We have placed a new item on our website. It is the program L1mbourgeois from the L1 TV from last Sunday. Jo Cortenraedt is the only one granted an interview with Andre. Andre is still taking great care with his health. He also mentions additional concert dates for South America in 2011 ... Ruud
Maastricht Nov. 23, 2010: Ice sculptures at the Vrijthof in Maastricht have started with the a frozen world of André Rieu. The head of the first Stand alone violinist sculpture is ready. A coincidence that conductor André Rieu is on tour in Vancouver, Canada. There the freezing temperatures are down to minus 9 degrees Celsius (16 degrees Fahrenheit). In a climate controlled tent on the Vrijthof where the thermometer indicates a minus 5.9 degrees Celsius (22 degrees Fahrenheit), his sculptured head appeared yesterday afternoon from a 1600 kilo (3520 lbs) block of ice from which the rest of his life stature must still be sculpted. In three days the sculpture must be ready.
It was decided upon at the eleventh hour, to add an Ice Sculpture Festival to the program "Magic Maastricht", a new December event. A highly complicated and logistical task, in which dozens of people are involved to have it all ready by December 3rd. To give you an idea: 300,000 kilo's (660.000 lbs) of fresh snow and 250,000 kilo's (550,000 lbs) in ice blocks must be processed into "A magical world," according to Marjon Katerberg. She designed the pavilion layout and coordinates the artistic interpretation.
For the first of several Rieu images, a skilled sculptor from Moscow was flown in. With tools such as a chainsaw, an iron, a grapefruit knife and a chisel he sculptures in ice from a photograph the stand alone violinist André Rieu with his arms outstretched during the reception of applause and his world famous Stradivarius in one hand.
There will soon be another "Icy André" at the entrance and yet another sculpture will be in a corner with references to the many countries and world cities where he and his Johann Strauss Orchestra have been on tour. "It has to become a true tribute to Rieu, adorned with Maastricht elements which link to local history and traditions", Katerberg explained. "Rieu is the main theme, but the people of Maastricht will be able to see their city sparkle in all its glory later on." The Servaas basilica, Maastrichter Geis, sayings in Maastricht dialect, the Mooswief (Carnival caricature) , a small drunken brass band, they all will receive a place. As "Temporary art", summarizes Katerberg. Limited shelf life and wear. With their body temperatures visitors will soon bring in a situation which will slowly affect the ice sculptures. Although it may not seem to be noticeable.
Working with massive ice blocks is not without danger. Specialists from Canada and Finland have not been brought to the building process without reason. Katerberg says, "If you just scrape too much ice away from the bottom of a block, there's something with the weight of a car, that can topple on top of you. Katerberg and her sculptors hope that André Rieu will find time between December 3 January 2 to come and admire himself in ice. The entire project has been discussed with his management. And a personal visit would mean "the icing on the cake".
Besides, didn't he say he wanted to go to the Arctic to perform? That way he can get acclimatized to the temperatures already.
Showman violinist André Rieu has made chart history by reaching No.4 in the UK Pop Charts with an album of waltz tunes, which has also become the fastest-selling instrumental album of the century so far! 'Moonlight Serenade' achieved record-breaking sales figures by going Gold within 24 hours of release.
Only three new releases, by Take That, Rihanna and Susan Boyle, have managed to chart higher than the violinist. The Dutch violinist-conductor fought off stiff competition from ‘The Boss’ Bruce Springsteen, Cheryl Cole, James Blunt and Katy Perry.
Gennaro Castaldo, a spokesman for HMV said: "This musical phenomenon is quite unlike anything else in the entertainment world. The rise of André Rieu has been truly remarkable - and with his new album likely to feature in the Christmas Top 10, he'll be a household name before long."
André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra have confirmed a UK Arena Tour for April 2011. The self-styled 'King of the Waltz' has also announced plans to perform at the North Pole!
"People from each country will come and we will all play and sing together to get attention for global warming and the fact that the North Pole belongs to us all. I would very much like for the polar bears to waltz", says Rieu. Special gloves are being designed to allow André and the orchestra to play their instruments in sub-zero temperatures and protect against hypothermia, frostbite and reduced muscle flexibility.
