Andre Rieu Waltzing Off With The Public's Affection
Photo . . . . .Deirdre Kruger
Waltzing off with the public’s affection
Catriona Stewart
19 Apr 2011
LOATHED by critics and adored by fans, violinist and conductor Andre Rieu is an eccentric mix of opposites: an artist who presides over a global business empire, a laid-back charmer with a fierce eye for detail, at once schmaltzy but heartfelt.
Critics label the 61-year-old an affront to classical music’s polite face, but the numbers don’t lie. His last tour with his Johann Strauss Orchestra sold more than any other male touring artist in the world, outstripping Bruce Springsteen. His album, Forever Vienna, secured the highest-ever ranking for a classical record, reaching No 2 in the British pop chart. He has sold more than 22 million albums globally. With his long hair and roguish sparkle, he’s a rock star for the genteel.
Rieu began his career as a violinist in a classical orchestra in Holland but his ambition was greater: to revive the waltz. His performance at a big football match between Ajax and Bayern Munich, he says, was a turning point.
“One minute before the break, Ajax scored, which made the audience outrageously happy,” he said.
“I then performed the second waltz on the pitch during intermission and the whole audience was swaying and singing along. That year, I sold more records in the Netherlands than Michael Jackson, all because of this one waltz.”
From his successful records came his even more successful concerts.
The shows are as visual as they are auditory: ladies in his orchestra wear crinolines, there are ice skaters, occasionally horses, thousands of flowers and balloons and, once, a castle modeled room-for-room on a Viennese palace. The mock-castle was so expensive it dominated headlines in Australia and attracted the attention of Universal, the record label that signed Rieu in the UK.
Rieu’s concerts feature tunes such as The Blue Danube and Edelweiss mixed with contemporary music like that of Michael Jackson. Everything is transposed into 3/4 time.
Even on stage in front of 40,000 people Rieu’s charm is evident, and his sense of humour and personality have played a solid part in his current success. Asked where his love of the violin springs from, he says: “I had a blonde, beautiful 18-year-old teacher, so I didn’t object at all. She was my driving force before it turned into my passion.” It was a passion that was not passed down to his sons, Pierre, 28, and Mark, 30. “They started playing the violin when they were little but once they started hitting each other on the head with it, I knew it was probably time to switch to something else.”
The Dutch musician lives in a castle in Maastricht, where he once took piano lessons as a child, with his wife of 37 years, Marjorie. They met when he was 11 and she 13; she now manages his concerts and looks after sets and costumes.
His charm, also, lies in his eccentricity. His ambition, he says, is to play at the North Pole and make the polar bears dance.
“My main goal is to continue living my dream, making music together with my orchestra, traveling the world and making people happy,” he said.
“There are still so many places we would like to visit. Next year we will go to South America for the first time. “Performing on the North Pole, together with my orchestra and one couple from each country in the world, that is my biggest dream, yet to come true.”
Opening in Newcastle, his UK tour is a second attempt at one originally planned for last summer. The sold-out concerts were canceled because Rieu suffered from a sudden and crippling illness, a viral infection of the vestibular nerve. Of course, the tour will also be a chance for Rieu to challenge his critics.
“My main goal, every concert, is for people to have an unforgettable night,” he added.
“I always tell my audience, if they bring their heart and open up to the music, they will enjoy every minute of it.
“People don’t need to be afraid that they need to know everything about classical music, to attend the concert. In Mozart’s time, people would whistle his tunes on the street and that’s what it’s all about, classical music belongs to everybody; young and old, educated or not. I like to talk to my audience, interact with them, look them in the eyes.
“You say it beautifully; bring classical music to a wider audience and bridge the gap between classical and popular music.
“Let the critics come to the concert and they will see for themselves that thousands of people are having a wonderful night.”
Andre Rieu’s UK tour begins today in Newcastle. The DVD Live in Dublin and the CD Moonlight Serenade are available now.
Excellent review, but in TRUTH could anything else be written about this soooo Brilliant Man with a plus personality,He is a SUPER STAR & then some, its so good to read such a beautiful write up, THANK YOU
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Thank you so much for this lovely article! WHAT A MAN, WHAT A PERFORMER!!
Andre rocks my world!!! Thank you.
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Hello .. Webmommy testing emails again.
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I love the article!
He is the best ever performer, violinist, artist & man. Yes, he is close to people, yes, he is open to people, yes, he makes everybody happy who is open to music.
Andre Rieu is WONDERFUL!
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Wonderful email, so true!!!!!!
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my wife and me just saw andre at manchester england last week andwhat a magnificent show it was. when he played the michael jackson song ben my wife had a tear in her eys. people who critise him are snobs and do not know how to communicate with the bulk of mankind who love andre and his music.
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