André Rieu With friend André van Duin

With friend André van Duin, the Waltz King reminisces about his rich career.

André Rieu "VIENNA was my worst concert"

From "de Telegraaf": Setbacks, disappointments and even opposition ... ANDRÉ RIEU has been affected by it across the entire world. With ANDRÉ VAN DUIN he’s currently making a cinema production where he looks back at FIFTEEN YEARS OF VRIJTHOF CONCERTS. And looking back he does, with his comedian friend while on a Maastricht terrace awaiting his comeback on the stage ...

Setbacks always made you stronger you say.

"We have never avoided major challenges. Australia was of course a gigantic adventure. Whenever you see a program on TV in which customs turns all your suitcases inside out because they are afraid of non-native fungi, plants and food which tourists take with them - you can imagine what can happen when you see a complete Schönbrunn Palace in 250 containers arrive. In one of the boxes a snail was found and promptly, nothing else was cleared. Everything was gone through looking for more snails. And what turned out later? Fortunately, it was an Australian snail which had crawled between them so we were able to continue. At that moment you go crazy, but later you laugh about it.”

Which was the worst?

"Strangely enough, Vienna. There we were going to perform at the Michaelerplatz, near the Hofburg. But what we experienced there with the bureaucracy, that surpassed everything. Before that, Schönbrunn went well, and after that this concert would be performed in the city center. But the Austrians thought: "What does he think he can do?" It was all about lamp posts, manhole covers and fire hydrants. And nothing was allowed and nothing was could be done. Fortunately we had help from ZDF, the German TV who would mediate to get all the permits. We ran into a wall of opposition. When we asked our contact person how things were going, he just said optimistically: "Wien läuft!" (Vienna moves) That is still a great expression in our company, when things go wrong. "Hahaha. Wien läuft!" Actually it all turned out well in the end. During the concert I ironically thank all the Viennese officials in the districts for their incredible cooperation. Then you hear a laugh rolling from the first row to all rows behind it. That was so recognizable for everyone, apparently…”

But you receive a lot in return.

"In the sense of audiences reactions, yes. Beautiful letters from people who sometimes save for years to be able to attend a concert somewhere. This year we expected more than a hundred nationalities on the Vrijthof. It is therefore very regrettable that some people who had booked airline tickets and hotels will have to wait for a year now, hoping that they will still succeed. That is why I am happy with the Cinema Production which we have now recorded with ANDRÉ VAN DUIN and can be seen on August 20th. These are the highlights of fifteen years of Vrijthof concerts, narrated together with André, in an excellent image and sound quality.”

For yet one more reason, this has been a difficult year for you, André

"Yes, as people know, my husband MARTIN died in January. No one had any idea what was in store for them shortly after that. Suddenly corona reared and that of course also turned things upside down. I was very happy at that time that I had decided not to move at the last minute. The house on the canal was almost sold and I would have gone to a nice apartment. But now at least I have been able to spend those weeks in my familiar surroundings. And yes, I also went back to work. All of Holland Bakes, and with JANNIE VAN DER HEIJDEN I will go sailing again. Three episodes "Thinking of Holland" are now finished. We recorded on the river Vecht in Friesland, and here in Limburg in Thorn. It is so beautiful there! It is a wonderful program to be doing and it also leads to distractions. Just like this, a wonderful day in Maastricht!”

Are you two friends?

André Rieu: “Obviously, there is a lot of distance between our residences, and I am normally away a lot. But we always keep in touch. I also really sympathized with André when Martin passed. Yes, then I did let him know I was there for him. ”

André van Duin: “Very sweet, yes. We have known each other for a long time, I performed with André and his orchestra as "Mr. Wijdbeens." That resulted in a few collaborations and I also stood here on the Vrijthof as myself and sang Het Dorp. (The Village) We clicked immediately. ”

Rieu: "We have the same humor."

Van Duin: "And he even plays the violin along with that too!"

How did the friendship with Anthony Hopkins fair? The Silence of the Lambs movie star who had written a waltz?

"Yes, and we recorded and performed that in front of him. I don't know how things are now. He is quite a unique individual. At some point we had a very profound contact. What I always found weird was that he had a new phone number every week.” "What is that for?" I once asked, he said he had been doing that ever since there were cell phones. Then, in an interview, I said somewhere that he had tears in his eyes when he heard his own waltz. But according to him that was not the case: he never had tears in his eyes. After that it was done, I believe. Well, then that is that.

