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Here are a couple of pictures with André playing Boloro for Torvill and Dean. Ineke and Ruud will soon have the video on their movie site. If you go there now they have a little 'teaser' posted. ►Ineke/Ruud's Movies ... If you go onto the "Parlor on Facebook" there is a link to all the photos of André playing Bolero for Torvill and Dean.
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Column written by André Rieu in Dutch Magazine March, 2010 A lot comes into play when you are running your own company, something that every Entrepreneur knows. And if you are also well known, you become widely publicized. In my case not only as a Musician and Orchestra Leader, but also as an Entrepreneur.
So I received the obvious questions when the results of my company appeared in the business ledgers. "Rieu Suffers Losses in 2008". And if one news media releases such news, the others will follow. Mostly blind without even asking the company involved about the facts. And usually a few other goodies are added to it. Before you know it, the news media has declared you to be bankrupt. In this regard I must say that I do not have much confidence in the objectivity of many news media.
To be an Entrepreneur sometimes means having to take risks and having to decide on policies for the coming years. And sometimes you have to invest a year ahead of time where you might not see the results until much later on. That happened with us in 2008. The Schönbrunn Castle, and all three of its copies, has really cost us a lot of money. Not just the castle itself, but also the personnel costs involved in building and transporting it all over the world. Apart from our own team we sometimes had to hire hundreds of other professionals. If you write that investment off in a year, as we have done, you immediately end up in the red. And with us it is not about a few thousand Euros, but more about a few million Euros. Just like someone else taking out a mortgage on his house and giving it to the bank as collateral, I too had to give part of my personal possessions, primarily my creative assets such as my Stradivarius, as collateral to the bank for my million Euro investments. And that is how those things work.
An Expensive Castle Written Off in One Year
Fortunately this investment worked out well, since our performances with the Schönbrunn Castle opened up new avenues for us. Partly because of that we have conquered Australia and New Zealand. We’ll go in April to South Africa and do ten concerts and in the autumn three concerts in Mexico. Strangely enough, by going to Australia, Great Britain has opened up for us, where we are currently number two on the classical charts. We will perform our concerts there in September. Our turnover has significantly increased, and 2009 has been very successful and profitable. Our expectations for 2010 and 2011 are also very favorable. So now you’ve earned back your investment and the bank returns your collateral. But I have to admit, the castle could have been a little smaller ...
My son Pierre is now much more involved with the efficiency progress. With a large company like ours having 130 full time employees that is an important facet and Pierre has demonstrated to have a huge talent for that. I can leave that responsibility with confidence over to him, since my calendar is booked solid. When I am on stage, no matter where in the world, I am never engaged in the business, I am giving my all on stage, and that is what my public expects. And I still have so much fun at every performance. When I see that later in the summer we will be on the Vrijthof for eight concerts, whereas we started with just three, then there is every reason for us to continue on for a long time.
I am very sorry that Gerd Leers could not continue on as Mayor of Maastricht. It touched me deeply that he had to leave. I understand that on that night there was hardly a debate at all by the city council. Maybe things would have turned out different had I been in the public gallery and was able to shout something in support of him, you never know, but I happened to be abroad. I hope he stays in politics, because there you find very few persistent individuals like him. I should know, because if he as Mayor had not been fully behind our idea of the Vrijthof concerts, they would not have been a success. I would never have been able to break through the city council’s rules. You have to venture as a city, and Leers accomplished that. For example, the TEFAF organization does that too. I find it clever how they incorporate the most important event in the world in this field here in Maastricht, and make it such a success. But Maastricht also puts forth its best efforts in this, and I say that without reservation. You are not some one anonymous here ... here the human dimension is still important. And it is always nice to visit a city like that, whether it is for beautiful paintings or nice music ...
André Rieu
This translation is ©copyrighted by John ~ Thanks to Ineke for sending us the article.
Front Page Today of Dutch Newspaper The Telegraaf André Rieu thanks Queen Beatrix for attending his concert in the caves of Valkenburg. Kees van Wijk, general manager VVV Netherlands escorted the Queen.