André Arriving in Mexico City!
Click on link to see video of his arrival that a fan took: There's parts of this where whoever is taking the video lowers the camera to the floor, but it comes back to André if you keep watching. He got a nice "Welcome" to Mexico. ►http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvL_VkK4oT8
Tonight we watched an interview with André and Ivo Niehe. It was a very emotional interview, not only looking back in the past, but also an open and emotional interview about his illness and what led to it. André makes a promise (with tears in his eyes) from now on to listen to Pierre and Marjorie. We will start the English Translations tomorrow, but for now here are some very nice pictures: Pierre and André with Lieke and Linde. André, Ivo and Pierre and André after the concert in Antwerp ... Ruud
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| André and Pierre After the Antwerp Concert |
AMSTERDAM - November 20, 2010 André Rieu gave two fabulous concerts in Brussels. The violin virtuoso has recovered from an infection on his equilibrium, which kept him from the stage since the beginning of August.
"It was exciting and it's also so wonderful to be back. The orchestra is excited. Logical, they were in fear for their jobs." The 61 year old André Rieu had become disabled because he was so dizzy that he could not be on stage. And that, while the Limburg virtuoso had never been sick! "It was an experience I would rather not relive" he says wryly, then added candidly, "I just now was a little light headed when I looked up, but I could function very well. The doctors say that the dizziness will pass. I feel like I am reborn again."
Today, André and his orchestra drive to Frankfurt to fly from there to Mexico. "The first three days we are there is to get used to the altitude difference and then we will let go. We need to get acclimated. Last time the whole orchestra thought that we all had it on our hearts. We did not think about the effects of the thin air."
André will perform in four concerts in Mexico City: "We spent a paltry sum of 1600 euro's on marketing. And by then we were already sold out. We are in the Auditoria, which can accommodate 10,000 people."
After Mexico follows America, Germany, Australia and England. "And for the Christmas Concert we will be in Hasselt. Who would like to join me in some fun in the Netherlands ... at Pentecost we are in the Amsterdam ArenA. I'll make up all the missed conviviality!"
He managed to perform for 32 years in a row, but the last two months he was forced to stand on the side ... Recovered from a virus infection, André Rieu made his Re-Entry yesterday in Antwerp. Good news for the fans and his bookkeeper.
When André Rieu puts his violin to his chin again, she can finally breath again freely, just like the rest of the massive flocked to public. Hyacinthia Devriendt, is a huge fan, "but in a majestic manner, not in the pushy sort of way." She was quite concerned about his illness. It kept her occupied daily, even though she was not affected by the cancelled concerts. Husband Johan, acknowledged that he was quite concerned about the financial consequences and all the troubles of the Maastricht musician. At home in Brugge, in their living room in their André Rieu corner, or driving in their car with a life size André Rieu photo in the back window, their thoughts were often with the violinist. Almost daily the two looked through newspapers and websites, in search for liberating news that Rieu was recovering. Now that he is back again, all their worries have vanished. Even Rieu himself has apparently made a 180 degree change because he did not mention a word about it during his re-entry. Or did he? "Do you see anything special on me" he asked the audience. The answer was crystal clear that the fans did not expect a reference to his difficult period. "I have become an Opa for the fourth time this year." As if nothing had happened. As if he had never been gone.
