André Rieu’s Concert at the Stade de France

 by Macrui Dostourian

André Rieu, known as “the King of Waltz”, and his Johann Strauss Orchestra and Choir delighted Parisian fans last Friday on the French leg of his world stadium tour, “A Romantic Vienna Night.”  The night’s entertainment began, naturally, with a waltz by Strauss. A waltz was the perfect beginning for a concert that was intended to bring the magic of Vienna – or more precisely, the magic of Rieu’s 2006 performance at the Schönbrunn Palace – to audiences around the world.

The program was filled with songs from popular operas, operettas, movies, and musicals. These included a number of opera songs interpreted by The Platin Tenors, Carmen Monarcha’s soulful rendition of Puccini’s aria, “O Mio Bambino Caro,” Mirusia Louwerse’s angelic voice singing “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,” and Suzan Eren’s version of “I Will Not Give Myself Up,” meant to express the Empress Elisabeth’s wishes to free herself from the strictures of the Austrian court. The Vienna State Opera Ballet, the Vienna Debutantes, and champion ice skaters danced along to many of the songs and made the music come to life.

In addition to the aural delights, the evening also provided a visual treat. The stage set-up consisted of a full-scale replica of the central portion of the Schönbrunn Palace and included an open ballroom decorated with golden chandeliers. The stage was flanked by two ice-skating rinks and exact replicas of the fountains at the Palace.

Although Rieu was the main attraction, part of his appeal lies in his ability to let other musicians take the spotlight. For example, during the rendition of “My Heart Will Go On,” from the movie Titanic, Rieu’s 1667 Stradivarius was a mere whisper that served as a background to the performance of the bird-like flute. Rieu also managed to mix genres that might not seem to blend well together, such as polka and ballet. One such unusual but powerful combination included the European Pipers’ bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace” which played towards the end of the evening.

During each song, Rieu managed to transmit the sheer emotion that the composers of the original operas and classical pieces intended – feelings that are often lost in today’s stuffy concert halls. For the lover of classical music, a Rieu performance is a rare opportunity to clap, whistle, and dance along to the music in public.