André Rieu, a Sex Symbol With Strings Attached

André Rieu ... a Sex Symbol With 'Strings' Attached

The Sunday Telegraph
By Jonathon Moran December 26, 2009

ANDRÉ Rieu may woo the same female fan base but the classical music superstar insists he is no Tom Jones.

Happily married for more than 30 years, Rieu's many adoring fans will have to be content admiring the virtuoso violinist from afar. "Sometimes, people throw stuff up on stage, but I'm not Tom Jones," Rieu tells Insider when asked about some of his more eager fans. "I would be lying if I said I don't like it. I am flattered when people like my way of making music and that's why I do it." He says his wife, Marjorie, has no problem with his female fans, adding, "She knows it is part of the job and it is a profession."

Rieu is talking to Insider from Holland, where he and his family are celebrating Christmas and new year at the castle in which they live.

The violinist, composer and conductor, 60, is promoting the release of his latest DVD and album, André Rieu 'Live In Sydney', which he filmed on his recent October tour. It features guest appearances from Alan Jones (singing I Am Australian) and Dame Edna Everage.

Rieu's label, Universal Music, has high hopes for it, with 300,000 copies shipped to retailers before Christmas. His latest release also features Australian singer Mirusia Louwerse, who travels with him around the world.

"It is cool for me because the Australian audience is fantastic; the whole world can see how it clicks between the Australian audience and me," he said. "First it will be released in Australia, but later on of course it will be released around the world. All the products I make are for the world."

In October, 2010 Rieu will do it all again: he's booked for seven concerts in Australia and New Zealand. This time around, he is hoping to work with Olivia Newton John. "I met Olivia at one of the last concerts and I'm a big fan of hers," he said. "Probably we are going to do things together in 2010."

Rieu has sold millions of albums and DVDs around the world and Australia is one of his biggest markets. He puts his success down to hard work and passion. "When I analyse my success, I think it is because I make music with my heart," he said. 'It sounds like a cliché, but it's really true ~ I only play the pieces that are close to my heart. "Record companies all around the world forgot for a long time that there is also music besides pop music.

"My music is classical music brought with humour and brought with lightness and brought with tears and heart. There is a huge audience for this way of making music and way of loving music as a musician."

Rieu, an admitted control freak, runs his own company to distribute his albums and run his productions. That way no "middle men" get in the way. "I had this dream in my head and, to achieve that result, it is much easier and much faster when I do everything myself," he said. "I have a small group of people working for me and you see the results. We have very short lines with big arenas where we play all around the world."

Rieu isn't really comfortable with fame, either. His wife and two sons, Marc and Pierre, are all part of his business and they all travel around the world together. "Fame is nothing. Fame is something that exists in the heads of some people, but for me. Fame is nothing, everything is relative," he said. "I don't need managers or an entourage to prove myself."

Rieu recently became a grandfather for the first time and says he is committed to being a family man. His youngest son, Pierre, and his wife recently welcomed twin daughters. "They are now three weeks old," he said with pride. "It's fantastic but absolutely exhausting. They are so energetic ~ these babies should sleep! I am very proud, though. It's great."

André Rieu's Live In Sydney DVD and album are out now. Rieu plays Sydney's Acer Arena on October 31, 2010