You may have heard of a song called “My heart will go on”. Recorded by the amazing Celine Dion, this song was the main theme for the movie Titanic (1997). Lyricist Will Jennings wrote the song from the point of view of a person who was looking back over many years. The director of the film, James Cameron, wasn’t really interested in the song but Jennings went ahead with it.
It doesn’t end there. Even Celine Dion didn’t want to record it. She felt like she was pushing her luck singing another song for a film as she had just done “Beauty and the Beast”.
After a series of events that pushed Cameron’s hand to use the song, even Dion ended up recording it twice achieving great success with it. And as is with chart topping songs, this one endured over two decades with many other artists covering the classic hit.
Here’s one that’s pretty unique in how it was presented. On ice.
Andre Leon Marie Nicolas Rieu, the Dutch violinist and conductor of the famously known Johann Strauss Orchestra, performed their take of the song live at Schönbrunn, Vienna with two ice skaters providing an interpretative dance to accompany the music.
The setting is as epic as the performance. Just look at Schönbrunn Palace!
The Palace has quite a history.
It means “beautiful spring” and was one a recreational hunting ground for monarchs and rulers. It was around the 1700s during the reign of empress Maria Theresa that the present form was built as she received it as a wedding present. Wow.
The area is massive and is a perfect setting for concerts. Andre Rieu and his orchestra often stage theirs here.
As the skaters glide out during the intro, the audience breaks into applause as the melody carries across the open air. The female skater balancing with her torso on her partner’s back with her arms outstretched as if to simulate flying.
Eagle eyed viewers will easily remember that classic scene from the film of Jack (Leonardo Di Caprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet) on the ship’s bow where Rose has her arms stretched out while standing on the railing, Jack behind her, as she exclaims, “I’m flying, Jack!”
Bathed in the evening glow of the spotlights, the music fills the air and for each sensational sequence the skaters pull off, the audience rewards them with more applause. Rieu certainly knows how to capture the moment.
10.5 million views and counting don’t lie. This is a stunning presentation.
What’s even more fascinating is that Andre Rieu himself is standing on the ice. In the very center where the skaters just dance and glide around him as he plays his violin. As far as talent goes, this is very impressive.
The words of the song do play in your head when you listen to Andre.
“Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you’re here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on”
The choir joins in and the skaters take it up a notch to the delight of the audience. This is storytelling without words. Emotions play out through the music, choir, skaters, and even the place helps in bringing to life an epic performance only Andre Rieu can pull off.
Hats off to the skaters who never once made a mistake and delivered such a stunning dance on ice.
This is one performance that will have your heart go on, press play below.
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Source: YouTube, Andre Rieu
