I am rarely moved to tears, or whisked off to Shangri La even when my senses are awakened by the beauty, the reach, or the touch that surrounds an incredible rendering of poetry, prose, lyrics, or instrumentals. But it soars when it is enhanced by superb performances, the moment, the sounds, the blending, the choreography, and all with the combined skills that have opened a place I rarely get to visit. That's when tears of joy well up without effort. But tears are only a summation of being a part of an event that also lifts us to a place reserved for the rarest of moments when we are moved to the point of ecstasy. A good story, song, dance, or performance heightens our senses when we see or hear them, but especially so when 50 or 100 participants combine to pierce our sensibilities and raise them to new heights, and by their combined skills that blend them so artfully that we feel a connection to a part of humanity that touches on the divine.

In recent years a song has circled the globe as one critic after another gave it high praise. It is likely high up on the list of best songs ever composed. We almost know in advance that it will be with us 50 years from now so touching are its words, and so haunting is its melody, so lasting its impact.

The song is You Raise Me Up (2001), words by Rolf Løvland with lyrics by Brendan Graham.  It has undergone many changes and ownership credits, while a rendition by Josh Groban took his version to number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the US Adult Contemporary chart.

The song is amenable to many interpretations which likely accounts for why so many authors, singers, and arrangers have found refuge in its message and its haunting impact.

Then along came Andre Rieu who blended it with expansive choreography, stunning landscapes, and drone flyovers, of dancers, mountains, an ocean, and a glorious sunset. The artistry of his life's talents is summed up with only a violin--as only he can play it.

The rest lays in his mastery of time, space, and the piercing impact of genius.

Listen, watch, sense, feel, and adsorb the most stunning performance of a lifetime as:

Andre Rieu delivers You Raise Me Up

(Use headsets, full screen, relax and enjoy the talents of tis most gifted maestro)

Unfrtunately, you will need to cut and paste this URL in a new window in order to hear it.  .  

 youtube.com.watchtv=ElqiV55VinX0