André Rieu
André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu (born 1 October 1949 in Maastricht) is a Dutch violinist, orchestra conductor, arranger and music producer.
Life
Rieu was born in Maastricht in the house Plenkershoven 11 and then later lived about half a kilometer away in the Begijnenstraat. He comes from a musical family and grew up with classical music. His father André Rieu sen. (1917-1992) was in GDR times, chief conductor of the Leipzig Opera and conductor of the LSO, in which André jun. to 1989 played as a violinist. He received his violinist education at the conservatories of Liège, Maastricht, at the Hungarian violinist André Gertler in Brussels and in courses with Herman Krebbers.
His devotion to the salon music began in 1978 with his ensemble "Het Maastricht Salon Orchestra ", with whom he acquired some notoriety, especially in the Netherlands and the Belgian-German border area. Some of his former companions are still in his ensemble. From this period his first recordings.
Since the mid- 1990s Rieu travels with his " Johann Strauss Orchestra " (about 50 musicians ) around the entire globe. For several years, Rieu plays on a violin by Antonio Stradivari, previously on a Guarnerius copy by Jean -Baptiste Vuillaume. His tours through Germany he owes appearances at Karl Moik in Musikantenstadl, with today combines a close friend. In addition to concerts on tour Rieu generally produced specials with various pop stars, which can be seen on television or are available on DVD. His ensemble consists of soloists and singers.
Since 2008 Rieu occurs in addition to his usual concerts with his " Stadium Tours " world even in very large halls, but especially in stadiums. For this purpose, he uses a backdrop of the Schönbrunn Palace in nearly original size for the orchestra and show deposits, where everything is transmitted on large screens. Regularly occurs in this case the ballet of the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Volksoper. An integral part of the concerts are also performances of various guest artists, such as the Platinum Tenors, the Berlin Comedian Harmonists or the sopranos Mirusia Louwerse and Carmen Monarcha.
Rieu and his orchestra playing classical pieces in a popular form and wants to reach the widest possible audience through the presentation and show effects. Additional elements of the classical repertoire with orchestral versions of pop songs and pop songs. He sits next to lighting effects and a lot of technology for sound reinforcement and coloring. The facing of classical music critics consider his productions for musical superficial because Rieu known melodies of classical music use in order to present them complacent.
Unusual about his appearance is that he always plays along as conductor of " Johann Strauss Orchestra " with his violin and predominantly occurs turned to the audience and so the orchestra not conducted in the proper sense. Johann Strauss Jr. joined but already in his time in this form.
André Rieu is married. He and his wife, Marjorie, whom he married during his studies in 1975, have two sons, Marc (born 1978 ) and Pierre ( born 1981 ).
He is godfather of the Björn Steiger Foundation for the project "Save Schools".
Business
His company owns a recording studio in Maastricht. It employs 120 permanent and many freelancers and sub-contractors. The performances during the tours take place on a daily basis.
A private transport and supply system with redundant equipment park, stage, lighting and sound engineers and own food by several chefs, including a traveling physician allow the crowded succession. The musical instruments and stage structures are present in triplicate, to bridge transport times and delays, as well as the backdrop of the Schönbrunn Palace in triplicate is available. His wife and his son Pierre ( responsible for the stage structures ) are involved in the company. The director was in his productions Pit Weyrich, from 2010 Lida Volleberg Huver, a Belgian director of Liege.
The beginning of 2009 it was announced that the holding of Rieu Productions despite records for ticket sales with 36 million euros in debt instruments and stage equipment and serve the creditor Rabobank as a guarantee. The debt is overcome in 2013.
With 554,242 tickets sold and revenue of $ 57.4 million in the first half of 2009 André Rieu was # 4 on the hit list of the best-selling concert tours in the period.
Discography
Singles
Chart positions
Albums
Chart positions
Other:
- 2005: Andre Rieu: Golden Classics
- 2005: Andre Rieu: World Tour Concert
- 2007: Andre Rieu: The Best of Live
- 2007: Andre Rieu: On His Way to New York
- 2008: The Best of Live
- 2008: Best Of
- 2008: Live in Maastricht II
- 2009: Live in Maastricht III
- 2009: Live in Heidelberg ( I hab'mein heart in Heidelberg lost).
- 2010: Live in Maastricht IV (A Midsummer Night's Dream)
- 2001: La vie est belle ( forest stage Berlin - Live Concert )
- 2011: Under the Stars (Live in Maastricht V)
- 2011: And the Waltz Goes On ( Live in Vienna ) (Blu -Ray)
Awards
- Golden Tuning Fork 1998, 2003, 2005
- Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2009
- Karl medal for European media 2010
- Gold Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria 2011