Andre Rieu: How the Waltz King's Concerts 

Have Inspired a Cult Following

The Rieu audience’s experience does not begin with the first note of music. It starts as soon as they arrive at the hall – and it’s then that you need a sense of occasion, a welcoming ambience, ease and efficiency of finding refreshments, cloakrooms and loos, comfortable seating both inside the hall and in the foyers, and much more besides. Rieu’s audiences wave flags, sport merchandise and participate by purchasing these – presumably at the event – thus acquiring a sort of personal stake in the goings-on.

►Click HERE To Read Full Article!

Duped Fans of Bankrupt Restaurant Offered an Alternative Dinner

Duped Fans of Bankrupt Restaurant Anna's Are Offered an Alternative Dinner

Maastricht Gezien by Laurens Bouvrie: Prime Minister Mark Rutte can be very proud of the Vrijthof entrepreneurs. These days they have shown their community spirit. In close consultation with André Rieu management, they are offering fans an alternative, which can be seen as an example of corporate social responsibility. Next to the terrace of Grand Café Basilica and next to the Gauchos terrace (where soon the terrace of the new Theater Hotel will be located), the majority of the disadvantaged fans will be seated for their dinner. In case those areas will not be enough room for all, others will be booked in alternative restaurants in town.

Pierre Rieu says he is very proud of the solution that has come about for his father's and JSO fans. Oscar Mans, owner of the Basilica restaurant, seconds this.

"André's intention to give the disadvantaged fans free new tickets for his concerts, was wonderful! The entrepreneurs thought they should also contribute so that the fans can enjoy. Now we can turn our intentions into deeds".

The chefs of the Basilica and Gauchos restaurants will have an extra hard job during the Rieu concerts of 2015. Normally these dinners give much stress, because the three courses of the dinners, have to be served in such a tight schedule, but this year the job will be extra hard. So be it. The chefs were consulted and they also agree that we have to do everything possible to give the duped fans a wonderful evening.

A big round of applause for André, the entrepreneurs and the chefs!!!

In cooperation with the trustee in bankruptcy of Anna's, the duped fans who had booked an arrangement, are requested to report via the e-mail address: annas@andrerieu.com or André's website www.andrerieu.nl

Translated by Ineke, edited by Sue (because John is in the plane to Holland). 

André Rieu and His Love For Detail

André Rieu and His Love For Detail

EXHIBITION: Exposition in the museum on the Vrijthof offers a look behind the scenes of the Maastricht artist and showman.

Up to and including 27 September, the exposition "Love for Detail" can be visited at the Museum on the Vrijthof. An exposition which in part explains the success of André Rieu:

"Striving for perfection."

De Limburger June 23rd by Guus Urlings: How do they know? Daphne Schrader of the Museum in Maastricht shrugs her shoulders. "No idea." But it is a fact: the exposition "Love for Detail" about the life and works of André Rieu was just barely in the planning stages when the museum was already receiving calls from all over the world asking when the opening date would be. "That just goes to show how incredibly popular André Rieu is." That popularity has also led the museum to be attentive to the motto "Made in Maastricht" and to put the in Maastricht born and raised violinist a little extra in the spotlight. But then different then different. It is not necessarily the person, the artist André Rieu which is being focused upon, but rather his love for detail, his pursuit of perfectionism. "For therein lies the secret of his success. Everything into the last detail is regulated, nothing escapes him. 

Nothing is left to chance, everything is very carefully prepared. Into the smallest details, really." That is immediately evident at the entrance of the exhibit, where a collection of dresses and suits can be seen, all worn by the soloist in various shows. "Almost all designed by Rieu himself, at least from the first instance. The ideas are his. He has in his head what he wants, often including the smallest creases and decorations, and so then it must ultimately be. That brings forth beautiful creations, such as the favorite dress of the "master" in which Carmen Monarcha performed more than three hundred times on stage.

To emphasize the motto of the exhibition "Love for Detail," the museum has scattered in almost all parts of the exhibition beautiful photographed details of all objects and jewels which are worn during the shows of André Rieu - of which he also is intensively involved – and they have come to be known to their own. They are draped on and in between a special collection of 19th century crystal from the museums own collection "from the time of Johann Strauss."

But there is much more to see

A (reconstructed) part of the studio of "the André Rieu firm," for example. With an ironing board, fabrics, buttons and everything else that is useful when designing and making clothing. A little further on the young Niels Rijsemus, a luthier, can be seen in his studio very carefully planing a wooden plank into what ultimately should become a violin. Because whoever says André Rieu, says violin, and it would be quite remarkable if he would not be a perfectionist in that area too. Has Rieu ever bought a violin made by him? "Two" Rijsmus says proudly.

