André Rieu in his
"Hometown"
Lights out - Spots
on!!!!!!!
The André Rieu
family
André Rieu and his colorful Johann
Strauss Orchestra have been one big happy family for many years. This summer,
they will once again be making a lot of music in their hometown. Lights out,
spots on! Chapeau features 6 prominent musicians
behind the world’s only real "King of
Waltz. “Our lives revolve completely
around André.”
“The cheerful atmosphere doesn’t cost me
anything”
TEUN RAMAEKERS (59)
Maastricht
Flutist, Johann Strauss Orchestra, since
1988
Flutist,
Johann Strauss Orchestra since 1988: "Since the very
beginning, I’ve felt at home with Rieu (like a fish in the water.) I'm not a
classical musician per se and love to mix different types of music. I still hear
people saying about André: ‘Whatever you do, you will never
succeed.’ Consequently, it is marvelous to share his success all over
the world. The public’s
enthusiasm, their swaying, laughing,
it's all part of it. The cheerful atmosphere arises spontaneously and
doesn’t cost me
anything. I have the most fun when I
notice at a concert how grumpy men, dragged there by their wives, relax
completely during the course of the evening. The concerts on the Vrijthof are
always a feast – a party from the very first minute. Yes, for me, Maastricht
with the whole atmosphere, the cafes’
verandas (terraces) around the square,
is the highlight of the year. It is not for nothing that fans from around the
world come here to attend André’s
concerts in his hometown".
"The Schintaler
is
recreational to me"
ROGER DIEDEREN (44),
PUTH
First trumpeter, Johann Strauss
Orchestra, since 1992
"I did a lot of nice things with André
and I’ve seen the world. However,
I experienced my finest moment with Rieu here in Maastricht. My 13-year-old son,
Romano, is a talented trumpet player. Last year André involved him in our
concerts on the Vrijthof. We were introduced as father and son and performed two
solos together. Romano found it very exciting, everything went well. I was so
proud! Later my son joined the Orchestra on a trip to Mexico for a private
concert between genuine Mayan pyramids. Quite an experience for a young boy. In
our region I have been playing in De
Schintaler. This polka band disbanded in 2010, but regrouped again in 2013 and
gives a few concerts a year. Often it is quite difficult to manage to perform at
all the concerts. André grants me the freedom to do so, since
De Schintaler
provides
a recreational outlet for me; pure relaxation on a high
level."
“All over the world with
Maastricht's Carillon”
FRANK STEIJNS (43)
MAASTRICHT
Violinist, Johann Strauss Orchestra since
1994
“Apart from being a violinist at
André Rieu’s, I am also the city carillon player of Maastricht. The weekends when I’m home, I play the city’s historic
bells (carillon) in the tower of the
town hall on Saturday. It is two very different worlds, but I, as a classical
musician, cannot do without either one. André has brought those worlds together in a
way that only he can. During the Vrijthof concerts in 2005, I played
with the orchestra on the carillon of the
St. Servaas Church. The public’s response was so enthusiastic that André decided to have a mobile set of bells
(carillon) constructed that we could take along on tours. I have played the
emotional Concert d’Aranguez
on
that small carillon
in
120 cities across the world; from Los Angeles to Vancouver. Since then I have
become better known as a bell ringer in Shanghai than here in Maastricht, ha-ha.
The way in which André promotes Limburg all over the world is praiseworthy. From
my small tower on the Market Square I still see tourists with cameras listening to
the bells.”
"My girlhood dream came true"
TANJA DERWAHL (41)
MAASTRICHT
Cellist, Johan Strauss orchestra since
1997
"As a girl of ten I saw André and his orchestra perform in Belgium. Everyone was so happy and then those beautiful
dresses... fantastic! I knew right then that that was what I would like to do
later! After my training at the Conservatory I was allowed to play with André.
With that my girlhood dream came true. I like to sit on stage with great
enthusiasm. During my time at the Conservatory I sometimes played the cello with
other orchestras. Then I would think to myself: Have I been studying so hard for
seven years to simply disappear in a dark orchestra pit? No, that was not for
me. We present a classical entertainment show. My mission is to make people
happy with the talent that I’ve been given. But it is very hard work; like a super athlete. Sometimes I miss
my family very much while we are travelling. However, I feel privileged to be
able to do this work. It still thrills me to see ten thousand people going home smiling, after we've played for three
hours.
“It is a way of life”
STEPHANY DETRY (40)
Liège.
Pianist, Johann Strauss Orchestra since 1997
“I find
it impressive time and again to see what André
does for his fans. With his music
and image, he knows how to connect people and make them happy. It seems
as if they do get to like one another more during a concert. As the pianist, I
am one of the pillars of the orchestra; a great role. To perform with
André is more than simply a great job; it is a way of life to which you commit
yourself. I travel for half of the year which is not always easy with a husband
and baby at home. Now that I am a mother, everything needs to find a new place.
But other orchestra members have managed to do this before me, so I am sure I too will succeed. Fortunately André takes good care of us while we travel.
With good food, nice hotels and sufficient room to occasionally withdraw. I need that. No matter how close we orchestra members are, occasionally I need to be on my own.”
"Life may continue like this forever"
AGNES FIZZANO WALTER (34) MAASTRICHT
Violinist, JSO, Since 2005
'You're the smile behind André,’ said a fan in my
native Poland. At concerts I sit right behind Rieu. It is a very special role:
I'm always in the picture; everything I do gets noticed and for that reason many
colleagues do not want to sit there. I, on the contrary, enjoy it and am proud
to be in the spotlight. As a member of the Orchestra I feel like an absolute
star. Many fans know us all by name. The whole atmosphere, the fun on stage, the
travelling ... to me this kind of life may continue forever. The beauty of it
all is that I can share this passion with my husband. He is video editor at the
Rieu company. There’s been a spark between us from the very first moment we saw
each other in the studio. We are now married, have been together for eight
years, and yes, we like sharing our hotel room, ha-ha-ha! Children? That is not going to happen. In our lives, everything revolves around André and his music!"
Translation by Entia
5 comments:
Very nice article, thanks! How cool is that for Roger's son Romano that he got to travel to Mexico to play with the orchestra, among Mayan ruins! Many of the orchestra members have talented children as well- that would make another nice article! :-)
Jennifer D.
Beautiful photo by Howard Horder!!!
Jennifer D.
Je suis abonnée au magazine "Chapeau" et j'ai donc eu l'occasion de voir les superbes photos des musiciens du JSO qui y ont été publiées. Tout l'orchestre d'André est fantastique, je les adore et je suis très heureuse d'avoir pu venir les applaudir à Maastricht, pour la 1ère fois cette année. André est un homme formidable, plein de talent et de charisme et je comprends que ses musiciens tout comme ses concitoyens maastrichtois l'apprécient autant. Bravo à tous! Francine.
Thankyou so much for such an interesting piece on so many of our well known musicians. Many of us appreciate so much the efforts you go to to make this such an interesting site.
Dale Q.
Thank you for such interesting interviews with JSO members. They all do seem to love their work! The JSO gives so much enjoyment to so many, including me. Jan S.
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