André Rieu Conquers Mexico!

With The Country's Flag Draped Over His Shoulder,

André Rieu is Bringing Down the Roof All Over Mexico

RIEU CONQUERS MEXICO: The Maastricht violinist and orchestra leader is at the top of the CD/DVD sales list, receives lyrical criticism from the press, and for days now has been bringing down the roof in one of Mexico City's largest auditoriums playing for a totally enthusiastic audience. He emotionally brings 10,000 fans to tears lauded the Mexican Newspaper "Reforma" about his first performance this past weekend. Countless attendees danced in the isles to the music of Rieu's Stradivarius violin and his Johan Strauss Orchestra. Even famous Mexican artists did not want to miss out on the "Charismatic Dutchman" and mingled with the fun loving public. The Mexican success is just the beginning for Rieu in Latin America. "In May we are going to Brazil, followed by Argentina and Chile. Brazil is going to explode" said the very satisfied musician at the end of one of his sold out concerts.

Thanks to the extensive sales of his illegally copied/pirated CD's/DVD's, tickets for his live concerts are not to be found. "I was stunned,'' says Rieu."Last year we thought, let's try Mexico, where I seemed to already have been world famous in the streets, thanks to the illegal sales in numerous market stands", said the Limburg citizen after the completion of one of his performances. The Stradivarius player can laugh about the piracy. Ticket sales for his concerts are going like a run-away train. Besides the nearly 50,000 tickets sold in Mexico City, there are another 13,500 tickets sold by the Limburger in Guadalajara and another 5,000 in Monterrey.

"There are good laws in Mexico against piracy, but apparently it is a sport to be flexible and deal with them," jokes the musician. "I'm not worried about these illegal copies or downloads. My audience would still prefer an origional disc in their hands." The official sales numbers indicate as such for the Limburger violinist. For example, Rieu and his Mexican Fiesta Mexicana DVD are at the top of the sales charts, surpassing Amy Winehouse. He also occupies the first, fifth and ninth places in top 10 best selling CDs.

"Mexico could use a little happiness," he told a grateful audience Saturday evening, referring to the drug war which sadly is tearing the country apart. It is peculiar though that Rieu will also visit Monterrey, where violence has been escalating for months. "Yes, we are going to go there. We played in Christchurch, New Zealand, one day after the earthquake. Our hotel was not even standing anymore. But the audience loved it," says the world famous Limburger.

Thanks to Ineke for the Telegraph newspaper article and John for Translating it