A room further on is totally dedicated to the waltz, the favorite genre of André Rieu. And there - with a nice detail, this time thought out by the museum - on the floor a pattern of footprints which enables visitors to dance a waltz according to the rules. Still more? The inspiration room dedicated to the composers and musicians from whom André Rieu draws his musical inspiration and the books in which he seeks inspiration for the decors of his shows. Letters, programs, gold records and so on. Mandatory food for the fans, but also a must for those who (still) are not a fan.

Thanks to John for the Translation of this article! 

André Rieu To Come To The Aid of 700 Fans

Rieu To Come To The Aid of 700 Fans

That André Rieu is not the easiest but certainly not the worst individual, is already known in Maastricht. Yet the generous gesture of the conductor to come to the rescue of more than 700 dubed fans from home and abroad is today without a doubt, the talk of the day in the provincial capital.

The Limburger by Laurens Schellen - André Rieu comes to the aid of more than 700 domestic and foreign fans and helps them in an unorthodox manner. They have been seriously disadvantaged through the bankruptcy proceedings of hotel-restaurant Anna's on the Vrijthof. The fans, which include entire families and families and friends, have through the recently bankrupt HORECA business purchased an all-inclusive package, including a multi-course dinner and an eventual overnight stay, booked and paid for in advance for one of the seven Rieu concerts at the Vrijthof next month. In answer to questions from this newspaper curator Joep Tummers, who is overseeing the bankruptcy, revealed that the hotel sold many non delivered Rieu- arrangements in the amount of almost seventy thousand Euros’. The cheapest combo ticket (without accommodation) Anna’s was charging, was almost eighty Euros per person. Many of the victims are irate about the course of business and have reported fraud and scams to the police.

After careful consideration, none other than André Rieu himself is now coming to the rescue of these victims. Son Pièrre Rieu, production manager of the Maastricht violinist, confirmed yesterday afternoon that all affected will at no extra cost "be guaranteed" access to one of the Vrijthof concerts. "We'll simply arrange that." Furthermore Rieu junior is very busy negotiating with the unified catering entrepreneurs in Maastricht to offer the affected fans a free multi-course dinner in one of the restaurants in the downtown area prior to the concert. "During the course of next week, I expect to have a clear answer to this matter. I am hopeful, because the Maastricht hospitality industry has to maintain its name and reputation. To be honest, the events surrounding this bankruptcy are obviously not good advertising. It would be very nice if we all can repair the damage this way together," says Rieu Jr.

The seven Vrijthof concerts of André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra are virtually sold out.

Thanks to John for this and it's Translation

Ineke and Ruud With André Rieu in Bucharest!

Ineke and Ruud in Bucharest!

Seven Sold Out Concerts in front of the former Ceausescu Palace, now Parliaments building. For a report of the preparations, concerts, fan picnic and our own experiences in Bucharest - Click on the link ... Ineke

►Click HERE To See Ineke And Ruud's Report With Photos and Videos of Bucharest!

Bucharest Fan Picnic

Platin Tenor Eric Reddet in Bucharest

Platin Tenor Eric Reddet in Bucharest

"After three magical days in this fantastic country, here we go for the next four concerts. It is going well and we are all enjoying ourselves!!" (Eric, the new addition to the Platin Tenor's posted this picture on his Facebook before tonights concert). It's a nice close-up picture of him and wanted to post it on here for those of you who don't have Facebook.

"Laura Engel" the Chilean/Dutch soprano who we all know from her singing with André, will be performing a few Mini Concerts this July in Maastricht. So if you are going to be there for André's concerts, click here on  ►Ineke and Ruud's Movie Site for more details on seeing Laura!

The First Concert in Bucharest Tonight

Add the overwhelming sweet smell of lime-tree blossom to this picture and the sound of an enthusiastic audience of 12.000 Romanians ;-) then you have an impression of our concert here in Bucharest ... (From Franks Steijns Facebook Page).

André Rieu Surprised His First Love

André Rieu Surprised His First Love

June 1, 2015 - André Rieu may be very happy with his wife Marjorie, but his very first love was still Tiny Aerts. This past weekend he put her in the spotlight.

"Tiny was so beautiful and blonde, that I fell in love with her and could only stare at her," says André Rieu. But, we have to explain that at that time he was only 5 years old and Tiny was his very first violin teacher. "You can understand that I had a lot of trouble concentrating, I heard absolutely nothing of what she said."

"Miss" Tiny just turned 80 years old and that was the reason for André to surprise her with a surprise party. And she loved that from her student who became so very famous. (Caption with top picture - "She was the mother of a lot ... Frank was with her also").

Thanks to John for the Translation.