ANDRÉ RIEU // OVO HYDRO, GLASGOW
ANDRÉ RIEU PLAYS AT THE OVO HYDRO ON 20TH APRIL 2024
★★★★☆ (4/5)
ANDRÉ RIEU PLAYS AT THE OVO HYDRO ON 20TH APRIL 2024
PHOTOCREDIT: CALUM BUCHAN
The rousing sound of Entry of the Gladiators heralded the arrival of André Rieu and his 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra as they marched into the OVO Hydro, Glasgow, to a sea of enthusiastic fans. Rieu remarked it was some 90 concerts around the world since their last visit. Such was the attention given to creating that old world charm of a bygone era; a stage bedecked with flowers, gilded music stands, men with tuxedos and women dressed in a rainbow of ball gowns, that it was indeed a feast for the eyes.
Spectacular backdrop scenery transported the audience around the world with every song. When the Tenors sang Granada, it evoked that sense of all things Spanish. Rieu quipped, “Every night, at every concert when they sing this aria, they get a standing ovation. It’s the most beautiful aria ever composed for tenors” and Glasgow was no different. The audience rose to their feet when Tenors, Gary Bennett, Bela Mavrak and Serge Bosch sang Giacomo Puccini’s Nessun Dorma taken from his opera Turandot.
In contrast, the soft, gentle tones of Das Kleine Glöckchen (the little bell) played by the percussionist family of Marcel Falize with his three sons, Glenn, Dean and Colin, created a sense of hush over the arena. This perfectly set the scene for an appearance by 16 year old girl, Emma Kok, a Dutch singer who won The Voice Kids in 2021, singing Voilà, formerly sung by Barbara Pravi, French runner up in the Eurovision Song Contest. Emma’s soulful tones not only in delivering Voilà, but also with Heal The World by Michael Jackson, earned her a standing ovation.
EMMA KOK PERFORMING WITH ANDRÉ RIEU AT THE OVO HYDRO, GLASGOW ON 20TH APRIL 2024
PHOTOCREDIT: CALUM BUCHAN
Any seasoned fan of André Rieu concerts will be familiar with Rieu’s whimsical approach to publicly identifying latecomers on the big screen, with the Orchestra joining in too with Colonel Bogey’s March. There is no escape for stragglers returning with a beer or coffee! Nor indeed could anyone in the front rows avoid Rieu’s humorous intent to find individuals wearing red clothing, as two people in a bull costume sauntered in to España Cañí, fixating eyes on one lady in red and chasing her out of the arena!
The Sopranos brought that touch of sparkle with changes of dress from pastel shades to sequins and netting. Anna Majchrzak sang a touching rendition of Think of Me from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Phantom of the Opera and Micaela Oeste beautifully sang the Vilja aria from The Merry Widow Operetta by Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár. Ukrainian, Anna Reker, delivered a heartfelt performance of Nitsch Jaka in her own mother tongue and then that timeless traditional feeling of Greece was evoked when Christina Petrou sang Ta Pedia Tou Pirea (Never on Sunday) by Manos Hadjidakis.
Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata’s drinking song Libiamo ne’ Lieti Calici did indeed bring a touch of merriment; the champagne flowing freely and clarinettist, Manoe Konings, downing her glass in one. Rieu’s ability to create mirth and his humorous interaction with the audience is what makes classical music wider known. An der Schönen Blauen Donau (The Blue Danube) inspired couples to dance in the aisles, older and younger generations alike. The pace quickened with hits such as Tutti Frutti and the iconic Sirtaki (Zorba’s Dance) by Mikis Theodorakis that makes it so hard not to dance. Dutch singer, Dorona Alberti, raised the roof with her covers of Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive and Opus’ Life is Life.
As the concert drew to an end, Rieu loved to tease the audience with quips such as “You aren’t tired?” Mobile phone lights were shining everywhere as the Orchestra went on to play Elvis’ Can’t Help Falling in Love and toes were a tapping to Adieu Mein Kleiner Gardeoffizier. A poignant feeling arose when the audience joined in for the final song, Dame Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again, but as Rieu reminded everyone “Whatever happens in your life, try to believe in the power of music. Music will always be with you and help you in difficult moments. I’m going to wish you all in your life a lot of music.”
ANDRÉ RIEU PLAYS AT THE OVO HYDRO ON 20TH APRIL 2024
PHOTOCREDIT: CALUM BUCHAN