And in quick succession two hundred-year-old fans passed away.

“Yes, VERA LYNN of whom we always play "Land of Hope and Glory" while in England, which causes every hall to immediately turn upside down. Great that I was able to meet her. And of course you mean my oldest fan in Maastricht, SISTER LEONA. She was 105 years old. This nun already came to the Hieringbiete (Herring bites) on Ash Wednesday more than 25 years ago, the day after Carnival. There is where I always played in the Staargebouw. That was not allowed to do by Mother Superior, but she did it anyway. So she was already 75 years old at that time, but when she returned to the monastery - located here just behind the Vrijthof - and she heard where Sister Leona had been, then came the command: "To bed!" When she turned 100, she sat in the first row. And after that we danced on the square every year. She passed away this year, also a special woman.”

You certainly have never been in Maastricht for as long as you have now?

"All in one stretch, yes, that was long ago. But we are here quite frequently though" No matter how we travel around, we always plan to never be gone for more than three weeks. The orchestra members have partners, families and children. Being away for longer would not be good. Sometimes it is quite a puzzle, but this way it works out best. And now we are still here for a while. We miss performing together, because it is not just work of course, but a passion. We make the best of it, and we continue to hope.”

Thanks to John for the Translation and Ruud and Ineke for the article

André Writes a Letter To His Sixteen-Year-Old Self.

From "de Limburger Plus" 

Every week, a famous Limburger writes a letter to his sixteen-year-old self. This week: Violinist and orchestra leader André Rieu (70)

André Rieu looks back: "Skipping class with David Moszkowicz

 and eating ice cream at the V&D"

Hey, André of sixteen! Wake up! You're just sitting there dreaming in that classroom, about Edith and Ankie and all those other pretty girls. You don't feel like gym class again, so what do you do? You skip class with David Moszkowicz and together you are going to eat ice cream in the lunchroom of V&D(Large department store) in the Grote Straat. David treats and in return may copy your homework. When the ice cream is gone and the homework is finished, you talk about the future.

David wants to become a lawyer, just like his father Max. You say; "No, I'm not going to do it exactly like my father. I have been playing the violin since I was five and after the gymnasium I definitely want to go to the conservatory. That's all okay, but then afterwards I want something else. I'm going to start my own orchestra. And you know, I already have come up with a plan: I will start my own company! ”

David says, "An enterprise? As a violinist? You're crazy man, how are you going to do that? ”

"Well, for starters, with my plan I'm going to the Dragons' Den." (I've had future looking dreams in my life. Commercial television didn't really exist in the mid-1960s). "Oh yes, tight plan!" Says David. "And what do you say then?"

"Hello dear Dragons. I am André Rieu, I am a violinist and I want to start my own orchestra. I'm thinking about sixty person strong. With that I am going to tour all over the world. I understand that I cannot organize this entirely on my own, so I'm also going to start a production office. While on tour I also need some people, so in total I'll employ one hundred and forty people on a permanent basis. In order for things to run smoothly, I need everything in quadruplicate, so I have a whole set in Australia, another in South America, and two more on the way in container ships. And to have an extra nice decor, I recreate Schloss Schönbrunn in its original size and take it in triplicate around the world. During the summer I want to play at the Vrijthof with my orchestra, I build a big stage there, put up light poles and sound towers, and when people come from all over the world, about a hundred thousand, I've regained my costs and I also have some left over. But I do need a starting capital. Would the Dragons like to help me with that? ” David says: "Those Dragons will unanimously declare you crazy and inquire about your business plan."

"What is that?"

"Listen, if you don't even know what a business plan is, how do you expect to run a successful business?"

"Believe me, I feel it is going to work!"

"Take it from me, as your future lawyer - because I feel it in my bones that you will be needing them - those Dragons are not going to believe and invest in you."

"Doesn't matter, then we'll do without investors. My plan will work!”

Your road won't be that simple,

Little André of 16, you are a dreamer. But above all, stay like that and  you will make a lot of people happy with just that.

Thanks to Ineke for the article and John's Translation

André Rieu With Cinema Events

André Rieu With Cinema Events

From broadcasting station MAX's TV guide, by Eric van Onna - Since the traditional summer concerts by André Rieu on the Maastricht Vrijthof Square have been canceled, his team is working on a special event, exclusively for the cinemas. Now that fans can no longer go to Maastricht, André is bringing  Maastricht to the cinema. With the most beautiful moments of the Vrijthof from the past fifteen years presented by none other than André van Duin. The cinema event will take place on August 20th and can be seen for two weeks all over the country.