Rieu on stage: "It seems so normal, but it wasn’t so." Because two months ago all of the sudden it did not work anymore. Rieu was stricken with an infection on his equilibrium, which resulted in dizziness and high fever. The first indications of his illness occurred in August, not bad enough not to go to work, but a month later came the unavoidable blow. Although the already tired Rieu had negated doctor’s advice to take it easy, come half way September it made a believer out of him. It then became walks with the grandchildren instead of performing. The consequences were far-reaching. The planned England concerts were cancelled. In New Zealand and Australia about 200,000 paying fans had to be disappointed. Also annoying was the fact that 20 containers with décor and installation materials had already been shipped in the direction of Australia, and approximately 100 airline tickets for the orchestra members had already been booked. In addition their income was drastically reduced. "That was a little scary" said Rieu earlier this month. "I have 120 employees. We’re not talking about ten thousand Euros, but we are talking about millions when you do not perform for two months. And everything has to be paid." The decision to cancel all performances was not an easy one, especially looking at the financial situation in which the the Rieu company found itself. Due to the delusion of grandeur, the violinist’s company almost went under in 2008 when perfectionist Rieu had organized such a large Australian tour that it was impossible to recoup the costs. The Schönbrunn Castle replica, along with 200 containers which he flew all over the world received a lot of praise, but cost him a fortune. Especially when yet another copy had to be constructed since the first one did not fit in the outdoor concert venues.
Through all that, in 2008 the company suffered an 11 million Euro loss, while everything for ticket sales for performances and DVD sales went perfect. That leaves little room for another avenue for business man Rieu who was being lead by romantic Rieu who through enthusiasm had built a dream castle. "It just got out of hand for a bit," Rieu said later on. Promptly admitting that he had been senseless. He ignored the facts, and let people who saw him as a brilliant businessman not knowing the facts, slip by. "It could have been disastrous with my company, but that luckily did not happen." With thanks to the RABO bank who assisted the Rieu Company through this difficult time by loaning millions of Euro’s. All Rieu had to do was to promise the bank not to do that anymore. And the credit institution asked for every belonging of the company as collateral. Not just the buildings the musician owns, but also his priceless Stradivarius and the company name André Rieu. Rieu is not afraid of losing everything because predictions indicate that the company will again be in the black if he continues to perform normally in the coming years. "When I go and perform again, everything will turn out alright and no one will have to be let go" he says.
Performance will now become more and more regular business, because all other time consuming commitments, due to Rieu’s health, can be done away with.
Back to Antwerp where fans tell him explicitly to take it easy to prevent future problems with his health. Because his being extremely busy, according to those in the know, was the big culprit. André is a cultural figure. Openings, lectures, it is a good thing he stopped with those according to Johan Devriendt. Hyacitha also has her thought about taking it easy. "Maybe, due to his age, (61) it is about time that he stops all this running around all over the world," she says. "Let’s be honest, all this flying back and forth to different continents and the associated jetlag, can never be good for a human being" she says concerned. Whether he takes her advice to heart remains to be seen. Next week Rieu and his Orchestra depart for Mexico, followed with an American/Canadian tour which will go deep into December and all the concerns about André still have not yet vanished from the André Rieu corner.
I still remember the first time I heard Franz Schubert's Winterreise. It was whilst I was living in London in 1978 and it was performed at the Wigmore Hall. I was immediately captivated by the beauty of the songs and the depth of emotion conveyed by them, even though at the time I didn't speak German. Before leaving my native Tasmania, I performed the other great Schubert-Müller song cycle, Die schöne Müllerin, in a farewell recital, and have since performed it often. However I must confess that it has never fascinated me as much as does Winterreise.
I first sang Winterreise in 1983 and have sung it countless times since, almost always with my pianist friend Michael Allan. The piano part - so very much more than a mere 'accompaniment' - contains the psychological core of Winterreise. In this cycle, particularly, the singer and his pianist must fuse completely into an artistic whole. The wonderful thing about performing the same work over such a long period of time it is that every time you come back to it you discover something new, so that it could never get boring. I have always wanted to record Winterreise , so that when the opportunity arose, I of course asked Michael to join me.
I know that many people will consider Winterreise too "high brow" for them but I am convinced that if you enjoy good music you will be able to connect with these songs. The story and the emotions depicted in them are just as valid today as they were to Schubert's time and the music is so beautiful, that I am sure that anyone who takes the time to listen to them will fall in love with them as I did ... Gary Bennett, November 2010
Click on the link to Gary's new Website and you can Pre-Order his new CD! ►http://www.gary-bennett.de/AU/index.html ... At the top of his Website you will see 'Winterreise', click on that for all the CD information ...
