A new show, but one with many favourites from previous programmes, this was another enjoyable evening of music, humour and entertainment.

The first half started with Rieu addressing the audience and reminding us that we were there to enjoy the music. The Platin Tenors then sang The Impossible Dream, following an opening number from the ensemble which had already warmed up the audience nicely. It was a strong start to the evening, with the familiar combination of excellent voices, musicianship and plenty of showmanship.

Some fun followed when Ludwig Biegel entered to play Tales of the Vienna Woods on the zither. The problem was that the zither did not play solo quite as often as Ludwig would have liked! He therefore found other ways to entertain himself, including taking a fancy to the nearby violinist, having a surreptitious drink and eventually falling asleep at a particularly critical moment. His antics produced plenty of laughter from the audience and provided a welcome touch of comedy alongside the music.

The brass section was then given an opportunity to show what it could do, with the musicians, all from Maastricht, demonstrating why they are such an important part of the André Rieu sound. The atmosphere changed for a more poignant moment when Ukrainian soprano Anna Reker sang a Ukrainian song remembering the suffering of the Ukrainian people today. It was a moving performance and a reminder that music can also provide a moment for reflection amid an otherwise celebratory evening.

To close the first half, The Platin Tenors and three other tenors came together to sing I’m Getting Married in the Morning. It was an upbeat and suitably entertaining way to finish the first part of the programme, leaving the audience looking forward to what was still to come.

The second half was equally varied. Anna Majchrzak performed a solo before the evening's real hero, Michel Tirabosio, took to the stage. Michel, who was born with short arms and no hands, is a virtuoso panpipe player, and his performance was one of the highlights of the evening. His extraordinary ability and musicianship were met with a tremendous response from the audience. When he finished playing, the applause was loud, enthusiastic and continued for a long time. It was a genuinely inspirational performance.

Then, in true André Rieu fashion, the unexpected happened as snow began to fall over the audience. This added another touch of theatre and spectacle to the evening. Leon van Wijk then entertained us with the accordion, keeping the mood light and lively.

Soprano Michaela Oeste followed with a beautiful aria praying for a loved one to return home safely from war. Once again, the programme moved effortlessly between light entertainment and more serious and emotional moments.

Then it was time for the audience to become part of the show. We were invited to waltz along to The Blue Danube, and the audience certainly did not need much encouragement. People danced in the aisles and even where they were seated, creating the wonderful atmosphere that has become such a feature of these concerts. Seeing so many people joining in was a fitting reminder that these performances are as much about shared enjoyment as they are about the music itself.

The second half concluded with the full orchestra and all the singers coming together for a spectacular finale. Of course, nobody seriously expected the evening to end there.

The encore followed the familiar routine: “You want to go home?” — “No!” “You want to go to sleep?” — “No!” “You want a drink?” — “No!” And so, naturally, the show carried on!

The pace was quickly raised with Phil Bee leading the audience in Sweet Caroline and Delilah. Bela Mavrak, tenor, then entertained us with the Drinking Song, before everyone joined together for Adieu, finally finishing with the ever-popular We’ll Meet Again.

By the end of the evening, everybody appeared very happy and thoroughly satisfied with their night out. There were familiar favourites, new moments, comedy, spectacular musicianship, poignant performances and plenty of opportunities for the audience to join in. It was another entertaining and memorable evening, proving once again that a concert like this is about much more than simply listening to music — it is about being part of the experience.