That cinema event is like rowing with the oars you have.

"It is, but it is a wonderful project for the cinemas in which the visitors, just like on the Vrijthof, can sing enthusiastically along and dance."

Do you lie awake now that you can't give concerts right now?

"No, I do not lie awake, because I also know that this will last for a long time."  

 You are responsible for 136 people who you have in permanent employment.

 "These people are already a great part of my life and together we already have experienced a lot together, good times and bad times. And about that responsibility: "I am an entrepreneur, and I'm there for them."

Do you have any long-term plans?

"I can't plan anything; that one and a half meters, I can't do a thing with that. I can't play just a little bit. My shows are great and compelling. When things are done half way, that doesn't work."

Will we see you perform again for crowded halls and bulging stadiums

"Oh yes, and it will happen sooner than you think. If no new contamination peaks arise, then is it going to be okay." The virus shows how vulnerable we as humans are." Yes and how!. Our entire life is nowadays fragile. Not only corona, but look at all those serious hacking attempts. If there soon happens to be a large power plant hack, then Europe or even the world will be without  power then you'll see what will happen."

Does music give you comfort during this period ??

"Oh yes, I live for the music."

"I say: we forget this year and afterwards we again go happily along"

So I shouldn't come to you with a question like: ever thought about stopping?

"No, I wouldn't do that, haha. I say, "We forget this year and then we again go happily along. I'm seventy now, me - I will be 140, so we're still going seventy years."

Why won't you try for eternal life?

"I'm just too old for that. But I happened to read something recently about the British researcher Aubrey de Gray, who says the man or woman who will become a thousand years old on earth is already walking around."

Are you aware of your own vulnerability?

"No, not at all, otherwise it could not be living the way I live now. I exercise three times a week. And then it is just not a little walk but heavy strength training with a personal coach. I now managed to get three quarters of my orchestra into sports. I didn't have to force any of them into it, but my personal coach goes everywhere with us. My orchestra members saw that and a lot of people then thought:" I'm going to do that too."

Do you now during this time have more time for other things?

"Our last concert was 18 March in America and then we had to head home head over heels. From that moment on I now bake cakes every day. I am now a baker."

Do we now have a new candidate for "All of the Netherlands bakes?

"Well no, but you know, baking is a very very positive thing. Of course I do not eat all those cakes myself. Fortunately, the grandchildren live fifty meters away from me and the neighbors enjoy them too."

What is your favorite cake?

"Paris Brest is my favorite. The base is choux pastry filled with praline cream. "

What are your dreams?

"My main dream is that we can quickly again make music, travel around the world to make people happy again."

Are you a dreamer or someone who wants to get to the heart of the matter very quickly?

"Originally I am a dreamer, but now my company is so big that I can no longer dream alone. But I'm still someone who first does and then only thinks: what does it cost?"

You just said you want to become 140 years old, but how long will you be performing?

"Well, that is what I said. Until I reach 140!"

Are you serious about that?

"Yes, I am very serious about that."

Soon the world will be corona free, which will be the first stadium you want to see, packed with very enthusiastic and dancing fans?

"The very first thing I am going to do here is walk on the streets in Maastricht and hug everyone. I find it so sad, that rotten one and a half meters, that's so unnatural."

Thanks To John For His Translation and Ineke For The Article

André Rieu: Maastricht Is Heaven!

 André Rieu: Maastricht Is Heaven! 

Chapeau magazine, July–August 2020: For the last 15 years July has been the month in which André Rieu gave his successful concerts on the Vrijthof in Maastricht. Corona has spoiled that for this year. Nevertheless, the world famous orchestra conductor (with CHAPEAU magazine) again returns to the Vrijthof and the rest of the center to speak about his city. The tour is made with journalist Jo Cortenraedt, cameraman Ben Brack and photographer Marcel van Hoorn. In the summer edition of Chapeau Magazine, which will be in stores effective July 1, the most eye-catching parts of the interview, including the tour of the city, will appear. L1 TV will then broadcast "The Week of André Rieu" from 6 to 10 July in a number of special episodes of the program “Limbourgeois”. Each evening, another part of the interview will be aired, as well as the walk through the center of Maastricht. On July 15 and 18, L1 will broadcast a 55-minute compilation with highlights of the Vrijthof concerts of recent years. These episodes can later not only be viewed online at L1, but also on the websites of Maastricht Marketing and the Chapeau Magazine. The social media of the organizations involved, will also be linked to the program during that period. Thanks to this collaboration, a large audience will be reached in Limburg and beyond, and André Rieu is again fully present in Maastricht this year, although in a different way.