The program was not new, but Mirusia sang one new song ... "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" ........ The atmosphere was great!!
André announced that he has FOUR Grandchildren now!! We talked to Kerstin and she confirmed (what we had already read in the German gossip papers before, but we did not publish as to give the family the honor to do that!!), Marc's second child and his first daughter was born in August 2010 and is named FLEUR. (French/Flower).
André was very nervous for his first concert, he did not feel well enough in the past weeks to rehearse new pieces, and they went home immediately after the concert. (normally they eat and drink something in the venue as an after party, but they did not do that tonight).
We saw two new faces in the orchestra (violin players). And André announced that Leon had recently become a father!
Here's is the tracklist from the Concert ... 76 Trombones, Roses from the South, La Danza, Non ti scordar di me (tenors), Ole Guapa (Leon van Wijk), Ave Maria (Kimmy), Il Silenzio (Roger), Die Csardasfürstin, intermission, Le Cygne (Tanja solo),
Torna a Surriento (tenors), Maxim's (tenors), Habanera (Carmen), Hava nagila hava (Manoe), Blue Danube, You'll never walk alone (all soloists), Radetsky March and Encores: Brazilian medley and more, Adieu, lullaby ............... Ineke
"Dad is doing his first soundcheck after two months now. Sounds great! If he is nervous? Of course he is!" :)►http://www.mobypicture.com/user/andrerieu/view/8036305
On Monday November 15th, 2010 André appeared in a short clip on the program "Leute Heute" aired on German ZDF television. Here you will see him rehearsing for the upcoming Christmas Special.
The Christmas Special will be broadcast December 24th, 2010 on Germany's ZDF. Click on the link to watch the 2 minute clip: ►http://www.andrerieu-movies.com/LeuteHeute_151110.html
November 14, 2010: Here he explains for the first time why he has not been seen on stage since last summer, and how he has overcome his illness and his debt.
The Star Musician in an interview ~ He fidgets, only very slightly, but one notices how much energy he has: André Rieu is back! Next Thursday he will perform in Antwerp, his first concert since August.
Star violinist André Rieu speaks for the first time with Bild am Sonntag about his enforced break, about his illness and a life lesson.
"For four months, I was flat on my back," he says. "It was hell! Everything around me was spinning." The doctors told him that it was about a balance disorder caused by a viral infection. He then began researching for the cause. "I talked a lot with my wife and we came to the conclusion that I had taken on way too many projects."
André Rieu had done too much: openings of buildings and lectures ... things he did for his good friends because he can not say no. For five years, he and his wife had not had a holiday, because they wanted to have control over everything.
Bild am Sonntag: Now you do not have anything under your control.
André Rieu: "The cancellations of my tours to England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand was difficult. We had a meeting with our financial advisors and asked, how long can we last without performing? Their answer, well it would be best if you were on stage again tomorrow. But those are the words from the financial advisors."
Bild am Sonntag: An artist is not interested in finances.
Rieu: No, I am not a financial individual. My job is to give! When I am in my grave, I won't be interested in how much money is laying beside me there.
Bild am Sonntag: Your debt amounts to be 18 million euros high.Rieu: Wait a minute, last year I went from a ten million euros in debt to ten million euros in the black. I was debt free, until now. Due to my forced break, I am now almost back to zero.
Bild am Sonntag: How did that debt come about?Rieu: The Australian tour, for which we copied the Schönbrunn, caused me to go into too much debt. Everything I had, I had to hock. Even my 1627 Stradivarius!
André Rieu smiles and brushes over his blue velvet jacket.
Bild am Sonntag: How did you feel when you had to give your violin as collateral?
Rieu: I was hoping not to lose my Stradivarius, but the bank wanted me to sell her. So I offered it - totally overpriced - back to Vienna, I am not dumb! I bought her for two million. And she is still here and now she belongs to me. It is still only a violin, but my wife and I would never sell her.
Bild am Sonntag: How do you today, look back on the months in bed?