The Queen visited the southern part of the country for the 125th year celebration of the VVV in Limburg. The association, established in 1885, is the oldest in our country.
Queen Beatrix opened a jubilee exposition in the ruins of the Valkenburg Castle. The Highlight of this visit was undoubtably the mini concert by André Rieu. Especially for Rieu himself, it was the first time he performed for the Queen.
Thanks to Ruud for Translating and sending this to us
Keep watching for the video's on the movie site with English Translations from Ineke, Ruud and John!UPDATE: NOW WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES!
Ruud has posted the performance for the Queen on their site without the English Subtitles. I just watched it and although I look forward to the subtitles, it was great (more than great) watching as is ... Ruud said they will have the English Subtitles on it tomorrow so we know what André is saying and also the After Party.
Ineke and Ruud's Video ►http://www.andrerieu-movies.com/Andre_plays_for_Dutch_Queen.html
And here are some preview's of André and The JSO with their performance for the Dutch Queen today.
André and JSO in the Studio Preparing For the Queens' Performance►NOS Nieuws - André Rieu bereidt zich voor op concert Queen Beatrix Arriving ►L1 - nieuws en sport uit Limburg. André and JSO Playing For The Queen ►L1 - nieuws en sport uit Limburg. Thanks to Al and Bobbie for these links.
André Rieu Announces September Concerts in UK and Dublin Ireland!September 22, London UK ~ September 23, Birmingham UK ~ September 25, Dublin Ireland
September 27, Belfast UK ~ September 29, Manchester UK
September 30, Newcastle UKGo to André Rieu's Official Website for Ticket Information
►www.andrerieu.com or click link on left of the page here.Thanks to Peter for the Quick heads up on this one!
Maastricht To Receive It's Own Stamp ~ Again With Rieu DepictedIn the series "Beautiful Netherlands 2010" it is now Arnhem and Maastricht's turn. Last year several cities such as Tilberg, Assen, Deltzij, Oosterhout en Roosendaal were features in this series. Ed Anink from the office of Development incorporated in the Saint Servaas Basilica silhouette, a part of the church's interior as well as the Helpoort (Hell's Gate). And on the bottom of the stamp the Servaas Bridge connects the Basilica with the Saint John's church in addition to a fragment of the Bonefanten Museum.
André Rieu already has one, but now the city of Maastricht will also receive it's own postage stamp. And there depicted on it again is ... André Rieu!!
For the attentive viewer, a sculpture in progress can be found behind the court jester's hat, accompanied by violin music by André Rieu. The red cap darts happily across the stamp and the sheet border as a reference to Carnival, sketched by Anink.
The stamp will be released on March 29th. In addition, a sheet consisting of five (identical) stamps will also be made available, surrounded by a text of a walk though the city center of Maastricht. This is all very well, but looking technically at the stamp, André Rieu is bigger than the city of his birth: Last year he received a series of no less then nine different stamps.
MAASTRICHT THE CITY
Maastricht was originally a Roman settlement close to a shallow place in the Maas (Meuse). This place provided an opportunity to build a bridge there so that the main Roman road from Boulogne to Cologne could be led to cross the Maas (Meuse) there.
Around 1275 the bridge collapsed after having been in service for more than one thousand years. Shortly there after the bridge was replaced by the still existing St. Servaas Bridge, but built slightly to the north from the original site. It's namesake Saint Servaas, living there from the fourth century, is also the patron saint of the city of Maastricht and the first known bishop in the Netherlands. A wooden chapel was built over his grave, but was later replaced by a stone church. Towards the end of the tenth to early eleventh century, the construction of the current St. Servaas Basilica commenced.
Right next to this Roman Catholic Church is the St. John's Church, which has been a Protestant church since 1633 . The oldest city gate in the Netherlands can also be found in Maastricht, and is called the "Helpoort" (hellsgate) and dates from 1229. In addition, the town hall dating back to 1662 can also be admired. It contains a Brabant and a Liège side, in accordance with then two lords governing the city.
