Andre Rieu Concert at National Indoor Arena Birmingham and later Live Broadcast from Sydney.
Truly a spectacular evening. Friends invited us to one of the live broadcasts in the cinema earlier in the year, the orchestra’s annual performance in Andre Rieu’s home town of Maastricht. Not sure what to expect, we were so impressed we booked tickets for his live performance in Birmingham and enjoyed a fantastic show.
The orchestra is full of talented musicians, all clearly with individual characters! Classical black tie or beautiful ball gowns, plus striking images on screen behind them to echo the theme or place, means this is truly a luxury treat for all the senses. Add 3 sopranos, 3 tenors, a Russian duet and the great personality of the maestro himself for a most enjoyable evening. As it was Christmas, there were seasonal songs to a fantastic snow-covered backdrop and part-way through the song snow started to fall on the audience below. Brilliant – as it finished a ton of snow came down in a whoosh!
The NIA is a big place, and although our seats were high up and just off-centre, we had a great view and of course the sound is brilliant wherever you sit. It was expensive for the tickets because we bought them online, well in advance, with quite outrageous booking fees (don’t use Viagogo again). We would love to go to the Maastricht concert in July, as there are several 3-night trips available, but around £500 each we may not go this time.
In the New Year, there was a live cinema broadcast of his concert in Sydney so we also went to this. It is truly the best way to see him if you cannot go to a live concert, and reasonably priced at £15 each. Everywhere they play, they include something specific to that location and this New Year’s performance was no different.
It included 30 Celtic Pipers on stage and 4 sopranos, 3 tenors and finished with one of Australia’s favourite anthem. I have seen Carmina Burana performed several times live, but this was the best ever. Even watching this in the cinema, you could feel the music all around you and the audience applauded along with the Sydney audience. It is a magical evening and worth going to see if you can, either as live cinema broadcast in your home region or, even better, at a live concert.
