Dutch King Of Waltz Conquers France
Dutch King of Waltz 'conquers' France
by Robert Blom*
05-03-2009
Dutch violinist André Rieu has become a knight in France's
Order of the Arts and Literature, and received the honour on Thursday
from the French ambassador to the Netherlands.
So now it seems that, besides the Netherlands, Germany, South
America and Australia, the "King of the Waltz" can also count France
among his long list of ‘admirers'.
André Rieu is proud to receive this prestigious honour - in French Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres - which has already been bestowed on Dutch authors Harry Mulisch, Hella Haase and Cees Noteboom.
He told Radio Netherlands Worldwide's Dutch service:
"Personally I was very surprised. I was already big in Germany and the Netherlands. My music was also doing well in America, and now the French have asked me to play there. I thought: wow, France! I know France well. We used to go there on holiday all the time. It's a great country."
Passion for salon music
André Rieu comes from the southern Dutch city of Maastricht, capital of the province of Limburg, and grew up in a musical family. His father was conductor of the Limburg Symphony Orchestra. André Rieu could already play the violin at the age of five. After secondary school, he attended the Maastricht conservatory where he developed a passion for salon music and, in particular, for the waltz. Since then the violinist has had only one goal: to bring classical music to a wide audience.
André Rieu began by setting up the Maastricht Salon Orchestra with which he scored some minor success. In 1994, he finally made his breakthrough with a performance of the second waltz from the Suite for Variety Stage Orchestra by Dmitri Shostakovich. This hit earned him the title "King of the waltz". Since then he has travelled the world with his Johann Strauss Orchestra.
Fairy tale
To go to an André Rieu concert is like entering a world of make believe. The audience could be forgiven for thinking it is in a very well-organised fairy tale. He built an exact copy of Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace for his World Stadium Tour, complete with the famous ballroom and two ice rinks.
With the palace as a backdrop, André Rieu performed his mixture of classical music, salon music, operetta, soundtracks and pop music. The music, the fairy tale atmosphere and Rieu's magic attract audiences that would normally never - or hardly ever - attend an orchestral performance. André Rieu has indeed brought classical music to the masses.
Best-attended best-seller
André Rieu lives in a chateau in Limburg and has an office in New York. In addition to the orchestra, the violinist has a staff of 120 people. With their help, he is gradually conquering the whole world. In 2008 his concerts were among the best attended across the globe, with more than 700,000 people buying tickets.
His last tour through Australia was a massive success. Australian newspapers wrote about him almost every day and each music shop had its own special ‘Rieu' section. During the tour he was Australia's best selling artist. After the Netherlands and Germany, there is also a great deal of interest in André Rieu and his orchestra in South America. This year he will be touring Canada and the United States.
Feet on the ground
André Rieu puts his success down to his down-to-earth attitude:
"Actually, you should ask the people who go to
my concerts or who buy my records. I think people like it when the
person on the stage shows that he is just like anyone else and is not
playing a role. I'm not someone who shouts: Now you have to be quiet
because I am playing violin. On stage, I am simply who I am.
Critics
Despite his huge success, not everybody is convinced of Mr Rieu's
talent. In the Netherlands the cultural elite still look down on the
violinist's shows. The fact that he sometimes improvises makes it even
worse. But even his critics can't help but show respect for his
enormous success, for he is partly responsible for the fact that
classical music has never been so popular and with such a wide audience
as it is today.
Thanks for this wonderful news of the honour bestowed on Andre....it is extremely well derserved.......Congratulations to the the King of The Waltz
Joy & Bernard
High French decoration & exportprize for André Rieu
French Ambassador Jean-François Blanel presented the highest French decoration to André Rieu last Thursday. Blanel presented him with the decoration of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (Knight in the Order of Arts and Literature) He was presented the decoration at his home in Maastricht.
After receiving the High French decoration, André Rieu received on
Thursday night also the Buma Export Prize. Ivo Niehe admired him for selling 715.000 tickets. Rieu himself: “I am extremely proud to be Dutch and a Maastricht citizen. I say that whenever I am on an international stage. We, as small country, can do it all.”
“When I started playing the violin. I never thought becoming an export product”, says André. “I am extremely proud of the Netherlands. Every evening when I perform I receive so much enthusiasm from the public. Thank you very much!
Courtesy of Andre Rieu.com
Thank you Shirley for the photo.
Andrés Medal
Photo courtesy of Shirley (front view)
De Limburger
Jeanine Ann, I'm sorry for the confusion. There are three distinct medals. One for Commander, one for officer, and one for Chevalier(knight). Andre's is the plain stripe on his jacket. The picture I sent is for the officer.
That is ok Shirley. I think I have the correct one on now, I hope : )
Jeanine Ann, I sent you pictures of all three medals, so maybe now we have it all straightened out.
That is funny Shirley, I got an extra DVD today and didn't even know I ordered it twice. Anyone need one?
Yep I think the medals are straight now. You know when I looked at the one on his jacket and the one I put on I thought something was wrong but didn't know what.
Speaking of ordering things - I was in such a panic to get "Yours Forever" even though I had it on a download and had a photo of it thanks to Universal, I ordered 6 and six came. I asked two other friends (in Australia) to send me 7 so I will see how many I get. I thought the record stores would not have any more : ) So if anyone does not have one I may have plenty. It is a beautiful song. Hugs
Well Jeanine Ann you will be pleased to know that "Forever Yours" is No 1. Physical Single on the Charts in Australia this week. He displaced Taylor Swift, who is also currently touring Australia.
That is wonderful news Grayeme! I am not surprised at all, everything Andre does goes to the top and this was so special. Thanks for the good new. Big hugs
I have just come back to the Gold Coast after a trip to Sydney for my daughter's surpise birthday party. I bought "Forever Yours" on the way down and played it over and over in the car It is truly beautiful, but I was sorry it was so short; however as I said it can be played over and over again. I do hope that it raises a good deal of money for the fire4 victims here.
I too hope it sells real well and the dear fire victims can in some way be helped to recover. I still pray for the area and all the fire victims.