Today Maastricht is transformed from industrial city to a service city with emphasis on culture and shopping. There are many museums to be found, including the Bonefanten museum dating from 1995, which houses a collection of ancient and contemporary arts. The more than 1,500 national monuments make Maastricht the second monument city of Netherlands, behind Amsterdam. Maastricht's most famous son is undoubtedly the most popular violinist and orchestra leader André Rieu.
To order the stamps please go to ►Ineke/Ruud's Movies and get the information to purchase stamps from them.
Thanks to John for the © copyrighted translation of this article.
André Rieu to Play 'Bolero' for Torvill and Dean on UK Dancing on Ice
He is playing for Queens and now he is going to play for the 'King and Queen' of Ice Dancing.
Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby present the final of the Celebrity Ice Dance Competition. Skating legends "Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean" OPEN the Show with a unique version of Bolero, accompanied by acclaimed conductor and violinist "André Rieu" with his Johann Strauss Orchestra and Choir. (March 28)
The three remaining stars will then battle it out, each performing their favorite routine from the series as well as a brand new flying routine. Only two will have the honour of skating to Bolero. Viewers have the chance to vote for their favourite star, and all this year's celebrities will return to the ice for the grand finale.
►Just some little tid bits I found interesting about the "time on the ice" with Torvill and Dean's Bolero and how it was adjusted to four and a half minutes. André's Bolero is closer to seven minutes, so he will have to adjust his version to Torvill and Dean's skating version now and last years performance on Dancing on Ice they skated for less then three minutes ...
Complying With Olympic RulesTorvill and Dean's 1984 Olympic free dance was skated to Maurice Ravel's Boléro. Ravel's original Boléro composition is over 17 minutes long. Olympics rules state that the free dance must be four minutes long (plus or minus ten seconds). Torvill and Dean went to a music arranger to condense Boléro down to a "skateable" version. However, they were told that the minimum time that Boléro could be condensed down to was 4 minutes 28 seconds, 18 seconds in excess of the Olympics rules. Torvill and Dean reviewed the Olympic rule book and found that it stated that actual timing of a skating routine began when the skaters started skating. Therefore they could use Boléro if they did not place their skates' blades to ice for the first 18 seconds. They timed the performance so that when Torvill first placed a blade on the ice, they would have the maximum skating time remaining.
The show is scheduled to Air in Australia on Thursday May 20th on UKTV Channel
Epic Crowd Control and Security Challenge is Brewing For Late June in Downtown TorontoI thought this was an interesting article regarding Toronto at the time of André's June 26th Concert there.
March 18, 2010 Toronto: Thousands of baseball fans are expected to flood the Rogers Centre to welcome former Blue Jay pitcher Roy Halladay for the first time since he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies last year.
At the same time, 20 world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, will gather at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre next door.
A couple of hours after the June 26 Blue Jays game finishes, a little to the east of the convention centre, violinist André Rieu will play a concert at the Air Canada Centre. Maple Leaf Sports vice-president Bob Hunter said police asked it not to hold events during the summit, but the Rieu Concert had already been announced. (Click on above headline for link to full article)
posting it here for those who do not have Facebook. We have all been wondering how things were going with Frank's Carillon ... this is what he wrote on his Facebook about a half hour ago. What Great News!!For those of you who have Facebook you will have read this, but I am
"Just bought a new mobile carillon today!! It will be even bigger and more beautiful than the lost one" ...
►Click on the headline above, "Frank Steijns Gets New Carillon!" it will take you to Franks' Facebook page.
We have just been given some GREAT News!! You can now buy Official Andre Rieu products at Andre‘s NEW USA Webshop. (soon Canada) https://www.pbsale.com/rieuProducts will be shipped from the USA. There are many advantages over shipping from Maastricht. The products will be cheaper (priced in USD and not EUR) and of course the delivery time will be just a few days in stead of weeks.
