André Rieu, His Castle, His Million-Emporium
His Family Happiness and His Secrets
Bild Magazine Nov. 2015: And Fairytales do come true - "Once upon
a time ... that is how fairytales begin, but not this one. And yet, this one is.
A story about someone who travels the world and with his music makes the world a
little happier and friendlier. One who with his famous Stradivarius extracts
feelings, and one who gave an audience of millions unforgettable moments of
happiness with his Sissi castle and golden carriage.
Waltz King André Rieu, a modern Johann Strauss, who
loves his fairytales, his dreams - while keeping both feet on the ground - and
through notes and ideas, love and discipline built his emporium. What are his
secrets? Bild Stars opens the doors to a fascinating empire. The person and also
the master violinist, André Rieu, who keeps his family totally
private.
His World. I Love my dream ... and am happy when my
public is happy. When people laugh, cuddle and kiss - then we reached their soul
...
Maastricht in autumn, a mere 110 Kilometers from
Cologne, 16 Degrees (C) and a clear blue sky. Yellow-gold leaves dance from the
trees and the Dutch are sitting in front of their Café's while the sun caresses
them. Here one lives life at a slower pace than anywhere else in Europe. One
does not know the hustle and bustle here. As soon as one arrives in the city of
120.000 inhabitants, one finds the studios of Waltz King André Rieu in the
middle of the industrial area. It resembles the Berlin Chancellery a little - but
is smaller. Not far from there one finds a castle.
In front of the door a red Tesla (130,000 Euros).
The Master violinist's car, who has sold over 40 million DVDs and CDs, received
411 Platinum and 171 Golden awards and has 1.7 million Face Book Friends. More
than 600,000 fans travel each year worldwide to his concerts. He is considered
to be on the same level as pop stars like Cher, Depche Mode, Bon Jovi, Miley
Cirus or Elton John.
Rieu - a merciless perfectionist - who does not
leave anything to chance. People love his art, his music and happily let
themselves be led in three-quarter time into his dream world for a few hours.
No matter where in the world he performs, his
concerts are always sold out. And now, the Waltzking and his orchestra go on
tour through Germany. More open than ever, the world star speaks in this
Bild-Star interview about his 34 million Euro bankruptcy, his therapy, how to
reappraise his relationship with his father, his unending love for his wife, why
he hates champagne and red carpets, and why he goes to the barber every two
months. But also that he needs a million Euro per month to maintain his Johann
Strauss Orchestra and his team and what his 750 Euro monthly retirement would
pay.
A meeting in his own castle with
coffee, a meringue and whipped cream fancy cake with sour cherries.
Mega successful, 40 years of marriage, and
no scandals, so, how do you manage not to be involved in scandals for
decades?
I was born pure. When my aunt came to visit us, she always said: "This little
boy is always happy." I am always unmentionably happy. I do not like to
complain.
Once again, how do you manage to stay successful for decades and not
have any scandals?
Scandals!! I cannot help that. I have been happily married for 40 years, and
why not? I cannot sleep with all my fans. Besides I am responsible for 100
employees. You cannot be continuously involved in a scandal.
At your concerts you only see happy people. How do you manage to move
your audience?
Emotions are most important. From early on when I played with my Salon
Orchestra in retirement homes, all the blissfully cried. It was everyone's wish
to cure the world. Today there are a lot of younger people in the audience. They
kiss during their concert, the embrace each other, cry, laugh, and dance. I
think it depends on how we play and how we communicate with the public. I refer
to it all the time.
How do the feelings of the audience affect you?
They go directly to the spot - and touch me deeply. Twice I had to cry while
on stage. It was shown on the huge screens. I am not at all ashamed about that,
but at the same time do not like it either. That is un-professional.The audience
is allowed to cry, but not I.
Which dreams and wishes do you still have?
My father was a famous director. We used to have renowned musicians like for
instance Yehudi Menuhin visit us. They all were soloists. They were always
alone. So, I have always said: "That is not what I want, I want to have an
Orchestra, play together with the people. This is a dream I fulfilled. And in
addition, I love to travel. Not as a tourist, which I do not like. I do not like
to look at buildings, I like to see the people. Yes, I am living my dream.
What is still missing from your entire happiness?
