Herald Sun November 11, 2008Andre Rieu's Classic Hits a Rare Treat At Federation Square in Melbourne
HUNDREDS of classical music fans waltzed to the tunes of Dutch violinist Andre Rieu at Federation Square yesterday. The free performance was a treat for devotees who turned up at 7.30am for the special performance.
Fans of Rieu's music have forked out hundreds of dollars for a ticket to the Dutch maestro's Melbourne concert, with a backstage meet-and-greet package costing more than $1250. Rieu's World Stadium Tour: A Romantic Vienna Night is an extravaganza costing about $5.6 million to stage. The elaborate set includes a reproduction of a Viennese palace and a 600m ice rink.
His most treasured cargo, though, is his rare 1732 Stradivarius violin.
Dubbed the Modern King of Waltz, Rieu has sold more than 1.2 million CDs and DVDs in Australia in the past 18 months, including his chart-topping 2008 CD Waltzing Matilda.
The 59-year-old son of a conductor was mobbed by his fans during a recent visit -- a familiar event at appearances across the globe. Pay-TV channel Main Event is charging $24.95 for a broadcast of the November 15 concert.
Rieu will play to 30,000 fans at Telstra Dome from tomorrow to Saturday, then travels to Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane.
►See All The Federation Square Photos on The ♦ André Rieu Official Website
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