André Rieu Wants to Perform After Final World Soccer Match!

Next week André Rieu is going to start his concert series in Maastricht with Eight Performances scheduled. It is not unthinkable that one day black musicians will play in the JSO. The violinist has big plans to form his own orchestra with SA local musicians.
Limburg Newspaper July 2, 2010

Rieu spoke about his plans yesterday at the end of a press meeting in the Theater of the Vrijthof. The violinist is very impressed by his SA tour a few months ago. "I intend to form a black JSO there. We already had serious conversations with the government and the city council of Cape Town".

Rieu intends to build a real Conservatory in Cape Town with proper classrooms and airco, where talented musicians can have a good education, which will lead to performances. Music knows no color ... anybody can play an instrument. The plans are not yet fully completed, but the orchestra leader has them in his head and André Rieu is known for making his plans a reality.

In 1987 he gave a gala concert in the Europe Hall (with the Maastricht Salon Orchestra) to draw attention to the water problem in the Sahel desert. "Since that year Marjorie and I draw attention to projects in Africa", Rieu said.

During his SA tour he visited a music school. Well ... School ... it looked like a shack. That touched me very much. You should see those children there, so passionate. I was enormously impressed by their energy. I invited the Bloemfontein children's choir to perform with us in Maastricht.

Rieu tells his story in a very relaxed way sitting in Lotus position on stage of the Theater of the Vrijthof. His Maastricht concerts are influenced by his impressions of the SA tour. At any rate, I'll adapt the program before the intermission. Not only by introducing the children's choir to the Limburg audience, but also SA soloist Kimmy Skota. She won the audience's hearts with her emotional song, "African Dream". In the meantime Rieu has offered her a one year contract to join him on tour later on this year. André does not want to tell much about the rest of the program, "I will keep that as a surprise for the audience," he said. It is sure though, he will have another guest artist.

People who want to bring their vuvuzela (a horn used for the SA soccer games), better leave them at home ... Rieu does not like them. Even if Holland plays to win the World Cup, vuvuzelas will be forbidden on the square. "On TV you get nuts hearing those things".

He just got over the disappointment of the cancellation of the Toronto Concert because of street riots against the G20 top. "That was a very special situation, but we are still going strong. On December 12th I'll return there to perform.

Right now I am concentrating on the Maastricht concerts. That will become a very special happening that I'm looking forward to and I am convinced that the weather will cooperate. We have always been lucky".

If the Netherlands plays in the final soccer match on July 11th, Rieu intends to start his concert after the game. (which would be around 10.30 PM) At least ... if it is up to Rieu! The city council says, "We are still talking about that".

Rieu wants to show the final match on his Big Screens for the audience. "Immediately after the game we'll start the concert with an adapted program. No Ave Maria, but suitable music. That would be a Historic Concert".

Joep Delsing, spokesman for the city council said, "We think it is important that Rieu performs on the Vrijthof Square, but this is his scenario. There are other scenarios to think about and next week we will make the decision".

Yesterday Rieu presented his 'Bad Weather Scenario' in the Theater of the Vrijthof. "Always when I play, the sun is shining. Last year, hardly a week after my concerts, it started to rain and storm. My wife said, "André, with 8 concerts, it is too risky". That is why we will move to the MECC in case of heavy weather. We made a copy of the Vrijthof for that. In case of normal rain we'll stay on the square and provide ponchos, but if it should become real dangerous, we'll move to the MECC. We'll make the decision at 12 PM (noon) that day and the changed location will be mentioned on signs along the highways to Maastricht so people can drive straight to the MECC. There are no shuttle busses, so people from Maastricht will have to use public transportation. The restaurant managers will have to move their guests inside. Some can do that in their own establishment, some cannot. The Old Vogelstruys will move to the Maastricht Music Hall. Café Monopole will go to the Crown Plaza Hotel. Others have not made arrangements yet, but yesterday Rieu had a meeting with the managers of the restaurant on that subject.

In the absence of John our Translator who is on vacation in Europe, we thank Ineke and Sonja for translating this.