Interview with André Rieu: "I play what comes to mind"

Interview with André Rieu: "I play what comes to mind"

Hollywood is Dearer to Him Than Hamlet

NUREMBERG - January 27, 2014: André Rieu is a master of light entertainment. With his programs the violinist, orchestra leader and arranger not only fills large halls, but he is also especially well known for his mass appeal on television appearances. We wanted to know from the Dutchman, how he puts his programs together, and what he thinks of "serious" classical music and why he almost became a pizza parlor-host ...

Nuremberg Newspaper: Mr. Rieu, how do you select the works which you perform?
André Rieu: Quite simple: I of course do that with my entire heart. If a piece touches me, then I know that it will also touch my audience – no matter the manner or fashion whatsoever. If I want them to cry because I already cried when I heard that song for the first time, then I arrange it so that it will then also come across to the public that way.

Nuremberg Newspaper: Could you tell us how a piece must be musically designed, so that it fits your show?
André Rieu: That's intuition. We were once in a bar with colleagues after a television production while on tour. My pianist had a thick book with all sorts of pieces which we were just playing through and I said: "If it fits; No - no - no - yes! And the guy from the production company said to me the next day: "Now I understand …., you do it just with your intuition"

Nuremberg Newspaper: Does the music have to be "beautiful"?
André Rieu: That depends. Beautiful can just be relative. One finds Mozart beautiful, the other one not. Still others feel Wagner's "Ring" entertaining and more beautiful than an operetta by Offenbach. We play music which I find touching and which appeals to me. And that is mostly nice, yes.

Nuremberg Newspaper: And you can often clap along with you ...
André Rieu: That is not the case with all of the pieces. You know, today there are more and more people studying me and wonder: "What André’s secret is." They analyze me from right to left and from top to bottom (laughs). They have all sorts of explanations that I transform classical music into a single sausage. That my audience goes home incredibly happy, no one speaks of that.

Nuremberg Newspaper: Could you tell us, whom from today’s composers you like best?
André Rieu: I think Andrew Lloyd Webber is a brilliant composer, he has written many wonderful pieces.

Nuremberg Newspaper: What would happen if you would ever perform an entire Beethoven symphony?
André Rieu: I would never do that. Because, I would feel too restricted. I know the entire classical music and I have lived in it, my father was a conductor. I know it all and I would never do that. Maybe you can compare that with an actor who wants to play "Hamlet". But there are also many others who instead go to LA, make famous movies and by that make them feel so much better.

Nuremberg Newspaper: And you will not play "Hamlet" in a theater but rather in a big Hollywood movie?
André Rieu: I think so, yes. I have a good relationship with Anthony Hopkins, and he says that too. When the intellectual critics ask him: "Why do you play in such a movie, while you can perform Shakespeare in London in the theater?" – He the answers: "I do it for the money" (laughs), and then they all change their tune. No, I would not say it so blatantly "just for the money" - but a Beethoven symphony, that would make me feel too restricted.

Nuremberg newspaper: Why "restricted?" Isn’t that beautiful music?
André Rieu: No, not an entire symphony that would bore me. I would take the most beautiful parts from there if I would do that. I would take a part of the symphony, shorten it and then make a hit out of it. Besides, there are enough classical orchestras in the world who play that completely. Our success is that we are totally very different. Thus we appeal to an audience which might not dare to enter the great concert halls. Mahler, Bruckner, Bartok are all "too heavy". With us they feel at home. There are people who have not danced in years. With us they stand up and do that, that's fantastic.

Nuremberg Newspaper: Do you then play Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" in its entirety?
André Rieu: No, only the most beautiful parts. Our evenings are not concert evenings in the "classical" sense. There are always potpourris.

Nuremberg Newspaper: In classical music there is much drama and conflict. Do you prefer the joyful side of the Classics?
André Rieu: Yes. Conflicts and drama, that is all well and good, but not for me while on stage. I have had enough conflict and drama in my life; I like the sunny side of life. One can easily compose an evening with drama and everything else - but it's much harder to make the people laugh. I like that much better. Besides: In every German or Dutch small town there is a symphony orchestra playing all these symphonies. I know them all, every one - but for me that is too boring.

