My annual evening with Andre

Andre Rieu returned to the Vrijthof this week for his traditional summer concerts.  It’s the violinist’s vintage fare: bottled in gigantic sets, lavish costumes, and orchestral waltz music.  Local folk can’t get enough of him: You can get a taste here.  The series is lasting twice as long as usual and I hear that tickets are being discounted, but it looks like a packed house to me every night.

 

The warm, clear summer evening is perfect for sitting out and listening to music. Venues are set up around town with speakers so that people can dine and listen.   A big-screen television is set up in Sint Amorsplein with a live feed from the concert.  Every seat is packed. 

 

The crowd drank and swayed and sang along with their favorites.  Andre mugged for the camera; a singer belted out Don’t Cry For Me against a backdrop of Argentina-born Princess Maxima.  It’s all good fun.

 

During a break, I wandered down to the river and had a biertje, tried to engage a book, as the evening glow faded from the midsummer skies.  There’s so much to be thinking about, ‘better to just get a bit of peace against the distant music and the quiet hum of conversation.