January 10, 2025 By chance, friends offered us free tickets for the New Year's concert on January 10. They had won 4 free tickets from the Postcode Lottery and unfortunately were not able to use them. Luckily they remembered us and we knew two fans who wanted to come with us. So, the four of us unexpectedly drove to the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. Our seats high up in the stands, between section 207 and 208 (see red/white dot on the seating plan), and that was also a new experience for us, since we usually buy tickets with seats in the first blocks in front of the stage, but these weren't bad at all. You can follow the concert well on the big screens and you also have a full view of the audience in the Ziggo Dome. You feel like a drone, when you see the entrance of André and the orchestra, and later on when the professional dancing couples come in…. New dresses again this time, also for the soloists. Officially the tour starts the next day, so this date is not on his schedule for fans to attend. I think it could be considered a perfect dress rehearsal and the whole build-up can stay for a day at the Ziggo Dome. Brilliant idea!! We had a wonderful evening, earlier dining with friends and together in the rafters of the Ziggo Dome, with a view of 12,000 people, having fun. The postcode lottery provided us with free drink vouchers and the concert gave us a few big surprices! First of all: the revival of the “anvil-act (Polka)”! We have not seen the anvil polka (Feuerfest / Fireproof) performed for a long time. In the meantime “blacksmith” Roland Lafosse retired. In the new anvil polka act Roland is replaced by the new bass player Gerardo Daniel Tandioy Valladares (from Venezuela) with assistence as in former performances, by French horn-player Noël Perdaens (from Belgium). The second surprise was Emma, singing the Disney song “Let it go” from the film “Frozen,” followed by the French top-hit “Voila”. Third surprise: During the encores: Michel Tirabosco (from Switzerland), playing Zorba’s song (Sirtaki) on the panflute. Fourth surprise: Los Del Rio (Rafael Ruiz Perdigones and Antonio Romero Monge), from Spain. Tracklist: Platin Tenors: Hoi Marie, Chianti song, Torna a Surriento; Feuerfest (Fireproof) Polka by Gerardo and Noël, Let it go from the Disney film Frozen (Emma), Voila (Emma), Operetta medley - intermission - You Raise me up (Anna M), Rosen auf dem Süden (Roses from the South) professional dancing couples, Across the Stars (Michel Tirabosco panflute), Sportpalatz Walzer (Manoe), Dutch/Amsterdam medley, The aria “Um bel di, vedremo” (which means: “On a fine day, we’ll see”) from the opera Madame Butterfly (Michaëla), Blue Danube, You never walk alone. Encores: Radetzky March, Strauss and Co, Libiamo, Tutti Frutti, I can’t help falling in love with you, Panflute Sirtaki (Michel Tirabosco), Los Del Rio with Macarena, La Bamba. Adieu, Marina.

Ruud recorded the video below with his phone camera, and we were amazed by the good quality of the images, recorded from so far away.

Pictures: Gerardo- Noël (photo by Rhonda Bradley) Michel; new variety of the “Polonaise”; Micaëla; Anna M.; Emma.

Video, created by Ruud. Duration: 48 minutes.

Interview with Pierre and André backstage

January 11, 2025: Telegraaf/Privé interview by Jordi Versteegden. Translation: Ineke/John Subtitles: Ruud.

Look here who attended the concert? And Kevin danced with her! Dorona Alberti!! Did you read the article from the Limburger with an interview with Dorona about her adventure touring the world with André in 2024? Click HERE.