Flashy Fiddler's Standing OvationMarch 20, 2008
AS the music business rushes to embrace the digital age of downloads and websites to bolster sales, an unusual alliance between Universal Music and a pay-television channel has triggered a stampede towards a Dutch violinist and has other markets taking note.
Dubbed the Liberace of the violin, Andre Rieu and his brand of accessible waltzes and extravagant orchestral concerts is fast becoming a musical phenomenon. Australian sales of his DVDs and CDs are approaching the one million mark, making him Universal Music's top selling artist.
His upcoming national stadium tour has sold out, with people coughing up as much as $299 for a seat to see their man perform with his orchestra, a team of dancers, ice-skaters and with a replica of Vienna's Schonbrunn Palace as the backdrop.
His upcoming national stadium tour has sold out, with people coughing up as much as $299 for a seat to see their man perform with his orchestra, a team of dancers, ice-skaters and with a replica of Vienna's Schonbrunn Palace as the backdrop.
"Something just really clicked with people and the concerts gave texture to those beautiful melodies that they've known their whole lives," Universal managing director George Ash says.
That concert tickets have been devoured is no surprise, given the reaction to Rieu's Australian visit last year when thousands descended on a Sydney shopping centre where he was appearing.
"There were 7000 people. I've never experienced anything like that," Rieu told Media this week.
"There were 7000 people. I've never experienced anything like that," Rieu told Media this week.
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3 comments:
Thanks,Sue,I'm totally addicted to all things Andre. Also that article, I mentioned on your guestbook which Teresa posted on 'aussiefans'I now realize was a 2004 article.
While it is new to me maybe you've all read it.
Cheers
Benadette
Sue, we also posted this article on our news blog. I preceded the article with my own comment that I found the title offensive. Andre is NOT a flasher, and he plays a violin, not a fiddle. Am I technically correct that there is a difference between a fiddle and a violin?
Hi Gina,
I tried to answer you on your blog, but the word verification didn't seem like it was working, so copied it and will put it here.
If you've watched Live in Dublin, you saw André play with John Sheahan. John plays the fiddle and André plays the violin ~ they both sounded the same when they played together ... They're the same instrument really, it's the type of music that's played on it that defines the fiddle/violin ~ if it's Blue Grass it's a fiddle, if it's Bach it's a violin! :)
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