Maastricht Celebrates André Rieu In July 

July is now traditionally André Rieu's month in Maastricht. Over the past 15 years, the world-renowned orchestra leader has given over a hundred concerts in his home town, attended by hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world. Unfortunately, due to corona, the 12 planned concerts cannot take place this summer. But Maastricht Marketing still wants André Rieu's "spirit" to roam the city again this year. For this purpose, Chapeau Magazine looked at the multimedia possibilities. 

A large interview with André Rieu was chosen, as well as a walking tour with him through his beloved places in Maastricht. Never before has the most famous resident of the city told so much about his own roots and why he tells on all international stages that he comes from "the most beautiful city" in the world.

To stand in the middle on the Vrijthof is for André Rieu now quite emotional. Normally the large square in the middle of the city is seen to be full with chairs and the stage for his orchestra. Now it's empty. "That gives a feeling of sadness, but that's the way it is. We hope for sure to be here again next year. Such a whole period without performances, I miss it very much. I bake pies at home and keep busy with the grandchildren, but I want to go again that time. I'm sure I'll never retire." In all his performances, from Melbourne to Sao Paulo, Rieu says he is from the most beautiful city in the world, "my hometown, Maastricht." I really mean that too. Everything I say on stage, I mean, because the people take it that precise. When you don't mean what you say, you can't sustain that for forty years. I find Maastricht to be awesome, I was born here. It is a unique city. My success started with the "Heringe Biete." That could only have started in Maastricht, it has to do with a certain atmosphere. Now take the “Preuvenement”. They try to copy that everywhere, but it fails. It is due to the special situation here on the square, the mentality, there is something." 

VRIJTHOF 
The Vrijthof can actually charm him. "Where do you get this? All those terraces around it. And the square itself is empty. In most squares there are statues, not here, that's fine. The plane trees, the atmosphere, everything. I am extremely proud to be a Maastricht resident. As a child, I was a member of the St. Servaas Basilica choir from the age of six to eleven, when my voice broke. I was always allowed in to the procession. The Vrijthof is home for me. The church services were a kind of theatre for me. I was hooked on that. At Easter for example, when the sun shone through those stained glass windows. We were standing in the choir loft, and all those priests in their vestments, ten here, ten there, the incense. Pure theater. That definitely inspired me, it is in my blood. When I'm at the Vrijthof during my concerts for example and I let those dancers all come up, that has to be nice all together. That comes from then”. The buildings according to his taste, are very special, not only the churches, but also the theater and the museum. "All those people who come from abroad to my concerts, can't believe their eyes. They have already seen the Vrijthof more than once on all those DVDs and in the TV shows. When, after so many  years they are standing there themselves, that's one great experience, they're in ecstasy. When Anthony Hopkins was here - not quite an unknown - he said, "Ah, finally." For many people this square is a dream which came true. Many of my concert visitors immediately stay here for a whole week, to really to get to know the city."

BUSY 
Andre Rieu doesn't think it's getting too crowded in Maastricht with tourism. "No, that we should not really exaggerate that. When you look a little around yourself in the world, then Maastricht is still quite peaceful. You cannot compare it to Venice. There, I believe live about 55,000 people, while there are many millions of tourists visiting. In Maastricht here they really don't come with those numbers. And let's be honest, our concert series also bring in some

money for the city. Just like with the TEFAF, the hotels are full and the shops are busy. Many entrepreneurs are grateful to me. There are, of course, people who complain. But I think Maastricht is a very quiet town, where you can live and stay and linger." According to him, the charm of Maastricht also has something to do with the language. "In the past Maastricht residents spoke French. When I was studying at the conservatory in Liège, next to it was a music store. So the residents of Liège and Maastricht could very easily converse. That, sorry to say, is no longer so. But it is also not the reason that Maastricht has been visited a lot lately by people from outside. It has always been an international open city. It also has something to do with the history of what has happened here. The Spaniards, the French, you name it."

