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Rieu-wrecked in Brisbane 2 Days in the Life of an Andre Fan
Where to start - where does it finish ??? Just how do you put feelings into a piece of paper !!! This week was the culmination of 10 years of waiting to see a live concert from Andre and JSO, something I thought I would never see in my own country. Wednesday, December 3 dawned just like any early summer day in Brisbane, but this was to be no ordinary day. This was the day the “tickets”, purchased more than a year before could finally be presented. My wife Lynne and I were going to the concerts on both nights, so we had decided to stay in the city. By mid-morning we were on our way. An uneventful lunch in the mall, then we checked into our top floor apartment where the TV news told us the chance of an afternoon storm had been removed from the forecast. Didn’t need them to tell me, “blind freddy” could see it wasn’t going to storm !!!, I’ve been saying that all day, just forget about any storm I assured everyone I met. 3.30pm and son no.2 (Todd) makes his first weather report call. All clear Dad - nothing on the radar - bit of stuff on the mountain but breaking up at Boonah. Yeah , looks like we are ok tonight - very muggy though. Catch ya later. 4.30pm and we take the lift to the foyer of our hotel, it is abuzz with many groups of fans just as eager to get to Suncorp. The shuttle buses are picking up from the opposite corner and we all make our way there, much confusion as we try to establish a queue. Our friends Marie and Harry arrive from the Gold Coast and after quick greetings, the first shuttle coach arrives. Led by the group of octogenarians at the front of the queue we all rush the door to ensure we get on the first coach. Success, and we leave the ever so quickly growing queue behind as we head to Suncorp. Everyone is chatting and laughing, wow I think, these people don’t even know each other, yet there gibbering like old friends. We arrive at Suncorp and head for the concourse, merchandise, programmes and refreshments are already popular spots. Marie and Harry are having our front row seats tonight and we are heading to the stand, so we part and head to our separate entrances. 5.30pm and all is clear, no storms within 500 km of here. Todd rings again Bit of stuff building behind Ipswich Dad, but nothing to worry about. OK son, no worries here. We are early but decide to go into the stadium and soak up some atmosphere. We are on the first upper level, front row and almost centre stage. As we enter the arena, we are stopped dead in our tracks by our first glimpse of “Schonbrunn”, standing so majestically and stretching the full length of Suncorp. Wow, this is gonna be some night.!!
A few other fans are already there as well and soon we are all yakking and laughing. Some are big fans, some have been dragged along by the partner (easier to keep the peace), others have seen a couple of concerts on Ovation and thought it worth a look. But all know something of Andre and the lovely lady in the “blue dress”. 6pm and Todd on the phone again…. Not looking good Dad, this stuff out Ipswich way is brewing very quickly…. What do you mean…?? Storm is growing out of nothing…never seen anything grow so fast…!! I can’t see anything from here at Suncorp.. It is still about 15 km away… will keep you posted. This is unbelievable !!!. my thoughts are interrupted by a Stadium announcement to the effect a storm is brewing quickly in the west, we are monitoring and will keep you posted. At 6.30pm the stadium asks all patrons on the floor of the arena to evacuate to the concourse area’s on the upper level as we are going to get a hit from this storm. So many of these fans are elderly and I feel for them as I watch them make their way up and out of the area. A second announcement has a bit more urgency about it and more staff get in to quicken the evacuation. Todd again…. I ask him to pinpoint the storm and direction for me using local knowledge. I still can not see anything from the stadium except the flash’s from lightning. Todd says he thinks it is splitting in half….he quips that if Andre can get out of this one, he will worship him as well…. As we are speaking I see it loom up almost above us in all its khaki green and black glory….violent lightning and crashing thunder leading it in…. Before hanging up Todd tells me the storm is not deep and should pass quickly…the good news being that there is nothing behind it and after it passes we should be ok for the rest of the night…..the rain was now blowing in all directions and I had to retreat higher into the stand to escape it. I saw a lone lady who had not retreated inside and was enjoying the lightning display. I said “Hi” - then it started - she was widowed about 6 months ago, when her late husband became ill they could afford to have either a computer or pay TV, but not both, Delia (her name) felt the pay TV would be better for her husband so they got it. Yes it was through Ovation Channel that they both became hooked on Andre. She said she still hoped to get a computer someday, so I filled her in on all the details of how she could get to meet all the most wonderful people and Andre fans on this blog. She asked me had I heard of that lovely young chap also on Ovation - Helmut Lotti - wow -this