photos: Ermindo Armino

Concert review from De Limburger by Ronald Colée Friday, July 4, 2025 This time it is not Emma Kok, but pan flute player Michel Tirabosco who steals the show at the Vrijthof concerts by André Rieu André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra started their nineteenth series of concerts at the Vrijthof on Thursday evening July 3rd. At concert number 140, it seemed to be mainly to play the tried and tested format, although there were some beautiful musical highlights such as the Swiss pan flute player Michel Tirabosco. The Vrijthof concerts by André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra remain a special phenomenon. In the coming weeks, 150,000 visitors from about a hundred countries will go to the most famous square of Maastricht to experience the magical atmosphere he takes out annually on DVDs and in cinemas. For example, the Syrian brothers Moonther and Moaiyed Alhweidi are at the start of the nineteenth Vrijthof series this Thursday, for the third year present in Maastricht. "André unites people with his music, regardless of origin or religion. I hope he will continue to do that for a long time,” Moonther says. Ten years ago, he fled the violence of war in his homeland and found a safe haven in the Swedish city of Eslov where he was reunited with his twin brother Moaiyed two years ago. The 37-year-old duo has a broad taste in music. From New Age to Classical. From the Greek singer Yanni to André Rieu, since they heard his Second waltz for the first time in their Syrian home town of Derizor. When Moaiyed also came to Sweden three years ago, the topic of holiday came up after a while. I have then proposed to go to the Netherlands to attend a concert by André Rieu. And now, two years later, this will be our third Vrijthof concert and the fifth Rieu concert in total.” Birthday present and birthday Axel Grunewald (61) from the German Obrigheim became sixty years and received a ticket for the Johann Strauss Orchestra from his wife Marina (59), daughter Maike (25), and son-in-law Sebastian Kirch (31) for the Johann Strauss Orchestra. They praise the atmosphere in the square and the terraces. “The great thing about André's music is that you don’t have to be classically educated to enjoy classical music. Because if you are strangers, you recognize the pieces he plays.” Nicola (53) and Adrian (57) Smith from the British Derby came - strange as that sounds - a year ago for the first time in touch with Rieu's music and were immediately sold. “It immediately came to the top of my bucket list,” Adrian says. “Even if I can’t waltz. But rocking on the music still has to succeed,” laughs the Englishman. He received the concert with Christmas as a gift from Nicola with whom he has been married for 35 years and has three children. “I really have been crying. How can I ever make this up? I think with another Christmas gift, but for me.” Rieu himself is relaxing before his 140th Vrijthof concert. Three quarters before the start, he greets his fans on the platform of Theater aan het Vrijthof together with Emma Kok. And when the pregnant choral singer Bibi Ortjens also comes to him, he proudly alerts the bystanders of her fat belly. Then laughing with his two index fingers "no, no, I am not the father" waving. A tried and tested recipe At nine o’clock, it is time and with his musicians on the sounds of "Entry of the Gladiators" to the stage. What unfolds is a concert according to the proven recipe. Where the Christmas concerts in the MECC still harbor some surprises, he gives at the Vrijthof where the majority of the audience comes from far and wide. He taps from his famous barrel of DVD hits: "An der blauen Donau", the "Sportpalastwalzer", "Radetzky Marsch", "Adieu mein kleiner Gardeoffizier", and the "Maastrichts Anthem". Just to name a few. And also the "Feuerfest Polka" by Josef Strauss with the anvil-act, have seen the regular followers pass by once. Michael Jackson’s "Earth Song" brilliantly played by Brazilian singer Carmen Monarcha in 2009. Now, that honor belongs to Emma Kok. And where the young super talent has managed to touch the audience to tears in the past two years with her performances by Barbara Pravi’s "Voilà" and her own song "Dancing on the Stars", she does not succeed. The sopranos Anna Majchrzak and Micaëla Oeste, on the other hand, know how to impress with "You Raise Me Up" and Puccini’s "Un bel dí vedremo". Although that may also have to do with the difference in atmosphere before and after the break. The public is only getting started late. It seems that it is only really awake when the confetti cannons pop for the first time 45 minutes before the end. And where the special guest usually provides some extra fireworks, that is now also not forthcoming. Antonio Romero Mongo and Rafael Ruiz Perdigones of the Spanish singing duo Los Del Río seem to have lost all the sullen at the last time. Both 77-year-old men fail to let the "Macarena" and "La Bamba" explode just like in 2018 when they were surprise act in Maastricht for the first time. No, the star of the evening is pan flute player Michel Tirabosco who has been on stage with the Johann Strauss Orchestra before, but never at the Vrijthof. In particular, the Star Wars song "Across the Stars" by John Williams gives the audience goosebumps. And also with the more chewing out "Zorba’s Dance", he knows how to surprise the audience with his virtuoso play and beautiful sound. If anyone wants to think of a somewhat tidal instrument in the pan flute, then after hearing the 57-year-old Swiss at the Vrijthof is a thing of the past. You would wish this Vrijthof series a bit more of these Tirabosco moments.