Dutch composer Andre Rieu talks about upcoming Vegas show
This coming Friday (Oct. 20) at The Orleans is the second date of world-renowned violinist Andre Rieu’s latest American tour. His first date is in Phoenix on Thursday (Oct. 19).
Here are interesting and fun facts about the Dutch composer:
• Andre’s latest album, “Shall We Dance,” was released Oct. 6 on Decca Gold. He has toured the USA 11 times and performed 234 concerts. Also in his 30-year career, he has released 67 CDs and 75 DVDs. He has performed with his Johann Strauss Orchestra for three decades, and they perform for approximately 600,000 people each year.
• Andre has 110 people on his payroll and the largest private orchestra in the world. He travels the world with the orchestra, a technical crew, a personal trainer and three cooks. He has been married to his wife, Marjorie, since 1975, and they have two children and five grandchildren.
• His home is a magnificent castle estate built in 1495 in his hometown of Maastricht, Netherlands, and includes a greenhouse with birds. It also is where he took piano lessons as a child.
• To this day he plays a Stradivarius violin from 1732 (his first was from 1667, but it turned out to be too small for his hands).
Charismatic Andre who headlines The Orleans Arena on Friday night with his 60-member Johann Strauss Orchestra, hosted members of the media in his hometown earlier this summer. He answered questions in his courtyard one-on-one the day after a performance:
Q: How does it feel the day after such a big performance as part of a popular, annual festival in your honor in your hometown?
A: (Laughs) good question! I’m renovating my house, and I was up early this morning as usual. My wife, Marjorie, said, “Are you already up? You should sleep!” Today, is a day without a concert. I have two sorts of days: a day with a concert and a day without a concert. With a day with a concert, I am focused solely on the concert. A day without a concert, I am exploding with energy and want to do all sorts of things (laughs).
Q: You’ve been to Las Vegas multiple times. What are you looking forward to most with your concert date on Friday at The Orleans Arena?
A: The audience. I’m not a gambler at all (laughs)! But I am fond of the audience. The audience is waiting for us to come and perform for them, and that is why we travel the world — to have this interaction with the audience. I travel the world to meet the people and to be together with my orchestra because traveling is part of our lives. I want to see the people.
Q: Speaking of your fans and the audience, what can they expect in Las Vegas?
A: The same as last night. Not exactly the same pieces, but it’s the atmosphere. That is why people come to my concerts. They don’t know exactly what they’ll see, but they do know that they will have an evening that they will never forget — and that’s beautiful.
Q: Your show is so entertaining and colorful and global. Will you have a few nods to Las Vegas in your show?
A: (Laughs) We’ll have our program, but there will be surprises. I can’t tell you anything right now because they are surprises (laughs).
Q: You’ve performed for many, many years. Do you have a favorite part of your program?
A: I love Johann Strauss. He is a fantastic composer. He created the best waltzes in the world, and you can play them forever because they were composed so well. It’s really great music. I named my orchestra after him because he is my example.
Q: You are beloved here in your hometown. How does it feel to be a hometown hero?
A: It feels great (laughs), I can tell you. When I go to town, all the restaurants and hotels, the entire province is filled because of me. It feels really great.
Q: Your father also was a conductor. When did you know that you would follow in his footsteps?
A: I don’t know if I planned to follow in his footsteps, but I knew from the beginning that I wanted to make music. I felt it. It’s been so long now, so I don’t know if it was an obligation with my mother saying, “Here’s a violin — play!” Making music has always felt great.
Q: I was expecting last night’s concert to be a showcase for you, but you had opera singers, tenors, bagpipe players — it was a very full production.
A: I’m the glue that is putting everything together (laughs). Instead of “here am I, I am the big boss,” I like to stand back and be the giver.
Q: You have an orchestra of 60 people. How is touring? That is a big production. How do you manage that?
A: I have a lot of people who organize everything (laughs). It’s a very well-organized production.
Q: Are there any cities that stand out to you during your global tours?
A: The world is a big place, and now we’re returning to America, which is a big country. We tour China. I’ve been touring in Germany for 25 years, and it’s fun because people are excited about the next year and waiting for us to come back.
Q: Do you recognize fans in the audience?
A: Oh, yes (laughs)! A lot. They run to the stage. It’s nice.
Q: You’re known as a master of the violin, and you took piano lessons here as a child in this castle estate that is now your home. Is there an instrument that you wish you would’ve learned?
A: No, in fact, I love the violin. I think that it is the most beautiful sound, and it touches me. It touches my heart.
Q: Is there anyone on your wish list of collaborators?
A: Yes! Bruce Springsteen. I love him and his energy. He performs for three hours onstage, and he is “The Boss.” He goes for it, and I hear that he takes very good care of the people around him. I try to do that, as well.
Q: What is left to do in your illustrious career?
A: Keep going on like this and stay in good health. I work out three times a week, and that helps a lot. I’m 67 now, and I want to live until 130 (laughs).
Q: That’s a good plan. If you have any free time in Las Vegas, is there anything on your to-do list?
A: When I’m on tour, I never have free time. I’m always concentrating. I sleep the entire day. People don’t see me because I stay in my room (laughs).
Andre Rieu and His Johann Strauss Orchestra headline The Orleans Arena onOct. 20.
