André Rieu Conducts Hannibal Lecter

Violinist André Rieu Conducts Hannibal Lecter

Anthony Hopkins Is in Secret a Talented Composer And a Rieu Fan

By Markus Tschiedert March 2011: Anthony Hopkins has started a second career as a musician and contacted star violinist André Rieu. One came to world fame as a cannibal with charisma - Dr. Hannibal Lecter - the other one as one of the greatest leading violinist and conductor of our time. What do they have in common?

Very simple, but rather unusual: Hollywood star Anthony Hopkins (73) has become a classic composer, and André Rieu (61) became so enthusiastic that he now wants to record and play some songs of Hopkins' compositions in his repertoire for his concerts. "I still remember how I admired André when I saw him for the first time on television and expressed a wish how great it would be if this man would play some of my pieces," said Hopkins, who at the time was attending the premier of his new film, "The Rite - The Ritual" in Rome. "When my wife Stella heard of my dreams, she made contact with Rieu, but told me nothing. And then I got a call from the master.

His steel-blue eyes sparkle with joy when he talks about it, but minutes before he was hopping mad. Ironically, a journalist from the Vatican had asked him whether he would like to be the devil, since he so often portrayed villains like Hannibal and Hitler. "What a stupid question, leave me alone!" barked Hopkins, who does not want to be placed into any category. About his role in "The Rite" as Exorcist Father Lucas, who himself is possessed by the devil, he says short and to the point: "It does not always need to have a deeper meaning, when I accept a role. I am an actor, and when they pay me very well, even to read the phone book, I would do that too. It is as simple as that!"

Sir Anthony (as he has been called since 1993 when he was knighted by the Queen) does not belong to a church, and does not consider himself to be an atheist. "It all depends upon yourself, but you won't lose anything if you believe in something. Earlier in my life I also said that everything was just fairy tales, until I had to experience real life, and then I realized that there had to be something bigger in life. "Hopkins alludes to his alcohol addiction, which along with his early success towards the end of the 60's was hard to cope with.

On 29 December 1975 he awoke in a frenzy, somewhere, and how he got there he did not know. "That was many years ago. "I led a life that was painful and certainly not very smart. After that I wanted to definitely change that, I was at a point in my life where long ago I should have been dead."

Meanwhile, Hopkins is in his third marriage to the Brazilian actress Stella Arroyave (54), and even learned to pray - in gratitude for that second chance. "I thank God to be alive." And André Rieu says thanks too .............. Go to André's Website to see lots of pictures now taken today!!

►http://www.andrerieu.com/en/news/sir-anthony-hopkins-in-the-studio

Thanks to John for the ©Translation of this