André Rieu Fears For The Survival of His Orchestra

André Rieu Fears For The Survival of His Orchestra

By Jo Cordenradt 1LIMBURG,

Concerts with the one and a half meter (5feet) rule are for André Rieu impossible. If that rule still applies next year, it will be curtains for him. Normally, the Maastricht stand-alone violinist conducts 12 concerts on the Vrijthof in July, but they have all been canceled due to corona.

Lost year

In the fall there are concerts on the agenda for England, Croatia and Israel. But it is still uncertain whether they will take place. No decisions have been made about the Christmas concerts in the MECC in Maastricht. "But under the current circumstances I am still somewhat hard-headed about it, " says the world-famous violinist. " It's going to be difficult with 12,000 people in a covered area. With face masks and gloves it may still be possible, but with a distance of a meter and a half (five feet) it will be impossible. I can't play for a handful of people with all the fixed and production costs."  Rieu considers this year a lost year.

Close

For the survival of his company with 136 permanent employees, it is essential for André Rieu to be able to perform live concerts again next year, including on the Vrijthof in Maastricht. "We have done well in recent years, so we can survive it for a while. In addition, the government support measures also help. But if we still cannot perform next year, then I fear that we may have to close. But that also applies to a lot of festivals, orchestras and cultural organizations. "

2021

He is aiming his sights on 2021. "I don't know if there will be a vaccine, maybe a medicine. Or maybe the strength of the virus will have diminished. Something has to be done, we need to get going again. If people can already sit next to each other in a plane with a mask, so then it should also be possible on the Vrijthof, without that one and a half meters (five feet) distance. Another year without performing, is something that we as a business cannot survive. But I remain optimistic that it will be possible again in 2021."

L1

The orchestra leader recently gave an extensive interview to L1. In the coming week, that extensive interview will be broadcast on L1 in five parts from Monday to Friday.

Thanks to Ruth and Mieke for this article and John's translation.