STUDENTS 
Rieu loves the presence of many foreign students. "All those youngsters with their different languages, they make the city extra lively. Of course there are people who do not like it, who are afraid that “their Maastricht” will be taken away. But I don’t see it that way. These young students would love to come here, wouldn't you come to a city like that? No, it is only good. We also notice with the concerts that many young people attend. The idea is that only seniors attend, but that is not the case at all. Especially in recent years you see more and more younger people in the concerts, in fact all over the world. We are apparently creating a new audience. Currently I am seventy, but as you know I would like to become 140, so I have to assure a young audience, otherwise my fans pass away beneath my feet. Those young people oblige me to keep on playing." Walking via the Bredestraat (Wide street) to the Onze Lieve Vrouweplein (Our Dear Lady Square) André still remembers the mini concert he gave several years ago for broadcaster MAX. (2016: See http://www.andrerieumovies.com/2016/160930_free_miniconcert.htm ). "This square is just like Paris. It is so romantic! It was so much fun at that mini concert. Of course we played the song “Oh Sterre der Zee” (Oh, Star of the Sea). That was pure nostalgia. Although I did not sing in the choir of this basilica, that does not matter. I think it is important that children join a choir to sing. You learn a lot, also in terms of social contact." 

‘t KNIJPKE (the little pub)
Seldom he sits on a terrace in the city center. "When I sit on a terrace with my wife Marjorie, I am quickly recognized and then you have to pose for pictures. That is not always fun. The Maastricht residents leave me most of the time alone, but I also understand that foreign tourists like to take their chance. Of course." André Rieu considers Maastricht "not to be Dutch”. "I understand very well that the people from above the rivers view us as "foreigners”. And that is actually true." We walk along the St. Bernardusstraat and stop in front of a building where the café “’t Knijpke” was formerly located. “Here was one of my first performances. That must have been some 45 years ago. Owner Jef Vliegen had advertised for us and it was fully booked for three nights. Wonderful, in that cheese cellar, next to the fireplace."

JEKER NEIGHBORHOOD 
We walk beneath the Helpoort to the Jeker river and the Pater Vink-tower. “During my youth I lived here in the Begijnenstraat. Very idyllic. We used to climb on the ancient city wall. Now there is a fence around it, but it is still very beautiful. This is one of my favorite places. A city with an old historic center just has something more. Your roots are important. I would not like to move frequently. I think it is important to have your own roots somewhere. I don’t consider moving to another city. My fans say: "Maastricht is Heaven." Also since the city is relatively small with 120.000 residents. Then you can keep the human size. That does not happen in a city of 10 million people. Much too big, I don't like that. In Maastricht everything is within reach. It does not take an hour to go from one side of the city to the other”. 

At the long city wall, Rieu walks along the old canons. "The first wall. Impressive how the early residents defended the city. Maastricht was a popular fortified city, there was a lot of fighting. Not too far from here the well-known French musketeer D’Artagnan perished. He ate his last breakfast in my castle which was owned at that time by a count. Besides, I find those houses here on top of this wall really beautiful."

THE MEUSE 
We take the stairs to get on the High Bridge, where the view of the city center as well as the Wyck quarter perfect is. “Yes, Mother Meuse along with the old bridge (St. Servaas bridge) is a silhouette which we have often used in our own video- and TV recordings. A river makes a city more beautiful. In earlier days Wyck was almost abroad, ha, ha. Anyway, the residents of the city center did not come to Wyck that often. But back then I performed often in the "Hotel Maastricht" which is now called Crowne Plaza. This area has developed nicely, with all nice small shops and restaurants.” Not only Wyck is lively, he also notices how the area around the Boschstraat is taking shape. “That is a beautiful street, which looked rather unkempt in the past. But now you can see a lot of improvements, like the former Sphinx factory and the Bassin (historic inner harbor). Now you have a lot more connection from that side of the city with the rest. So… Maastricht is becoming all the more beautiful. And it is already so beautiful!!

Thanks to John and Ineke for the translation

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.

No Rieu Concerts On The Vrijthof: "This is Crap"

No Rieu Concerts On The Vrijthof:

"This is Crap"

André Rieu on an almost empty Vrijthof. "Next year more concerts." 
Photo Lorain Bodewes

Maastricht, de Limburger by Rob Cobben 

Yesterday evening the sixteenth series of concerts by André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra should have started at the Vrijthof in Maastricht. But the corona crisis put an end to the twelve sold-out shows for almost 100,000 fans. "It is terrible, but there is nothing we can do about it," says the world-renowned orchestra leader.