Nuremberg Newspaper: Are you more of a conductor or a soloist?
André Rieu: Phew, in the sense I am neither a pure conductor, soloist, entertainer nor businessman. I am ultimately a combination of them all - and that's why I am successful, I think. I studied the violin, but not conducting in the classical manner or studies in business. But I can conduct, and above all, I can make music.

Nuremberg Newspaper: How important are violin solos in your concerts?
André Rieu: That depends in each case on the program, whether I feel like it, or if it fits into the program. Every year I make a different program.

Nuremberg Newspaper: But what exact part do you play in your concerts, the first violin parts?
André Rieu: I play whatever comes to mind.

Nuremberg Newspaper: In many photos you are seen with a violin ...
André Rieu: That is logical, that is my image. I am also known as a violinist.

Nuremberg Newspaper: And you also own a very valuable one too.
André Rieu: I own three violins including a Stradivarius from 1732. To own this violin is for me personally great pleasure and fun.

Nuremberg Newspaper: In your autobiography it states that you almost opened up a pizza restaurant.
André Rieu: We wanted to actually open up a pizzeria, but that still remains just an idea. Back then we had already made a menu card and the most expensive pizza was "Pizza Paganini". The plan was then for me to play the violin while this pizza was being served. And for that reason, I again began to practice - and then I thought: "No, I will just omit the Pizzeria."

Thank you to Benny and Ineke for sending this and John Translating it for us.

André Rieu's Wife On Their Marriage

 André Rieu

What His Wife Reveals About Their Marriage

She loves the sound of Waltzes and would dance to the music the rest of her life. As long as it pleases him. As luck would have it, fate sent André Rieu his big love, Marjorie. "We were meant for each other" he says lovingly. But where is the woman behind the Waltz King, whom is seldom seen? The New Post was granted an interview with this lady who teaches German and Italian. She speaks about the highs and lows of their 40 year marriage, her jealousies (or lack of) and her passions.

"It was love at first sight."

Marjorie knew from early on that André would be the man of her life. "I was 15 and he was 13. Even back then there was already something special. Love grew more and more over the years - even until now". Even now when the couple has not been afforded many freedoms. When André goes on tour, Marjorie stays behind at home, so that she herself can concentrate more on the music.

Is that for you a form of relaxation? No, if I am required to always travel the world with the orchestra, that costs me too much time. I believe that when my husband André is on tour, he is happy. Currently he and his entourage are touring Germany, and in May they will tour Austria and Switzerland. 

Although the star violinist appears on stage with beautiful female singers and is admired by millions of women, Marjorie leaves him be. Indicating a deep and great trust. Marjorie is of one thing very sure: "I know he loves me. The admiration for stars has nothing to do with love. I for instance admire Uwe Kockisch and Guenther Jauch, but only in their role of actor and presenter." From home she organizes the tours, which leaves her husband free during his tours. "That we can work together so closely in harmony," we find that to be a great gift.

Today the star violinist is again on top. But that was not always so. In the beginning of André's career it was Marjorie who earned the couple's livelihood. And when the virtuoso became famous, stress and pressure began to eat away at him. Three years ago when he had a breakdown in his health and had to cancel his tours, it was again Marjorie who stood by him. She admits: "Of course I was worried. Not only for him, but also for the company." Strength gave her an unshakable optimism. "I never lost hope that he would be well again." 

While many couples succumb to such a huge setback, it welded André and Marjorie even closer together. She says: "We love each other and we share our passion for music. What more can I want?"

And money - does that play an important roll in your life?  "When you have none in order to provide for your children, that is terrible. But more money does not make us happier. We find happiness in other things. In love for instance".

Thank You to Ineke and Kati for sending this and John for Translating it.