lady has taste, so address’s were exchanged and promises made. Lynne resurfaced and I introduced her to Delia, who within minutes had her so hyped up she declared the computer a certainty. All that !!! and I only said “Hi” The storm was spectacular in all its fury as lightning bounced and ricocheted all around Suncorp before subsiding and moving away quickly after about 20 minutes. I thought …what an impressive curtain raiser…..it was as though mother nature was challenging Andre…ha…ha. It was not long before the stadium announced all clear and fans could return to their seats. The staff went out of their way to help with drying seats and assisting patrons to return to the floor. Probably about 10,000 of the 25,000 present had to be reseated. With about half the fans back in seats, JSO members appeared from behind stage and took there places, very quickly followed by Andre. They burst into “Singing in the Rain” to the delight of all present. A couple more impromptu items were played and then just on 1 hour late, Andre announced he could now start the “official concert”. Now the Australian concerts have been so well documented and commented on from every possible angle on this website, I don’t think you need me to give a blow by blow description again. From where we sat we had the most spectacular view of the whole show. We were just too far away to see close detail of the happenings on stage but the intention tonight was to take in the whole spectacle - up close and cosy is for tomorrow night. The lighting was spectacular as “Schonbrunn constantly changed color according to the music. From our viewpoint, the finale of Bolero was just breathtaking as the big screens exploded into “fire” and smoke drifted across the face of the castle. The fan involvement and interaction was excellent with huge “standing ovations” for both Mirusia and Gary Bennett (naturally). All too soon it was over and we joined the throngs exiting the stadium. 25000 people in total agreement, chatting, laughing, back slapping and giggling there way down the passages. It was like a giant ribbon snaking its way out, 20 people wide and moving with a waltz like rythm, occasionally their feet would touch the ground, then rise up again until they had to duck slightly to avoid hitting there heads into a low cloud. We decided to walk the 1km or so back to our hotel, so we rejoined the line and floated off with the thousands of other fans heading to the railway in the city. Accompanied by constant outbursts of “Botany Bay” “Home Among the Gumtree’s” and “Waltzing Matilda” and much frivolity with the Police Officers guarding our passage, our journey home ended too soon. Thursday December 4 - I am up early and off enjoying my own thoughts of yesterday and contemplating the day ahead as I take a brisk walk along the river esplanade. I am amazed at the number of morning walkers I encounter in the city. By 6am I am back at the hotel and planning the day ahead with Lynne over breakfast. Plans to seek out and stalk JSO members are abandoned, as it is already obvious today is going to be very hot and any European with any brains is not going to venture far from the luxury of air conditioning. Talk of storms and in particular my predictions are a banned subject. We pass the morning and meet up with No1 son who works in the city as a computer guru for U.S. Real Estate Company CB Richard Ellis for lunch at another hotel. The restaurant area is full of groups of mainly women enjoying lunch prior to tonights concert, I am tempted to say “Hi”, but on this occasion I decide to contain myself. Lunch moves into the past and we decide to rest a little until concert time. Back at the apartment and the TV is screaming “Storm” on the way. The mood drops into one of heavy thinking, out on the balcony surveying the sky, I am on the wrong side of the building and can’t see storm corner. Desperation time, consult Todd, the sound of the mobile ringing breaks my concentration. Lynne answers, it’s Todd, he’s confirming he has purchased platinum tickets down front and on aisle for next years Brisbane concert for us. Wow, Visa pre-sale today at 12 noon, Thank God for No 2 son. Hello Todd, whats the storm doing ??? Your gonna get it How big is it. Big - but not bad like last night. Any good news Yeah - it will be gone past by 5pm and then it is clear all the way to Perth. I remind him of last nights forecasting effort !! By 3pm it is so dark the city lights turn on and the storm moves in from the west - straight over top of Suncorp. With rain lashing at the windows we get ready for concert No. 2. Tonight I am wearing my Andre shirt I bought from Maastricht. 4.30pm with rain still pouring down we take the lift to the foyer which is again filled with concert goers. I sort of ended up near a group of 4 elderly ladies looking out at the rain. I took a deep breath and said “Hi”…..Hi, I am Kath from Rockhampton, these are my 3 sisters, last year I had a good win on the “slot machines” and I said that’s it, we’re off to Brisbane to see Andre Rieu, we all love him. Heard about him through Ovation Channel, got all his DvD’s now, could watch him all day. Love your shirt, do you watch Ovation ??? Have you seen Helmut Lotti ??? …..Lynne arrives to rescue me just as we finish exchanging address’s…. all I said was “Hi”!!!
