they went their separate ways.

Her latest album is called "Paradiso" and was released in England in August and will be released in the US in October ... Below are some links on Haley.

► Haley Westenra Website 
► Haley Westenra on Wikipedia
► Haley Singing Pokarekare Ana on Youtube

Our Thanks to Elke for letting John translate this from her German Fansite

Photos of André Rieu in Canada 2011

John And Bobbie at Their Concerts in Canada

Click HERE To See John's Pictures That He Took!

André Rieu New CD/DVD "Wiener Festwaltzer"

"Wiener Festwaltzer" (Viennese Party Waltzes)

To Be Released September 30, 2011

TRACKLIST of CD 01.Wiener Festwalzer 02. Wien wird bei Nacht erst schön 03. And the waltz goes on 04. Susie (if you knew Susie) 05. Dreaming of New Zealand 06. Wien bleibt Wien 07. Ich muss wieder einmal in Grinzing sein 08. Tanze mit mir in den Morge 09. La petite valse 10. Are you lonesome tonight? 11. Du kannst nicht treu sein 12. Valse triste 13. Blue tango 14. Rot sind die Rosen 15. Singing in the rain 16. We’ll meet again 17. Dreaming of New Zealand (Instrumental)

Track List of DVD 1. Intro: André & *Barbara 02. Voices of spring 03. Blaze away 04. The skaters waltz 05. Heut ist der schönste Tag 06. Snow waltz 07. Viennese blood 08. Andre & Barbara II 09. Entry march 10. Fächerpolonaise 11. Roses from the south 12. My heart will go on 13. Andre & Barbara III 14. Viennese citizen 15. A little night music 16. Gold and silver 17. Andre & Barbara IV 18. The viennese fiaker song 19. Andre & Barbara V.
*Barbara is the actress/TV personality Barbara Wussow. She is very famous in Germany and Austria. She did the Special together with André as hostess.

Thanks to Mike C. and Maik S. for the Info. and Covers on these.

A Funny Thing Happened During Intermission

A Funny Thing Happened During Intermission

Cute Concert Story From Al Girard

At The Edmonton Concert: André and the Johann Strauss Orchestra take only a fifteen minute intermission, and when they return to the stage André always teases the people who are late coming back to their seats. The cameras get shots of some of them as they search for their seat, sometimes forgetting where it is. This is quite fun, and sometimes very funny, and it can take five to ten minutes before everyone is seated and the program can resume.

In Edmonton, my good friend John Berry provided an unexpected turn of events. He and his wife Mirna were sitting next to me for the concert which was their first. At the beginning of intermission, John went to the concession.

When the orchestra and André did their usual late-comer tease, André said "Okay, is everybody back?" And then here came John, carrying drinks. He had bought one for himself, one for Mirna and one for me.

Well, there he was on the big screens. When John saw himself up there, he walked up to André and handed him a glass of wine. André said, "What is it?" John hollered back "red wine." André didn't drink it, but the orchestra and everyone absolutely cracked up in laughter.

Report from André Rieu Photographer Contest Winner!

Calgary Concert Report

From an 'Official Photographer' Winner!

I have been to the Calgary Concert and what a concert it was! I was the lucky one that was chosen to be the "Official Photographer" and got 2 tickets and a camera. I could hardly wait to leave the house to go to the concert. I took my cousin who had never been to an André Rieu concert before but likes his music.

When we came to the box office the tickets and the camera were all ready for me. With some picture I.D. they gave it to me. So, we went in, looked for our seats, right in front of the stage (row eight, seats 22 and 23) It could not have been better! We sat down and who did I see? John and Bobbie de Jong from California.

I went to say hello and met Marthijn Graafland who sent me the email saying that I won The Official Photographer Contest. John took some pictures of me and I took some pictures of them. And then the concert started.

André came up the isle as usual waving to the people. One of the songs they played was the “Skaters Waltz”. He started to explain how much snow they had in Maastricht and that we, Calgarians, would not understand it. Boy, all the people started to laugh!!! Right now we can see the mountains from here and are covered with snow already!!

Small snow flakes started to fall on us in the first rows and bit by bit it started to “snow” harder and harder. I told my cousin that it should start to snow more and more because I had seen it on one of Andre’s DVD’s before. And before we knew it, we got a huge load on our heads!!! WE WERE COVERED!!!!!! The people of the Saddle dome sure had some cleaning up to do. Including ALL the balloons coming down!!! Thousands of them!!

I was a bit disappointed that Frank Steins was not there and Ruud, Lynn’s husband and the girl that sits beside Teun. My favourite person Manoe played excellent again as usual! The Encores were very good and André told us to go home again, but played again some more. We enjoyed the concert very much. My cousin LOVED it!!

I took only 72 pictures! One of the pictures I like to show how much “snow” came down. Another one, André told this lady to check her bosom!

The write up in the Calgary Herald was very good. All I can say is, the people that were not there: you sure missed something! Make sure you go see him next time. We had a wonderful time ... Tina

Thanks to Sonja for forwarding this from her friend Tina

ANDRÉ RIEU 2011 Edmonton Concert Photos

The audience in Calgary was enthusiastic and was reluctant to let them go. Same was true in Edmonton. I heard many wonderful comments on the train back to our hotel last night in Edmonton. He was very well received here ... Kay Berman

►Click HERE To See Al's Photos of The Edmonton Concert!