We are working on that, to conquer America. That, for an artist is the most
difficult country.
You once said that your father was very strict and did not treat the
children with respect. Today your younger brother still suffers from that. How
have you dealt with that difficult relations ship with your father who has since
then passed on?
I was in therapy for several
years. I was 25 when I started and that was smart. You have to deal with that
from the inside out. And I accomplished that. The older my father became,
the more he became a sort of religious fanatic. At the end he thought he was a
priest. You could no longer be close to him. My younger brother eventually moved
to Marseille, but that was only an escape. He could have flown to the moon - but
he still carries that with him.
Are you never the less still religious?
Here in the Maastricht region everyone is Catholic. I was brought up
religiously and sang every Sunday in the church choir. I still consider myself
to be religious. Today I only believe in the good that is within us as people.
Only we the people have the power to change things - and we should not wait
until God makes the changes for us.
Do you still fear anything today?
Actually, no, not anything. Only about dying.
David Garret said in an interview that he did not find himself so
great. How do you find yourself?
He really said that? I find him to be super. He is a fantastic violinist. He
has his audience and I have mine.
In many of your performances you wear a conspicuous brooch on your
collar. Is that an heirloom?
No, no. It is only worth five Euros. I design
everything myself - a lady costume maker made this brooch for me. And a gold
chain goes with that. That one is worth about 2 Euro 50. However, a befriended goldsmith gave me a diamond-studded
brooch. That valuable piece I now only wear with an inexpensive chain.
Do you actually know your precise bank account balance?
The account balance changes of course, but it is
healthy. For the Johann Strauss Orchestra and my team I have one million in fix
costs, and if you ask me if money makes me happy; no, not at all, but it
provides me freedom. The freedom to play and do what I want to do. I am
responsible but not accountable to anyone. And this freedom for me is most
important.
Have you ever really messed up?
Well, yes, when we copied Schönbrunn Palace in full scale to tour with, I put
myself in deep financial troubles. The men of the bank came to my house to tell
me that I was 34 million in the hole. I had a week to think how I could solve
the problem. That was not nice. That money scandal turned into a big
advertisement for me; bigger than having covered the world with promotional
posters. Everyone knew about it and wished to see the Schönbrunn Palace. So the
tour turned out to be a huge success. A year later I had 20 million in my
account.
Schönbrunn is not used
anymore?
I'll tell you a secret. We would love to bring the Palace out again. Although
we won't tour with it anymore, but probably we'll erect it in Cardiff to give
several concerts over there.
You always work so disciplined, almost like
a perfectionist.
Yes, that is who I am. As a youngster I rose at 6 AM every morning in order
to be exactly on time at the conservatory. My wife liked my discipline so much
that she said: He is the one I marry!
You never attend parties?
I hate champagne, I hate parties. When I have been invited to an event
because I am receiving an award, I avoid the red carpet. If possible, I enter
through the back entrance. Real life is not parties, real life is at home. When
I arrive after having been on tour, I love to go directly from the airport to
the supermarket to buy something. Then I know I am home!
Did you ever leave a shop because it was
too expensive?
No I never ask what it costs. That is often not a good idea. In San Francisco
I once purchased a Jacket from Armani. On the counter were just some normal
looking white T-shirts and I had five of them wrapped. When I saw the bill I was
blown away. The cost was 250 dollar each!
What do you prefer to wear?
I would love to walk around in Medieval clothes. Light tops and tight
stocking-pants. That is imaginative and comfortable. I had to wear that once for
the recording of an album. If I would wear it today, people would think I was
crazy.
Where do you see yourself in 10
years?
Hopefully then everything will still be the same as today. I work out three
times a week, power training under the direction of a personal coach. I like to
do the exercise right. Because it is especially good for my back.
Would you like to visit a plastic
surgeon?
Never! Many people are so smoothed out, that you can not recognize the face
anymore.
One of your trademarks is your hair-do. How
do you maintain your hair?
Take a shower, blow dry, that's it! I go to the
barber every two months. Not as frequent as earlier. When you get older your
hair grows slower. Just a wash and cut. Without
coloring, and I pay € 75.
In the Show-business world there is hatred
and malice. Have you ever experience it?
