New Year’s Celebrations

Hansa Celebration

New Year’s Eve we traveled to the Hansa Club in Brampton. Later in the evening some guests arrived who had spent the earlier part of the evening with the Fledermaus. Inge and Siggi Leipold too were smitten with the lively performance of the Toronto Operetta Theatre. They enjoyed meeting with old friends at the club and danced the rest of the night away with Matt Lebar and his musicians.

Matt Lebar and Ensemble
Dancing into the New Year

What they missed was a fabulous dinner, served family style, in the earlier part of the evening, all prepared, for the very last time under Karin Walter’s guidance, who is leaving the club’s position as Banquet Manager, to be taken over by Elke Frommhold-Treu . She was at hand to observe the operation.

The dinner started with paté and crackers to be followed by a fabulously refreshing Cesar salad and continued with stuffed chicken breasts and pork tenderloin, with mixed green beans and baby carrots and Parisian potatoes and all the trimmings like mushroom gravy, red and white wine wines and a cranberry and mandarin dessert with coffee or tea.

Togetherness

The introductory welcoming speech by President Reiner Walter was short and to the point, thus the now assembled band, earlier Matt had just entertained discretely in the background with his accordion by himself, played its huge repertoire of merry making music and many classic evergreens. People danced or visited each other at their tables or met upstairs at the bar for a special drink.

All together there were a bit over 300 people at the club, all in a festive mood and enjoying themselves. It was a bit like who is who in our community. Everywhere we looked there was someone we knew: Otto Rosenmeier and friends, Helmut Gschoesser and his wife, Joe and Maria Stritzl, and later their daughter with her husband showed up, Jürgen Sonntag with his wife Elsa, and the list goes on.

But the best story of the evening transpired when I thought I spotted someone I had not seen in ages. This is the dialogue between myself and my husband: “I just saw someone who looks exactly like Rudi Piwovarski.

“That is impossible, the man is dead.”

“But he dresses like him, blue blazer, grey pants. He even drinks beer, just like Rudi, he only drank beer.”

“It is still impossible, remember the story of this huge funeral he had? Like a state affair!”

“Yes, I remember, but he looks like him and maybe he has a brother, or a Doppelganger. Everyone is supposed to have one.”

“May be” said my husband, shaking his head.

I just had no peace, I had to find out. So I went over to this gentleman that looked like this old acquaintance from the now defunct German Canadian Business Association and said: “Do you know who you look like?” He said: “No, but do tell me.” “You look like Rudi Piwovarsky!” I blurted out. He laughed and said: “That is because I am!”

O what joy! Let me tell you, just in case that you too were told the story of his demise and the fabulous funeral he had. The reports as to his demise are vastly overstated! (Gee, I always wanted to say that and here is my opportunity.)

Rudi, I am overjoyed to see you around looking the same way you looked ages ago!

Upstairs in the Stube

Shortly after this pleasant interlude and a visit upstairs to the bar and a few drinks with nice people and a bit quieter atmosphere, it was time to go back downstairs and prepare for the countdown.

Countdown into the New Year

In the very last second the champagne was poured and Matt Lebar said: Three-two-one…and the balloons came tumbling down to deafening noise and cheers. People embraced their loved ones and friends, and I went on a search for my husband who was busy taking photos with two champagne glasses in my hands.

Happy New Year!

It took a while to get to him. I was waylaid by many folks for a New Year’s hug and kiss. But finally we connected and did our thing.

We still had to go all the way to Scarborough to pick up our Dr. Richard Altermann, who was celebrating at the Danube Swabian Club. But before we got going we just had to have some delicious Goulash soup. It was exactly what was needed to give us the necessary boost of energy.

When we hit the sheets at home just after two am we were a happy couple wishing each other one more time: Happy New Year!

And that is what we wish you too: Happy New Year!

Until next time

Sybille Forster-Rentmeister

Sybille reports as a German-Canadian about culture, arts, entertainment, community events from her unique perspective as an artist.

Toronto Operetta Theatre's Fledermaus