André Rieu Does Radio Interview in Australia

André's Australian Radio Interview

by Rob from Australia Oct. 3, 2008

I just heard André speak with Ian Maurice on Brisbane radio thanks to Jann's link which was on the website. Doesn't HE (don't mean Ian) have a yummy voice and a charming sense of humour ... (talk about drooling over André from afar).

Firstly, we heard the first playing of his "Happy Birthday" mini CD/card with 3 cheers at the end for himself. He said Cyrus Meher-Homji at Universal suggested making it (André seemed to think it was a bit of a joke), and from the sound it seems to be sung by the Maastricht Starr Mens Choir. Then he told us he spent his birthday with his family & dogs and it was a very nice day. Marjorie gave him a very nice evening jacket that he is bringing to Oz and two nice shirts (hope one is blue and the other yellow, or any pastel - really-all colours suit him) and 3 dozen bottles of a white wine he had enjoyed in the south of France with some fois gras pâté - they only drank one bottle yesterday.

Carmen, Susan, Mirusia and the three tenors are coming to Oz (not Carla), along with the ice skaters and Vienna dancers and fountains. No mention of bringing the horses. He did not want to leak any of the surprises he has in store for us in the concerts other than to say there will be some Aussie stuff and many waltzes. He spoke of the difficulties, expense and big risk he is taking bringing it all here, and the live broadcast via Foxtel of the Melbourne Saturday concert and the DVD that will be made of it.

He also talked about all the babies in the orchestra (I think about 12, one year and under at moment) and his need for two rooms in the crèche at his studio, and how both Kerstin & Nicole (choir) have new babies who are coming to Oz each with a nanny. He was pleased to hear that the 2CD Schönbrunn pack on which his Stadium Tour is based has just been released here, along with his wife's book "My music, My life" that Ian really enjoyed (like the rest of us), which pleased André immensely - they joked about his brothers setting him up with the swinging incense burner in church and all the photos from his youth - he said that he still takes a lot of photos.

They spoke of the growing excitement for the first concert in Melbourne 6 weeks from today, and how Franz was already here in Oz preparing. In the next 6 weeks André said he will be doing a small concert tour in France followed by a few weeks at home before coming to Oz for 4 weeks !!!

It was very enjoyable and reassuring to hear from André, at last - it makes everything seem more real and less like a dream that never seems to eventuate but of course when the dream eventually comes true it will be over so quickly it will still seem like a dream.