In still pouring rain and under fold up umbrella’s we make our way into the queue for the shuttle ride to Suncorp. 10 minutes later we arrive at Suncorp and from here I can see blue sky in the west, yeah, Todd was right, I taught him well, within minutes the rain stopped and quickly cleared away. Tonight is front row in front of stage, so we decide to enter straight away and soak up some more atmosphere. The staff are busy wiping the seats and everyone is confident of no more rain tonight. From the upper concourse we lean on the rail taking in the majesticness of Schonbrunn (sometimes you just have to invent your own words) I decide to get a coffee before descending to the floor level and head to the coffee outlet, joining a small queue behind a couple in there 70’s. The lady smiled, more or less acknowledging my shirt, I responded with “Hi” ……we’re from New Zealand you know - got out of bed at 2am this morning -drove 2 hours to Auckland to catch the plane at 6am - got here at 5am, daylight saving plus the 2 hour difference…got here before we left..ha ha…been walking around Brisbane all day and now we are here….just love Andre we do…after the concert we are going back to the airport….ha ha…catch a bit of sleep in the lounge and catch the plane back to Auckland at 6am….it will be 11am when we get to Auckland….then we have to drive home….but we wouldn’t miss this for anything…. Wow I thought…what dedication is that…what a whirlwind 36 hours their having..!! Coffee now in hand I bid them Good Luck...and head back to Lynne…all I said was “Hi” As we descended down to the floor the first person I saw was Pierre and another worker near the first fountain, but they appeared pre-occupied, so I refrained from saying “Hi” to them. As we approached the stage area we could see some of the JSO doing final adjustments etc. Marcel was still in his casuals and doing finishing touch’s to his drums, I gave him a wave and he smiled broadly and waved back. From the floor level “Schonbrunn” took on an entirely new appearance, it was “awesome”, so dominating even Suncorp itself seemed to fade away somewhere. For the next hour or so we amused ourselves with the ever increasing number of fans arriving, made acquaintance with our seat buddies for the night, and yes , I did say “Hi” a few more times….. The crowd jumped to their feet as the sound of “76 Trombones” roared into the arena, there coming they yelled as Andre led the JSO down the 2 centre aisles hand slapping as he went. Andre headed up on stage, but a group of the girls led by Manoe turned and headed straight towards us, turning almost in front of me, but not before I had time to yell “Love ya Manoe” to which she gave me a big smile. So this is Heaven eh!!!!. Down in front was a totally different experience to last night -almost like seeing an entirely new show. The sense’s got no rest, so much was happening all around, the sound was different as we could actually here the orchestra itself without the amplification. The lighting was so much bolder, I could almost touch the skating rink and every expression on Andre’s and the JSO faces was clearly visible. The Tenors were the first to get a standing ovation with the biggest for Gary again, Mirusia got a standing ovation again naturally and responded with her now famous Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi. All the artist were gratefully applauded, Carmen and Susan both received huge applause. The stage was setup different to normal, with the JSO forming a semi-circle between the piano at the front on the left side and the drums at the front on the right side. The chorus girls were up where the drums are normally situated. I think Marcel Felize thoroughly enjoyed being up front and all night he taunted and teased Frank and the other violinist opposite him, constantly crossing his drumsticks and playing them violin fashion. The main concert came to an end with Bolero, during the entire 7 minutes that Marcel led them through this, there was not another sound to be heard in the entire place. The moment it reached it’s explosive climax, the entire 25,000 fans stood up in the most comprehensive “Standing Ovation” I have ever heard. Marcel was deeply moved by this and as he returned to his drums I saw him dab his eyes as a very proud son helped him back up. I think that was the most moving moment of all. The fun of the encores and all the Aussie songs then brought the concert and indeed the Australian Tour to a close. As the fans left the arena I told Lynne to hang back and let the crowd get away, I had my hopes of a photo session afoot. After about 10 minutes I saw Andre and the dancers up in the ballroom having photo’s taken. Soon after the ice-skaters emerged onto the ice-rink and was soon joined by Andre and Pierre with camera in hand. Lynne was busy getting photo’s and I was just standing taking it all in. Stepping back I felt someone behind me and turned to apologize….My God….I was staring straight down at Mirusia….she had come from ..somewhere.. to join her family and friends. I congratulated her and she extended her hand to shake and said Thank You. ….wow…”Touched by an Angel” I should have said “Hi”. Sadly I must report that despite Lynnes best efforts - I now believe that our camera may have been struck by lightning on the first night and went into to a times 5 exposure mode without Lynne realizing. Hence, only about a dozen of the 165 photo’s recording all these events survived. But that’s life -the real images are in the mind forever.
This will teach Sally not to make me a Reporter !!!
Grayeme Your Aussie Reporter
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