Andre Rieu Extravaganza for Thanksgiving Down Under

My mother and I were given tickets to see the opening night performance of Andre Rieu, a sort of Austrian violin-playing, conducting, circus master. It was a spectacle and as they say in Oz, over the top. The set was a full size reproduction of an Austrian castle, complete with two ice-skating rinks, a ballroom, water fountains and a full orchestra. They played classical songs for over three hours. Andre likes applause and requested clapping before and after songs. The venue was homebush, where the Sydney Olympics were held and was the only place big enough for the set. But the accoustics were awful. He does tell a little history before each song and that makes it more interesting - makes classical music more accessible. And he does make it fun. He inspired a lot of the audience to get up and waltz. By the end of the encore, after the 200 bagpipes marched in, the stadium was all signing Waltzing Matilda. Crazy madcap over the top.