André Rieu in an interview: "Everything is allowed at my concerts"
29/12/2017
written by Sidonia Maurer
Star violinist and waltz king André Rieu (68) has been touring successfully for 30 years. When he plays inZurich again in January, he will bring songs about love - and a violin that sounds like opera legend Maria Callas, as he revealed to us.
Her new album is called "Amore". There are countless beautiful love songs. Why exactly these? My new album is a tribute to my love of music and my two families: my "big family", the Johann Strauss Orchestra, and my "little family", my wife and children. The CD contains my very personal selection of the most romantic songs in the world for me, e.g. the "Ballade pour Adeline", "Love me Tender" or "Only Love". Just the thing for a romantic evening for two.
You are celebrating your 30th anniversary. What do you want to do differently in the next 30 years? Nothing really! I think I've done a lot of things right. The best proof is the many happy people I see in front of me every evening at my concerts. It gives me an incredible energy. People write to me that they need two weeks to wind down after our concerts. I think that's fantastic.
As you know, you have to practise the violin every day if you don't want to unlearn it. How often do you practise? Every day. Less on tour, more when I'm at home.
What criteria do you use to select the members of your orchestra? I can tell straight away whether someone can play well. Of course, the quality has to be right, it has to be an excellent musician. But I also want my musicians to play with all their heart and with joy. Our cheerfulness on stage is genuine, not faked. And this is immediately transferred to the audience.
There's a rumor that the orchestra keeps track of how often they go to the gym. How true is this rumor? Haha, no! I do weight training three times a week - and I have a personal trainer with me on tour. I once offered my orchestra musicians and staff fitness vouchers, but of course everyone is free to decide what they want to do. I like to make sure that everyone feels good. Many of my musicians have been with me for over 25 years, which is great.
You play a Stradivarius violin. What is different compared to a "normal" violin? I don't see myself as the owner of the Stradivarius, but as a "caretaker" for the next generation. It is from 1732 and Stradivari used very special wood to make his violins. This is one of his last. It has a wonderful sound, it always reminds me a little of Maria Callas, of the deep warmth in her voice.
How often do you think back to 1987 - the beginning of your career? The first rehearsal took place in my boys' school, in winter, without heating. One musician left straight away, haha, he said I wouldn't do that to myself. He's probably annoyed now. Marjorie and my sons brought us hot soup. It was actually a really nice time. I always had the dream of traveling around the world with my own orchestra. And it came true, not least thanks to the great support of my wife and family.
The Johann Strauss Orchestra has no conductor when you play. Do you think conductors are superfluous? Oh no, quite the opposite! Nothing works without conductors. Of course I conduct. Not with a baton, but with a violin, a violin bow, my hands, my head and my eyes. Someone has to be in charge.
Everything sounds perfect in your performances: pure and together. How much of it is playback? Nothing, we play live of course. We do a sound check of about an hour every afternoon in every new hall. Of course we need amplification through microphones, that's quite clear, that's the case at every big concert, whether it's pop or classical music
Why do you think the Johann Strauss Orchestra enjoys such great success? Because we really reach the audience. We play with joy and with all our heart. I see everything that happens in the audience, we are turned towards our audience. Communication and emotions are the secret. Everything is allowed at my concerts, crying, laughing, singing, dancing. People have fun when they are with us. And of course we play lots of wonderful melodies, have a beautiful stage, beautiful lighting and elaborate costumes. I will also be offering my audience in Zurich in January something for the eye again.
David Hasselhoff is on your DVD - why is that? Every year I invite a special guest to Maastricht for my concerts. I met David many years ago on Wetten, dass...? He sang "Looking for Freedom", "Love me Tender" and "La Paloma Blanca" in Maastricht and was a great success. It was a great collaboration.
How important is the appearance of the orchestra and the stage to you? When I played in my father's orchestra after my studies, in a classical symphony orchestra, I asked myself: Why is everyone in black? It all looks so serious and sad. So I changed that. Our costumes are very elaborate, and the stage itself is also beautifully decorated. There are also wonderful LED screens and lighting. Our concerts should be a real pleasure for the ear and the eye.
