Gold Soprano

Gold Soprano

The H-Ligature & Cap was conceived as a “retro” version of the famous Harrison ligature employed by a great deal of of the worlds biggest clarinetists and saxophonists, Rico’s H-ligature offers the sought-after features of this general design.
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•The new H-ligature holds the reed with resolute determination to the table of the mouthpiece assuring better contact and hence reducing leaks along the siderails. Additional help has been added to the ligature brackets to increase durablity.

At it is San Fernando Valley facility, Rico has a state-of-the-art reed exploration center, and employs the collaboration of agronomists, scientists, and musicians to give rise to top-quality reeds that include Rico Reserve premium reeds for clarinet and saxophone. Rico reeds are designed to gain all levels of musicians from the beginner to the seasoned professional. Many of the world’s finest clarinetists and saxophonists use Rico brand reeds, such as Anthony McGill, Mark Nuccio, Jessica Phillips, Jerry Bergonzi, Chris Potter, Benny Golson, Ernie Watts, Bob Sheppard, Walter Boeykens, Seiji Yokokawa, Philippe Geiss, Diastema Saxophone Quartet, and some more. For more information, visit RicoReeds.com

Andre Rieu was born on October 1, 1949, in a very old town, dating back to Roman times, called Maastricht, in the Netherlands. He was a very nimble child and started learning the violin when he was only five years old.

He continued his studies at the Conservatorium, in Maastricht and Liege’s Conservatoire Royal. He was fascinated by orchestras. For three years in the 70s he studied beneath luminaries, such as Andre Gertler, at the Brussels Music Academy. Whilst there he won the ‘Premier Prix’.

Later he formed the ‘Maastricht Salon Orchestra’. The Limburg Symphony Orchestra was so impressed with young Rieu that they permitted him to appear as a solo violinist.

In 1987 one of his dreams came true and he formed the ‘Johann Strauss Orchestra’ with only twelve members. How it has grown! The orchestra now utilizes the introductory class natural abilities and qualities of among forty and fifty musicians. Some have criticized his elaborate stage performances and sets. However the fact remains that he has done an enormous amount of good, not only to popularizes waltz music, but, likewise classical music in general. He likewise puts on a wondrous and agreeably diverting show and brings much pleasure and happiness, wherever he and his orchestra perform. Andre earned his, well deserved title of, ‘The King of Waltz’. Andre is a sincere man with much charisma who enjoys playing his violin, but likewise enjoys light banter with his audience, who oft times, are made to feel part of his orchestral family.

He owns and plays, two historic Stradivarius violins. One dating from 1667. The other from 1732.

The Johann Strauss Orchestra, with Andre at the tiller, have given acclaimed performances all over the globe, including Europe, the Americas, and as far away as Australia. He speaks, at least, seven languages, including Dutch, German, English, French, Italian and Spanish. His recordings and DVDs have likewise been received, with enthusiasm, by his world-wide family of faithful fans.

The Johann Strauss Orchestra has won a heap of many. Gold and Platinum recordings and no less than two World Music Awards. In Holland, eight Platinum awards were also added to that growing list. He now has his own, very busy, recording studios in Maastricht, where he produces, not only DVDs and CDs of his own performances, but records for movie sound tracks, theatre musicals and other forms of music, including classical, folk and popular. Andre worked with a brother, Jean Phillipe, for a good deal of years, until Jean struck out on his own and opened his own production company.

Pierre, the younger of Andre’s two sons, works with him, as his Production Manager, on a full time basis.

His wife, Marjorie has composed various pieces and these have been performed by the orchestra. One, specially lovely piece ‘Please Don’t Go’, was sung by Suzan Erens, Carmen Monarcha and Carla Maffioletti to critical acclaim.

In 2007, Andre likewise chalked up another first. He toured Australia alone, without his orchestra. He was enthusiastically received and delighted audiences with his own interpretation of their unofficial Australian National Anthem, ‘Waltzing Matilda’. However, both Andre and the full orchestra will be returning to the ‘Land Down Under’ late in 2008, in November and December, for a full tour. Much to the delight of his legion of admirers there.

PBS, Public Broadcasting Services have transmitted numerous of the live performances of Andre and his Johann Strauss Orchestra, both all around the U.K. and North America. One particularly wondrous performance was from the Piazza Della Republica, Cortona, Tuscany. A tender and deeply touching performance of Puccini’s, ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’, sung by a beautiful, young soprano, Carmen Monarcha, from Brazil. People were moved to tears, both in the audience and looking at at home. I know, because I was one of them. Carmen and the other two sopranos, Carla Maffioletti and Suzan Arens, delighted the audience with various other vocals at the concert. I commend that this DVD be placed on your, ‘Must Have’, list. I guarantee you will never be be disappointed with it.

There is much more of this story to be told and I shall be writing further articles when it comes to this extraordinary performer, his orchestra and his sopranos. In the meantime, I ask you to receive pleasure from my Squidoo lens and web site, which holds more Andre Rieu delights and even some super free videos of his performances, plus the singers. Details in the author’s resource box.

Gold Soprano Picture

Gold Soprano Pic

Gold Soprano Photo

Gold Soprano Image

Most helpful client reviews

0 of 0 humans found the following review helpful.
Excellent and great price!
By Ricansax
This is an magnificent and very lowcost ligature. I use it with a Yamaha mouthpiece and it works great. Definitely a winner!

0 of 0 persons found the following review helpful.
I love the Rico H on Tenor – but they slip on Soprano
By M. Lehr
I genuinely like the Rico H ligatures on tenor (and their splendid caps too!), but I have twice had issues with the soprano H ligature not keeping the reed securely. The original time was at the International Saxophone Symposium, where one mouthpiece marketer was bundling the H ligature with his mouthpiece. I couldn’t tighten the ligature sufficient to secure the reed. Later, I decisive to give the H-lig a second chance, and purchased one on Amazon for use with a dissimilar brand of mouthpiece. Again, everything was fine until I went to adjust the mouthpiece on the cork and the ligature came loose. I am not using off-brand mouthpieces or soft reeds either. The H is fine when it works, but I have better on soprano luck with other ligature designs.

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