The Vrijthof looks empty on this Thursday. Under normal circumstances there would now have been a large stage; plus eight thousand folding chairs; and it would be swarming with Rieu fans in the connecting streets. But in 2020, because of the corona pandemic, nothing is normal. This summer, there will be no "Second Waltz," "Radetzky March" or "Ode to Joy" on the famous square of the Limburg capital. And there are no cheerful people who dance exuberantly and clap their hands until they are blue. "It's terrible. You can safely say: "Crappy, ” André Rieu tells us while he eats a piece of cherry pie with whipped cream on the terrace of In Den Ouden Vogelstruys. "Making people happy with beautiful music is our mission. That this is not possible now - precisely at a time when there is a need for it more now than ever - it hurts. A lot of pain!"

Rieu is optimistic in nature, he says, but there are times when he can be gloomy. Especially in the last few days, just before the start of the canceled Vrijthof concerts - “Always an explosion of joy” - but now he is having a hard time. "And the uncertainty doesn't make it any easier. How long will this situation last? When can we finally perform again? And will the people still dare to come to our concerts, I worry about that. ”

On the other hand: what is a year in a human life? "Nothing! I can normally put things into perspective, though. And we have a very loyal audience. Of all those hundreds of thousands of people who - worldwide - had bought tickets for our concerts, only a handful asked for the money back. The rest will come next year, if the shows are allowed to continue. ”

Making people happy with beautiful music is our mission. That this is now not possible - especially at a time when there is a need for it more than ever - is very painful. Andre Rieu

Payroll

These are difficult times for the 70-year-old musician and conductor, who has 136 people on the payroll. But his company will not go down as a result of the pandemic, he says. "Fortunately we have some reserves, we can take the blows. How long? I do not dare to say that. It depends on how long this situation continues and also on the support measures from the government. I myself think that everything will be down for at least a year. The Christmas concerts in the MECC? I'm afraid they won't go through. The one and a half meter requirement is simply not workable for us. ”

Rieu was on tour in the United States with his orchestra when the world largely locked up in mid-March. Some forty concerts had to be canceled and a similar number is planned for the second half of this year.

Health

"We don't earn anything at all. We have to reserve the revenues from this year's ticket sales for 2021. But I'm not going to complain. We can't help it. And health is paramount! ”

The rehearsals of his orchestra have also been stopped for months. He has little contact with the musicians. However, he has not been idle. “All those concerts had to be rebooked. That's a lot of work. Moreover, at the request of TV stations in various countries, we have edited and shortened concert registrations. And besides that I am still baking cakes. Those nice scents make me happy. ”

Has he considered recording video clips at home? "No. We need to interact with the fans. It is not for nothing that I am the only conductor who faces the audience. It's all about the atmosphere and you can't approach it with such an internet movie. ”Next year, if the municipality agrees, Rieu wants to give twenty concerts in place of the twelve Vrijthof concerts. "And now just thumbs up that there will be a vaccine soon, or the virus will be removed from the world."

Thanks to John for this article and his translation

Around The World With André Rieu

Around The World With André Rieu

Who doesn't want to play for thousands of people and explore the world?

June 2020: A career as a professional musician. Which youthful musician does not secretly dream about their first enthusiastic steps on their musical path, and a future life as a professional musician? For many it remains a dream, but for Sanne Mestrom that dream became a reality. For 15 years now the saxophonist of brass band "Eensgezindheid" (Unity) from Maasbracht-Beek (in Limburg) has been traveling the world as a member of André Rieu’s Johann Strauss Orchestra.

The school children of Maasbracht-Beek know exactly where Sanne is in the world. Her concerts with the Johann Strauss Orchestra form a link to geography lessons for teacher Peter Roufs and his class. He tells about the country, the language and the people where the former student of his school is playing that week. More than 110 concerts per year provide sufficient teaching materials for an entire school year.

Since 2005, Sanne Mestrom tours the globe with the JSO, led by André Rieu. "Who wouldn't want to explore the entire world and simultaneously play every day in front of an audience of thousands of people?"

It is the end of May. Sanne has been at home since the middle of March. The 2-week tour through the USA had to abruptly be canceled due to the outbreak of the corona virus. Performances in Ireland, England, Germany, Chile, Uruguay, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Poland and the annual concerts on the Vrijthof in Maastricht have in the meantime also been canceled. It is not easy. At the end of last year, Rieu and his company also had to flee Chile when riots broke out there. “It is very strange just sitting here,” says Sanne at home in Maasbracht. “You not only want to play and see people happy in the audience, but you also miss your second family with whom you normally spend half a year with. A number of orchestra members really belong to my best friends and I miss them. It must be terrible for André Rieu and his office staff, not knowing where they stand. When are we allowed to  perform again? When are we all allowed to enter the studio again? Currently everything is still quite uncertain and that for everyone is a terrible feeling.”