André Rieu Announces First Concert in China

‘The King of Waltz’ André Rieu Announces First Concert in China

André Rieu, violin master, conductor and showman, one of the best-selling live acts in the world, is finally coming to China. On April 12th, 2014 André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra will be performing in the Shanghai Mercedes-Benz Arena. For Rieu, this is the first time performing in Southeast Asia and he is looking forward very much to his debut in China. Tickets are available from January 23rd ... ►Talk Magazine

André Rieu Has Composed Three Pieces For Dutch Film

André Rieu Has Composed Three Pieces For a Film

AMSTERDAM - He's still one of the main export products of the Netherlands and now also has his name on the credits of a Dutch film . At the request of Johan Nijenhuis, André Rieu composed three songs for the latest film by this director: "Tuscan wedding."

In May it was announced that Rieu would provide the music for this film. In the meantime, the compositions are finished. It is the first time that the famous violinist and conductor engaged in film music, although previously he did compose music for the German TV series Donna Leon. For this romantic comedy, Rieu together with Frank Steijns, a violinist in his Johann Strauss Orchestra, composed these pieces; "the Tuscan Wedding Waltz", "Volare con Bella" and "Tarantella". The title song of the film is being sung by the Italian singer Anna Lisa.

Inspiration

The subject "Wedding in Tuscany" was very inspiring for us. We were able to enjoy a deliciously Italian lifestyle in both the compelling romantic melodies like the "Tuscan Wedding Waltz", and also in the exuberant, radiant lifestyle of the tarantella. "These pieces will definitely be on my next CD, which will be released worldwide,'' says Rieu.

"Tuscan Wedding" is the unofficial sequel to the film "In Love with Ibiza" and will be available in the cinema effective January 30th. Jan Kooijman and Lieke van Lexmond play the leading roles in this film. It was announced Sunday that the film has already been sold to South Korea.

Thanks to Ineke for sending this and John Translating it.

Because of André Rieu Dutch Music Risen For Eighth Year in Row

MAASTRICHT Jan. 19, 2014  - Despite the cancellations of a long series of concerts abroad in 2010 and 2011 Maastricht citizen André Rieu still remembers how to always push when it comes to music export. And also thanks to him has the export of Dutch music risen for the eighth consecutive year in 2012. This information was according to a study commissioned by Buma Culture . The figures were announced Saturday at Eurosonic Noorderslag .

The Dutch popular classical music, a genre in which the Netherlands is known abroad, is represented by only one man and his Orchestra: André Rieu . And that has been going on for several years . In 2010 André Rieu became ill due to exhaustion. This had implications for 2010 and 2011 in the number of concerts that he could give. In 2011 André Rieu gave his first 7 concerts in South Africa and took his first steps towards South America by performing 7 concerts in Mexico. In the autumn of 2011 a North American tour of 21 concerts followed, and according to the researchers they ascertained that Rieu was on his way back.

The Netherlands continues to do well in the popular genres - classical, punk-metal-rock and dance. Especially in dance, where the Netherlands is on top with artists such as Tiësto , Armin van Buuren and Afrojack .The value of music exports in 2012 amounts to around 130 million euros, an increase of 31 percent compared to 2011 and a doubling in comparison with 2009. 80 Percent of that amount is attributable to performances by Dutch artists across its borders. In most cases dance performances .

About 15.4 percent of the Dutch music export is derived from copyrights and neighboring rights (15.42 million euros ). 8.23 Percent is earned from the exploitation of recordings of Dutch artists abroad (8.24 million) and 76.37 per cent of performances by Dutch artists outside their borders ( 76.48 million euros ). These figures compared with 2010 and next to an overall increase, show a definite increase in the segments, and an explosive growth in performances with a slight increase in rights and recordings.

Thanks to John for this and the Translation of it!

André Rieu Adds New Concert Dates/Maastricht 2014

André Has Added New Maastricht Concert Dates

July 4th - 5th - 6th 2014!

Ineke has said the Fan Dinner date will remain the same date.