André Rieu 2011 Calgary Concert Photos

CALGARY 2011 CONCERT REPORT AND PHOTOS

By Al Girard

The venue was only about 2/3 full, but the audience had a ball and there were several standing ovations. The audience was really responsive, and André was very funny in his banter with the crowd.

CONCERT PROGRAM: Seventy Six Trombones, Voices of Spring, Blaze Away, The Skaters' Waltz, Hout' ist der schonste Tag, Nessun Dorma, Snow Waltz, Ballad For Adeline, The Gypsy Princess, Feast of Fire Polka, Vilna, Viennese Blood, Mama, Chianti Song, Bummelpetris, Hava Nagila, Don't Cry For Me Argentina, The Beautifull Blue Danube, Hallleluja, Radetzky March.

ENCORES INCLUDED: Strauss and Company, Amazing Grace, Libiamo, Adieu, Oh Canada, Marina

ABSENT WERE: Frank Steijns, Nicolle Steins, Ruud Merx, Jet, Diana Morsinkhof, Pierre Colen, Linda Custers, and of course Nadejda Diakoff and Nathalie Bolle who are on maternity leave. Also, there was no harp. Mireille Brepols was on Tympani .......... Al Girard

► Click HERE To See All of Al's Calgary Photos! 

André Rieu Presents "GreenKey" to "Golden Tulip"

André Rieu Presents "GreenKey" to "Golden Tulip"

September 5, 2011: Hotel Owner Benoit Wesly and hotel director Dirk Beljaarts of the Golden Tulip Apple Park Hotel Maastricht were surprised by André Rieu this past Friday when he presented them the coveted Greenkey Certificate.

Concert in Winter Atmosphere

Just prior to this, André Rieu, his Johann Strauss Orchestra and a select group of invited guests were involved with the recordings of a Christmas special to be broadcast by ZDF. The garden and the castle of André Rieu were transformed into a winter atmosphere. After this wonderful concert, where the guests were dressed up completely in winter coats and scarves in 28 ( 82 F) degree weather, the coveted Greenkey certificate was presented. As the namesake of the André Rieu Hotel (Golden Tulip Apple Park Maastricht) he wanted to present the certificate. In front of the Johann Strauss Orchestra and guests, the surprised hoteliers accepted the Green Key certificate.

Special Night

Dirk Beljaarts (director of Golden Tulip Apple Park Maastricht) responds: "This was suppose to have been a 'normal' concert evening, which turned out to be very special indeed. It is an honor and special surprise that André presented us with the Green Key certificate. We know that André really appreciates a sustainable commercial enterprise, but this we did not expect".

About Golden Tulip Apple Park Maastricht

The Golden Tulip Apple Park Hotel Maastricht is located near the historic city center of Maastricht. In addition to 166 comfort and executive rooms, the hotel has several meeting facilities, an Executive Lounge and the famous "Dreamz" bar and restaurant. Every year during the months of June, July and August is the only official André Rieu Hotel in the world.

On the picture from left to right: Benoit Wesly (Hotel Owner), André Rieu and Dirk Beljaarts (Hotel Manager), Golden Tulip Maastricht. Photo by Govert de Roos.

Thanks to John for his Holiday Translation of this article!

André Rieu's Castle Transformed Into a Christmas Palace

André Rieu's Castle Transformed Into a Christmas Palace

In Warm Summer Weather

Maastricht Aktueel: Under very special circumstances in and around André Rieu's castle, recordings for the German television station ZDF were being made. For days they have worked with all their might and power to transform the gardens and the interior of the Maastricht world star's castle into a winter atmosphere. The German TV company started last Friday with the production of a Christmas Special 2011. Even the roofs were covered with a layer of fake snow. And all that in the same week that summer again found the Netherlands. In downright balmy temperatures, the Christmas evergreens adorned the walls of Andre Rieu's domain.

At the Viefsprunk (a crossing of five road) at the base on the St. Peter's hill, the terraces are full with people enjoying a beautiful summer evening. A little more than a kilometer away, at the bottom of the Zonneberg, snow covers the roofs of André Rieu's stunning castle. Inside the walls of André Rieu's estate, one finds a stunning winter landscape. Thousands of lights, Christmas trees and even a real snowman, combined with sophisticated lighting in and around the castle produce a magical sight. Just before the recordings started, a huge snow cannon supplied the trees and the roofs of the castle with a thick layer of environmentally friendly fake snow.

A select group of invited guests, dressed in winter clothing, are being treated on this subtropical evening with hot chocolate and hot mulled wine. It takes some getting used to, but all those present are quickly transformed into the Christmas spirit by means of the Christmas songs presented by the Johann Strauss Orchestra and soloists.

An unforgettable summer evening in a winter atmosphere. This Christmas special, which will be aired by ZDF on Christmas Eve, December 24th, is being recorded in no less than seven languages ​​and will be broadcast worldwide. Last night forty minutes of video were recorded and captured. During the month of November on several specific locations in and around Maastricht the necessary recordings will be made to complete the broadcast. As an example, even in the historic center of Maastricht streets will also be transformed into a winter atmosphere.

Yet another export product of André Rieu with a large portion of Maastricht promotion will go around the world during Christmas. Thanks to Han Scheuerman. Photo © Govert de Roos. And Thanks to John for the English Translation.

USA! 35 New Cinemas Added for Maastricht 2011

►Click Here To See Added Cities and Theaters