André Rieu: In Love with Maastricht - an album guide
The Dutch violinist is so in love with his hometown of Maastricht, that he's releasing a whole album of music in honour of the great city! Find out about this selection of waltzes and marches, celebrating 25 years of the Johann Strauss Orchestra.
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1. Old Comrades
A lively military march to kick-start the album, with André directing from the violin. It's a concert favourite, as the audience can clap along, and a marching band take to the aisles to bring the performance to life.
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2. Gloria all’Egitto, ad Iside
If he's not walting, he's marching - and this Triumphal March from Verdi's Aïda is a perfect example of a rousing military theme.
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3. Pini di Roma
A slightly more sedate piece now, gradually building in intensity as the music progresses. The lights go up, the brass come in, and the trumpets blast out their beautiful melody into the skies of Maastricht.
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4. Panis Angelicus
Franck's spine-tingling choral piece, given the Johann Strauss Orchestra treatment, and performed by soprano Mirusia Louwerse.
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5. Parade Of Charioteers (Ben Hur)
For every ballgown-clad string player in the orchestra, André Rieu seems to have added extra trombone, French horn, euphonium, tuba, and trumpet. When he and his orchestra perform this piece in Vrijhof Square in Maastricht, hundreds of brass musicians line the aisles, blasting out their tunes from the centre of the city.
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6. Ode To Joy
Taken from Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, André Rieu and the Johann Strauss orchestra and vocal soloists perform a special arrangement of the 'Ode to Joy' - a hymn to universal brotherhood.
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7. Nessun Dorma
The Platin Tenors take to the stage with the King of the Waltz, André Rieu, to perform this well-loved aria from Puccini's Turandot. This version is a beautiful tenor trio, accompanied by a full choir of female voices from the back of the stage.
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8. Oh Fortuna
From the booming timpani and the impressive choral opening, the Johann Strauss orchestra take the most famous song from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana and make it their own.
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9. La Vergine delgi Angeli
The amazing religious song, taken from the end of Act II of Verdi's opera, La forza del destino. Soprano Mirusia Louwerse is the soloist once more, taking on the soaring vocal line.
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10. Conquest of Paradise
This piece, taken from Ridley Scott's 1992 film, 1492: Conquest of Paradise, evokes the atmosphere of an epic drama thorough the music alone. André Rieu conducts from the stage as a chorus of vocalists sing the pseudo-Latin words.
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11. My African Dream
We may be in Maastricht, but André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra are taking a musical journey to Africa, with a solo from South African soprano Kimmy Skota. André said of the singer: "When I first heard her sing I thought ‘Wow, I knew there were diamonds here in South Africa but this has got to be the most beautiful diamond of all!’"
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12. Hallo, was machst du heut’ Daisy
Staying firmly in the cheeky jazzy vein, the Berlin Comedian Harmonists take to the stage for a flirty number, asking the elusive Daisy what she's doing tonight. She always seems to have other plans, however...
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13. When I’m Sixty-Four
From Africa, to Liverpool, with a rousing rendition of Beatles classic, When I'm Sixty-Four. Expect cheeky jazzy trumpet chords, a choir of dancing men, and a brilliantly catchy tune.
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14. Das ist die Liebe der Matrosen
The 'ba-ba-ba's of the Berlin Comedian Harmonists are back for another light-hearted German song, this time telling the story of the 'love of the sailors' as they sail the seas. Ahoy!
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15. Sierra Madre
German pop singer Heino takes to the stage in this lilting duet. It's taken from his 2012 performance, live in Maastricht.
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16. Beer Barrel Polka (Rosamunde)
Clapping, accordions, trumpets, and dancing in the aisles. If you're looking for a catchy feel-good march tune, or you're a fan of accordion music, this one's for you.
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17. Maastricht Anthem
He may be touring all over the world, but Maastricht will always hold a special place in André's heart.
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18. Maastricht, City Of Jolly Singers
André Rieu's home town certainly is the city of jolly singers when he arrives with his choirs, soloists, and the Johann Strauss Orchestra - even the thousands of people in Vrijhof Square are singing along.
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19. Ode To Maastricht
A lively song rounds off the album. The singing is five languages, including Mestreechs, the Maastrichtian dialect.