Rieu: Prior to that, I did too much, I was overworked! And I am glad that the warning which I received was only a balance disorder and not a heart attack. I listen more to my children now. They say I look good and that I have become calmer.Our thanks to John for another Great ©Translation!
"Rehearsing For The Alan Titchmarsh Show tomorrow in London"
The lastest interview with André shown Sunday on LI Television, Maastricht rehearsing in his studio. ►http://www.andrerieu-movies.com/L1mbourgeois_071110.html
Themed around Johan Strauss' famous waltz of the same name, Roses From The South sees Andre venturing to the amazing sub tropical paradise island of Mainau, just off the south shore of Germany. Known as the 'Flower Island' due it its unique exotic gardens, Mainau and its majestic palace grounds provide the perfect picturesque setting for André and his Johan Strauss Orchestra to perform a spellbinding set in front of a sea of adoring fans.Pre Order From Ovation Shop Australia (NTSC)
Maastricht, November 4, 2010: While enjoying Bossche Bollen (Typical Brabant pastry) the new Maastricht Mayor, Otto Hoes made the acquaintance yesterday morning of André Rieu and his Orchestra in André's music studio.The Orchestra welcomed the Brabander by playing the Limburg anthem. Due to a rehearsal on Monday, Rieu was unable to attend the reception after the installation of Hoes. He therefore invited the mayor to his studio in Maastricht.
It was a spontaneous and casual encounter of about a half hour, said Rieu spokeswoman Kerstin Cornelis. The Mayor joked that he liked the fact that he started his job exactly the same moment that André recovered from his illness.
This afternoon Sigrun in Germany said she received a very nice and surprised phone call from Béla. He told her he is very proud now to be presenting his very own first CD that will be available in Germany in the middle of December. The CD has 19 tracks, and includes a 30 minute DVD with three Video clips on it, also the "Making Of" ... And an interesting booklet in three languages. Béla asked her to inform all her friends about his first CD and she said it is a great pleasure to send us all this wonderful news ... Below some links she added to watch Béla.
►http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYdrwQrNy5Y
►http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9t0rnSoguY
►http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxpRsEpo5m4
►http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbsBZ75uOrI
Béla's CD will be available on December 7 and may be pre-ordered now through: ►http://www.cduniverse.com/sresult.asp?psychicsearch=on&HT_Search=ARTIST&HT_Search_Info=Bela+Mavrak+%26+The+Stars+Of+Buena+Vista&style=music&altsearch=yes
The mighty Maas waltzes effortlessly between the two sides of the Dutch city of Maastricht, both markedly different. Rising from the west bank is an old town of Renaissance houses crammed on to cobbled alleys built atop Roman ruins (giving weight to the claim that this is the Netherlands' oldest city).
Click on the link to read a nice article about Maastricht with mention of André in it. ► http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1326205/Holland-weekend-breaks-Marvellous-Maastricht-treaty.html?ITO=1490
Maastricht November 1, 2010: On Monday, November 1, André starts again with rehearsals. The Maastricht stand alone violinist has been ill for some time and had to cancel three concerts in the Netherlands because for the first time in his career he was too ill to work. He suffered from a viral infection. On November 18th he will again perform for the first time in the Sports Palace in Antwerp.
Due to Rieu's illness several performances had to be canceled. Concerts in the Amsterdam Arena and the Thialf-stadium in Heerenveen were also canceled. These performances will be made up next year. An International Tour through Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand was also postponed. "My doctors and I work hard so that I will be healthy again," said the violinist himself. "They're doing all sorts of tests to determine if my full recovery can be reached as soon as possible. It really does not make much sense to force me now. But the tours we are planning are new and I'll be back."
November 3, 2010
His son Pierre has ensured that his father is allowing himself the rest he so desperately needs. "My father has worked too hard," said the son of the master violinist. "A virus infection like this only has one chance, and that is when the body is over tired."
PHOTO ON THE RIGHT FROM ANDRÉ'S TWITTER: "Dear Fans, I want to share with you that I feel a lot better. Today we played in the studio for our new mayor!"
