André Rieu Puts On Biggest Show on EarthDec 12, 2007 04:30 AM
Raj Mudar
Entertainment Reporter
Move over Rolling Stones, you ain't got nothing on André Rieu.
While the rock band's Steel Wheels tour is considered one of the biggest concerts to hit a stage, Rieu – the Dutch violinist and conductor who has spent the last two decades performing with the Johann Strauss Orchestra around the world – is eclipsing it by mounting what is considered the largest touring stage show ever.
The "A Romantic Vienna Night" world tour kicks off Friday and Saturday at the Rogers Centre. The giant set is a close-to-full-size reproduction of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna and takes up most of the Blue Jays' outfield.
Rieu, dubbed the Modern King of Waltz, has sold 23 million CDs and DVDs and currently holds the No. 2 spot on Billboard's top classical album chart (Radio City Music Hall: Live in New York).
Rieu's son and production manager, Pierre, in Toronto in advance of his father, says the planning and logistics for this latest tour have taken more than a year.
"Every company that I meet and talk to: lights, sound, rigging, balloons, pyrotechnicians, whatever, they all say, `What kind of show is this? Give me the plans ...' (so I) send them the plans and then five minutes later, the phone is ringing with them saying `What the hell is this? This is bigger than the Stones!' And I say, `Well, it's a classical show and it's just big.'"
Hey, let's put on a show !
Raj Mudar
Entertainment Reporter
Move over Rolling Stones, you ain't got nothing on André Rieu.
While the rock band's Steel Wheels tour is considered one of the biggest concerts to hit a stage, Rieu – the Dutch violinist and conductor who has spent the last two decades performing with the Johann Strauss Orchestra around the world – is eclipsing it by mounting what is considered the largest touring stage show ever.
The "A Romantic Vienna Night" world tour kicks off Friday and Saturday at the Rogers Centre. The giant set is a close-to-full-size reproduction of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna and takes up most of the Blue Jays' outfield.
Rieu, dubbed the Modern King of Waltz, has sold 23 million CDs and DVDs and currently holds the No. 2 spot on Billboard's top classical album chart (Radio City Music Hall: Live in New York).
Rieu's son and production manager, Pierre, in Toronto in advance of his father, says the planning and logistics for this latest tour have taken more than a year.
"Every company that I meet and talk to: lights, sound, rigging, balloons, pyrotechnicians, whatever, they all say, `What kind of show is this? Give me the plans ...' (so I) send them the plans and then five minutes later, the phone is ringing with them saying `What the hell is this? This is bigger than the Stones!' And I say, `Well, it's a classical show and it's just big.'"
Hey, let's put on a show !
Over 80 Cargo containers to ship the stage in pieces
7 days to build it (3 to take it down)
250 crew members, working 24 hours a day in two 12-hour shifts
Over 700 tonnes of steel
Over 1,000 moving lights
115 feet high
400 feet wide (the dimensions of the castle)
Over 400 aluminium panels for the castle’s facade.
450 performers, including 200 local pipers
96 chandeliers
800 light bulbs
Over 20,000 balloons
2 fountains
2 ice rinks (each approximately 70 feet long and 35 feet deep)
6 giant projection screens
6 Lipizzaner stallions pulling one golden carriage
30 local horses pulling another 14 carriages
12 tonnes of sound equipment
31,000 spectators
The Guinness World Record the show is expected to achieve, including biggest stage show, biggest logistical operation for a tour and biggest number of performers for one show.
Link to Andre's new "World Stadium Press Center Website"
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