Saxophone

For Sanne Mestrom there was no escape. Every day, musicians from the brass band "Eensgezindheid" came to her home. Father Huub taught brass instruments to the students of the brass band. He also assisted dozens of musicians in preparations for the soloists competitions. Musicians from Maasbracht-Beek won lots of prizes during the various competitions. “The music room at home was filled with everything that breathes music," Sanne remembers. “Stacks of scores, a piano and countless wind instruments. The daily practical-and-solfège lessons of my father fascinated me. As a small child I attended almost every lesson. That is how I playfully learned to read notes and developed my hearing acuity. My courses at the music school and later at the conservatory were relatively successful."

She had a choice of musical instruments. The music room was filled with them. Although her choice quickly went to the piano and the soprano saxophone. I distinctly remember telling my dad that I would like to try a saxophone. He immediately gave me an alto sax. I looked at it for a moment and then reacted disappointed. “Not a curved one! I want a straight one”, I said. After much insistence I finally acquired my soprano saxophone. The love for this instrument has never diminished! The choice for the sax did not just come out of the blue. Brassband "Eensgezindheid" brought forth countless excellent saxophonists. “Many of those good saxophonists I heard play at our house. That is why the interest in this instrument was quickly aroused. Especially the soprano saxophone, it has somehow fascinated me from the very first moment. The tone-quality of a soprano saxophone does something to me. Whether you play classical repertoire or jazz.”

Proud

Just like all the other “Eensgezindheid” musicians, Sanne also participated every spring in the soloist competitions. At the age of 10 she won her first competition on the piano. In 1999 she won the Mgr Roncken Tournament on the soprano saxophone, at that time the most prestigious soloist competition for hafabra (brass instruments) musicians in Limburg. She also won the league title of the former Federation for Catholic Music Associations twice in a row. Sanne: “A nice detail to mention is that during my first piano competition, Jean-Philippe Rieu, André's brother, was a jury member. He gave me all tens. I was very proud of that.” She also achieved great successes with the association. Three times in a row the brass band “Eensgezinheid” won the world title during the world music competition in the concert section, in Kerkrade. After obtaining her VWO diploma, it was almost assured she would be going to the conservatory. In Maastricht she studied piano with Tonie Ehlen and sax with Norbert Nozy and Arno Bornkamp.

 

 Audition

Sixteen years ago the telephone rang in the Mestrom residence. Sanne had just returned from a holiday in Gambia. Jean Sassen told her that André Rieu was looking for a saxophonist for his first Vrijthof concert (2005). Sassen is a former conductor of the brass band "Eensgezindheid" and from the very beginning double bass player with André Rieu. “Even on the day of my return home, I went to audition in the Rieu studios in Maastricht,” Sanne remembers. “After the audition, André asked if I had anything else to do for that day. When I said "no", he asked me if I wanted to stay and rehearse. Since that day I've never left.”

New World

For Sanne a new world opened up. As a child of 10, on television she saw the female musicians of the orchestra in their beautiful dresses. She dreamed of being able to sit someday in that place. All of a sudden that dream came true. “This was a unique opportunity for me. Especially since there are few orchestral jobs available for classical saxophonists. From day one I ended up in a “bed of roses”. I didn't know what I was experiencing that first week. The food was great and there was even a nursery in André Rieu's studio for the orchestra members' children. I have never regretted for one moment the decision to join the orchestra."

Antarctica
In the meantime she has toured with Rieu to all the continents on the globe, except Antarctica. “And I wouldn't be surprised if André manages to arrange a performance there as well. After all, he always says that he also wants to play on the moon one time.” More than 110 times a year somewhere in the world she shares the stage with the Maastricht Stand-Alone-Violinist. “The combination of playing and traveling really appeals to me. It is great to experience how different cultures react to our music.” 

