The Limburger, July 17, 2024, by Ronald Colée Photocredits: Mitchell Giebels Translation: Ineke, edited by Alice Leung Dorrie Satijn (65) runs in red in front of André Rieu's bull: “My God, how long the Vrijthof is!” She has already had to run for her life eight times during André Rieu's Vrijthof concerts. Dressed in red, chased by a fake bull. The act is a permanent part of the Johann Strauss Orchestra's show. Four more sprints and then the 'twelve moments of fame' for Duo X-Elle singer Dorrie Satijn (65) are over. Dorrie: “My God, how long the Vrijthof is! The last time I ran, I must have been 21.” The Maastricht singers Dorrie Satijn and Marie-Ange Castermans have been on stage for 22 years this year. Duo X-Elle is clearly recognizable with their own sound and extensive Limburg repertoire. Performances are always live with a music band from Marlstone Recording, a brass band, harmony or orchestra. “I received a call from André Rieu himself a week before the dress rehearsal and thought I was being pranked,” says Dorrie Satijn from Maastricht. To the amusement of the audience, she runs for her life during André Rieu's Vrijthof concerts to the sounds of the Spanish paso doble España Cañí. “It's really me,” said the voice on the other end of the line. To which I responded with 'yeah..'. 'Shall we have a FaceTime? Then you see that it really is me." Facetime? I don't even know how to do that with such an old Samsung piece of equipment. But then I recognized his voice.” To the point Rieu soon got to the point. In the absence of Dorona Alberti, he was looking for someone who wanted to run ahead of the bull during the Vrijthof concerts. “Preferably a somewhat portly person.” And so the Maastricht orchestra leader ended up with Duo X-Elle. “Well, then there is only one person left. Because Marie-Ange cannot run.” Still, Satijn thought that was sad. “We have been on stage together for 22 years this year. I suggested that Marie-Ange should go after the bull with an umbrella in hand and give him a blow. André agreed. But then it happened: finding bright red plus-size clothing that would act as a proverbial rag to the fake bull. “Rieu's tailor Gosia had Marie-Ange's size in stock, but not my size. So then we went shopping. Because red bras are part of the act, when André asks us to take off our jackets for safety reasons, neither of us had them." Red rubbers The duo succeeded in Beek (town). “Only I had to look for a red jacket because my dress was sleeveless.” The 65-year-old from Maastricht thought she had found one, when it turned out that the color was more orange than red and clashed with the dress she had purchased. “Then another dresser from Rieu suggested dyeing the jacket. I've been everywhere. At the drugstore in Heer, Heugem and Wyck (districts of Maastricht), where they had all the colors of the rainbow, but no red.” In the end, two days before the dress rehearsal, it was available at a hobby shop in the Wycker Brugstraat (street). “As a result, all the rubbers of the washing machine are now red. But also the jacket.” During the dress rehearsal, Satijn was instructed to run straight to the back to the sounds of España Cañí. That did not go well. “My God, how long the Vrijthof is!” I swim and walk, but the last time I ran was 44 years ago. Although I probably ran after my sons afterwards when they were still little. But that's it. Fortunately, that route was changed after the first two practices, so I now turn left halfway through the Vrijthof and walk straight into the Hoofdwacht (building). That is also better for visibility for the rest of the public.” Zigzagging Nevertheless, she asked the men in the bull suit not to run too fast. “They are both guys of 1.80 meters. When you see those legs... I'll never stay ahead of them.” In turn, Satijn was asked not to zigzag too much. “Those boys in that bull see nothing, they have to navigate purely on a camera in the head of that animal. So if I zigzag too much, I go out of focus. That is difficult because we have to be inside the building at the last sounds of that song.” Last Saturday during show number seven things went wrong. “Marie-Ange and I didn't get to run until four songs after the break and it was cold that day. So when I wanted to run, I immediately pulled a thigh muscle. But stopping was not an option. So then I just said to myself: 'go on Dorrie, go on'. I felt like I was really limping, but according to my husband Leo, who was in the audience, it wasn't noticeable. When I entered the Hoofdwacht building, I immediately turned right into the first aid post.” Massage The next day she was advised to go to the physiotherapist. “On a Sunday! Can you fancy that?" In the end, David, the English boyfriend of soprano Micaëla Oeste, who is a rugby player and sports masseur, massaged me. A handsome guy, I tell you. Although he could have been my son. Marie-Ange also noticed that appearance. “Shall I take a picture?” I said: “No, silly: I'm lying here with my bare legs”. To which Marie-Ange replied: 'Not of you….'. Haha.” The more she thinks about it, the more Satijn realizes how special it is what she is experiencing now. “André is texting me these days. Can you imagine? André texting me? To remind us, among other things, that we can also eat with the crew and orchestra before the concert. We knew that, but we didn't do it. Dinnertime before the concert is at 6pm. Because we live in Maastricht and it's only our turn after 10pm, we thought that was a bit too much. But since that phone call we have been doing that.” The duo has also already participated in an afterparty with the crew. “At half past twelve at night we were still singing “Puun miech 'ns” (Dialect for: Give me a kiss) in the space under the stage. Awesome. That resulted in a very nice polonaise.”