I called Sharon and got off to a slightly late start.
Not that it mattered. We had an hour to drive to the
Oracle Arena in Oakland this warm summer night. Traffic
was kind to us; we only hit a small amount of the rush
home.
Shirley Fortney called on the cell saying she was
parked right next to Andre’s buses. As I pull into the
parking lot they waive me forward. Everyone else is
going to the right, but I’m forward. Ok. I
drive all the way into the front of the lot, as no other
cars were there, and who do I see taking a Walk About?
Gary Bennett.
Sharon and I drive up next to Gary and speak with him
for 5+ minutes. I tell Gary I have the Tenor’s CD and
love it. (It is great, I recommend everyone buy it!)
Gary is a very nice man and we continue to talk but
then a car pulls up behind me. I tell Gary we’d better
go before we draw a crowd. We say goodbye, see you
inside.
Then it’s on to find Rex and Shirley! We find them
and talk with Rex. I go to find Shirley who is taking
photos of the buses. I talk a moment with Tanda’s
husband and then I see Shirley, but I yell to her to
turn around ... who is behind her? Gary aka Fast
Walker Bennett! Gary gives us all a good laugh by
telling us the car behind me stopped to ask him where to
park!!! They thought he was the parking attendant!!!
You’ve all read the songs played in other reports, so
I will tell you a few of the personal touches at this
concert.
Sharon told me after the Plantin Tenors sang, that
she would never have known that beautiful tenor voice
would come from Gary, the man in the parking lot. We
had to laugh again. I wonder if the people who asked
him where to park, recognized him once he was on-stage.
Most reading this know that I love the fans. Andre’s
positive music attracts nice positive people. In front
of me was a couple who brought their Dad to Oakland as a
birthday gift. There was also a lady, her mother and her son. She
and her son danced during The Blue Danube. So did the
children who sat to my left. An adorable boy & girl who
could not have been cuter. The young girl beamed the
entire time as her brother kept rhythm and twirled her
to the music.
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Andre offered us his best and as always he was the
best. The crowd in Oakland was very upbeat. When Andre
asked if anyone was from Oakland, the venue was silent.
It was so quiet Andre laughed. He then said... “No
One?" Andre laughed heartily and this of course
made us all laugh.
Carla came out as the doll and sang Song of Olympia.
She was simply … stunning. Hearing her sing live is
excellent. When she turns toward Andre and says ‘Papa’
he turned her back around and saying “Opa”. Those of us
who understood this, clapped! (Opa = Grandpa) When
Carla finished singing, Sharon & I jumped to our feet to
start the standing ovation for her.
Mirusia came onstage in her red sequined dress. The
color is beautiful and the dress so shinny we had to
squint our eyes. When she sang Time To Say Goodbye, the
audience was quiet so they could hear every beautiful
note she sang. And this was again, a standing ovation,
well deserved.
We were treated to the fun of the clog dance, the men
goofing off and everyone having a good time. There were
more songs, beautiful music filling the air, and a large
number of people dancing but as with all good things,
this too would come to an end.
With the Radetzky-Marsch and the fall of balloons our
night was coming to a close. Only the encores were
left.
Shirley and I had a sign we gave each other to go to
the stage. After moving through the crowd which was 10
people deep in some places we made our way to left side
and front of the stage. Sharon has the camera ready as
Shirley & I held up a banner and we all yelled “ELS!”
Lara Meuleman, Vincenzo Viola, Boris Goldenblank,
Stéphanie Detry & Jet Gelens saw the banner the same
time as Els. Els smiled so big when she read the
banner!The entire left side of the stage lit up with
smiles and laughter. I could tell Els was truly
surprised! Andre looked over to see what the commotion
was, took a look at the banner, and then gave us a big
grin. He enjoyed it too!
Singing, Swaying, Dancing, visiting the JSO, visiting
Fans, and all to the Beautiful Music of Andre Rieu.
Oakland had more people waltzing than any other concert
I have ever been to, the aisles were filled from the
front to the back of the arena. It was a wonderful
sight.