She had barely been with Rieu for less than a year when she was already featured as a soloist on the stage of Radio City Music Hall in New York (Rockefeller Center) with a virtuoso adaptation of Boots Randolph's Yackety Sax. Sanne: “That feeling, standing there, I will never forget. Fortunately, it is all recorded as a permanent memory on a DVD. If someone had told me 15 years ago that I was going to play a solo in New York, I would have laughed at him. It was a dream. Other highlights were the concerts in Australia with the imposing backdrop of Schönbrunn Palace. To play for 40,000 people every night for a month. That was impressive. You were then in such a huge flow with that huge decor, that you didn't even realize how big and how special it was. Two ice rinks where professional ice dancers skated, a ballroom with professional dancers, fountains everywhere… unbelievable. During that month we were also able to see the entire country of Australia. A unique experience.” Just like the first concerts in Mexico and the South American countries she will not soon forget. "Everywhere in the world people are happy and enthusiastic to see André play, but this, namely Mexico, was really on a different level. The audience had been waiting for years to finally see André. When they saw him, such a deafening roar broke loose that we literally had to put our hands over our ears. People touched us all, some with tears in their eyes. As more reserved Dutch people, we are not used to so much emotion and physical enthusiasm. I will never forget how the audience went crazy with the folk song Cielito Lindo. An hour after the concert, the fans were still singing that song outside while waiting for André.

Sanne admits that all the traveling during the long tours sometimes is "very tiresome." Especially in countries like America, New Zealand, Australia and Canada, when the orchestra often has long travel days. “But if you look at the audience in the evening and see how people are enjoying themselves and come to the front with banners, you forget everything and get such an energy boost that you can go on again for another whole month.” Besides, according to Sanne, there is also enough time for the musicians to do some sightseeing in that country. “During such an American tour we always have two to three days off. Generally we then stay in beautiful cities. During the day we all do fun things and for the evening André has normally always picked out a nice restaurant where we all eat together. We are generously being spoiled!"

Father Figure
During the performances, the members of the Strauss Orchestra portray a close and fun group. Is that also the case behind the scenes? Sanne: “Of course it sounds very stereo typical, but we are really a big family. Sometimes you see your colleagues more often than your own family. Of course, at the end of a long tour you sometimes think: "Okay, now some rest!!". But after a few days, the longing starts again, and you call a colleague: "Hey, do you have something to do tonight?" You long for each other. André has become for his people, and for those who like me started in the orchestra at a young age, a kind of father figure. Sometimes he really gives that paternal advice when someone is not at all feeling well. When someone has physical complaints, he will arrange the best specialist. Really very special.”

Extra Income
Critics sometimes question the artistic contents of the André Rieu formula. Sanne resolutely brushes that criticism aside. “When I started with André, there were indeed a few fellow musicians who did not take him all that serious. They thought he was much too commercial. Those same people now come and ask me if I want to call them when something  becomes available to earn a little extra income. Of course every concert we play “An der schönen blauen Donau” (the Blue Danube). The audience wants to hear that. And when you watch the people waltz with so much pleasure, you have no problem at all playing that piece every night. Besides classical pieces our repertoire also  contains other music styles such as South American music and pieces from musicals. People of course may have an opinion, but no one can deny that André gets things accomplished which other artists never achieve.”

World Circus
Sanne thinks that the Rieu formula is far from being finished. There are still many countries lining up to embrace the waltz king. “If André wanted to, we could play somewhere every day of the year, year around. Countries are constantly being added. Especially in South America they are eager to finally experience what they only know from DVD's. People from these countries who can afford it, have already been to the Vrijthof, but that of course is something ordinary people cannot afford. And they are extra happy when André comes to play there."

Sanne hopes to be part of the musical world circus for

a long time to come. The only question is how long her boss will keep it up. Since Rieu had to cancel a series of concerts a few years ago due to fatigue, he has slowed down a bit. But in the meantime, the Maastricht orchestra leader has surpassed the seventy year mark and the years are slowly starting to add up, even though he claims he will become 120 years old. About this Sanne says: “I hope he'll make it, because then I can play with André until my retirement. I guess I wouldn't even want to retire then, ha, ha. But all joking aside: with all the reductions in art and culture, I am extremely grateful that I can earn my living with such a great job in music. I hope we can take this up again after the corona crisis."

Roots
But whatever happens, she will never forget her roots. She views the world of amateur brass band music with great respect. When she is not on the road with the Johann Strauss Orchestra, she can be found every Saturday at the rehearsal in Brachterbeek. "And with great pleasure," she emphasizes. “After all, a great deal of my love for music was born there. I learned a lot from the brass band. Besides, my great role models are still there. That is how I still learn new things with the brass band."

 Thanks to John and Ineke for the Translation

Text: Frank Vergoossen. 

Photos: Frank Steijns, Marcel van Hoorn, ARP (And John)