For now they only have the most recent cd’s and dvd’s in stock but soon they hope to offer other products like Marjorie’s book and also other cd’s and dvd’s that fans now have to order from Europe.
There isn't even a link on the Boutique yet (they will make that in the coming days), but they wanted to give us a heads-up. They will also promote the new store in the Newsletters that will be sent out this week to promote the upcoming pre-sales ... (for all pre-sales the Password is VIOLIN).
The link to the NEW USA WEBSTORE is:
Listen to a Radio Interview that André did in South Africa
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South Africa March 5, 2010 ~ André Rieu has announced another date to his tour of South Africa. And like with most things in his life another record. He is the first artist to perform at the Sun City Superbowl five nights in a row. The extra date is on 27 April and tickets went on sale this morning.
Speaking at a press conference at Sun International Headquarters, the world famous violinist and best selling male artist in 2009 said that trying to reach perfection in music was better than sex. "We will rehearse for at least three weeks before we push that red button to record."He also said that the secret to his massive success was that he looks for contact with his audience. "When I look for contact then I am not so alone. I have 10,000 people on stage with me.
"Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra are exceptionally popular world wide with over 30 million CDs sold. He lives in a fourteenth century castle and loves fast cars.But, in an interview he told Tonight that he is happiest trying to achieve perfection and fulfilling his dreams. "It's important that people have dreams because it makes us happy.
Asked if he ever gets tired of his hectic world touring schedule he replied, "I have a lot of energy. I sleep a lot and have a simple regime. I'm either awake or asleep. I can’t stand people who are not awake. "Rieu also said that he never goes on holiday because he never sees the need: "I don't work so why should I go on holiday. I am always packing my bag to go somewhere."
The André Rieu Live in South Africa tour begins on Saturday, 24 April at the Sun City Super Bowl and ends on Sunday 2 May at the GrandWest Area in Cape Town. Tickets are available at Computicket. However all shows are SOLD OUT apart from the last show in Cape Town and the last show at Sun City.
THE BUMA EXPORT AWARD AGAIN FOR ANDRÉ RIEUthe English Subtitles! ►Ineke/Ruud's MoviesJust like last year, André Rieu has again won the "Buma Export Award". Every year the Buma Export Award is presented to the artist who has been most successful abroad. The presentation took place last Wednesday evening in Hilversum during the Buma Harp Gala. This is the FIFTH time that André Rieu has received this award.
André is in South Africa on a Promotional Tour, so could not accept the Award in person, but they had him on a Live Screen direct from South Africa accepting it. Click on Ruud and Ineke's link to see video with
Now It's Strictly Come Waltzing! André Rieu doesn't have the air of a man on a mission. Relaxing over lunch in his Zurich hotel, the violinist and conductor is engaging company. And, while his wavy, shoulder-length hair would suggest the talented Dutchman might be a bit of a showman on the sly, he blends in unobtrusively with his surroundings.
It is only later, when he plays a Swiss ice-Hockey arena with his Johann Strauss Orchestra, laughing and joking through a two-hour show, that it becomes apparent that Rieu, 60, is a classical musician with a difference.
In December, Rieu also attracted the admiration of the Queen, who complimented him on his 'beautiful melodies' when he stole the show from Lady Gaga and Mika at the Royal Variety Performance. In front of an audience, André and his 50 Piece Orchestra truly bring the music to life.
March 26th André Rieu Will Play For The Queen of The Netherlands
I don't usually put You Tube Video on here, but this is a new one that was just put on and the best Video of André's Concerts I have ever seen taken by a fan. Kerstin, who took the video was sitting to the left of the stage and that angle gave her a perfect view of André through out the concert ... I have never seen video from that angle. And it is very well done!! Kerstin's daugther sang with the "Schwanenschloss Choir" in the 'Earth Song' with Carmen. Click on the►Link To Watch Video on You Tube. (You may have to X the Parlor out once you get onto You Tube.)