I really don't feel I belong to the show business world. No really, not at
all! We just perform our concerts every night. We create something real every
night, no big show.
Heino just turned into a rocker. Can you imagine turning into a
different violin player?
No. I stick to what I do now. The audience likes it. The orchestra likes it.
One cannot change that.
Once you said that you came into puberty
when you were 26 years old. Were you a late bloomer?
Yes, my wife also. We just discovered everything a
little bit later. Once we entered a shop and both of us had long hair at that
time and wore only one earring. The shop assistant asked: "Ladies are you being
served????" (He laughed)
Were you really always that
well-behaved?
Yes. When we were young my brother and I had many opportunities with the
girls. They loved to be with us, but really we did not do anything. We were not
shy, but wise. But because we were totally clueless we would probably have
brought 10 children into this world. We had a strict Roman Catholic upbringing
and we had no idea about the existence of contraceptives. In these sort of
things I am probably a boring human being, but I am not ashamed of that. When I
speak about this today, I amaze myself.
A typical Dutchman is known for clogs and a caravan. You
too?
I don't wear clogs anymore at all, and most Dutch people don't either, but
they love their caravan because they are thrifty. They prefer to have a three
week holiday with 27 people for 475 Euro. Then the holiday is a success.
When and where do you celebrate a
holiday?
I am a workaholic. I always work. Often we drive to Rome for a few days or
the Black Forest, but always only for three days. I don't need a week long
holiday. I can relax in one hour.
In contrast to women, men rarely go for
health checks. How do you see that?
I started my health checks at 50 and and do so every year. Many are afraid
that the doctor might discover something. But you do that so that the doctor, if
he detects something, it is detected early.
Do you receive a pension?
Yes, I am over 65. I receive about € 750 each month. Now you probably might
think: that is enough to buy two bottles of good Bordeaux wine. (laughs).
Are you actually the only Dutchman who has
never smoked a joint?
I actually never smoked a joint. In Holland weed is smoked less than one
thinks. Hash here is legal. I mean, it should be made available throughout
Europe. That way we stay one step ahead of the criminals Of course one has to
assure that youngsters do not use drugs or drink alcohol. These alcopops which
many youngsters use, are dangerous. I do not allow the use of alcohol before a
concert by my orchestra members,. When I catch someone drinking before the
concert, he/she is fired.
Why don't you wear a wedding
ring?
Once I was caught on a door with the ring. Since then I keep my engagement-
and wedding rings on a golden chain in my violin case.
Will you join "Dschungelcamp"?
What is that?. That is a TV show, where less and well known artists .....
Oh yes, I have heard about that. No, of
course not!
You breed Koi Carp. Some people eat such a
noble fish as a delicacy.
I beg your pardon?? Under no circumstances! I would not even eat my two dogs!
When was the last time that you were
drunk?
That was long ago. 30 years ago. I started at 5PM with gin. The next morning
at 9AM I had an appointment with the Mayor. I felt so terrible that I said to
myself: I will never do that again!
Would you like to have your last trip be accompanied by a
waltz?
Last trip? I am not thinking about my funeral for a
long time to come!!!
Thanks to John and Ineke for this long Translation!
Pierre actually wanted to become a lawyer. "But after five weeks at the
university I had enough. I did not like those boring law studies. If you've only
worked once behind the scenes in a concert, you'll always want to be part of
this exciting club again. In the middle of a job he made the most important
decision in his life, he says. Eight years ago, Pierre was busy with the
production of a DVD in the Dutch fairytale park "the Efteling." One evening a
colleague called and noted that he thought that the director of the DVD projects
would be the ideal girl for Pierre. Pierre: "I did not take this matchmaking
attempt seriously. But when I worked for four months very closely with Eefje on
the DVD, I realized that she actually was my great love." The rest of the story
is just as corny as the "Kiss-Waltz" by Johann Strauss. Pierre and Eefje married
and had twin girls, Linde and Lieke (now 6) Pierre Rieu: "On the Efteling DVD
one can listen to "Tara's Theme" by Max Steiner. No musical piece touches me as
deeply as this one. André and my Mom, Marjorie had a music-box made with this
piece of music. Every evening my daughters go to sleep while listening to this
music."
