As people in far flung corners of Australia head to their local cinemas this weekend to see a huge satellite-delivered André Rieu concert, here are some images from his previous spectacular performances.
The king of Waltz and his famous 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra will be forming in his hometown of Maastricht in the gorgeous Vrijthof square, “the most romantic square in the Netherlands” he calls it. But the concert will be delivered via satellite to over 1,200 cinema screens in 35 countries.
“This year we have transformed it into a romantic Italian setting,” Rieu told The Weekly by email.
“Because our new album ‘Love in Venice’ which is going to be out later this year is all about Venice and romance.”
“I can’t tell you how many people write me letters of how our music has made them happy,” says André Rieu.
“It’s wonderful – for them and for us of course. We get back so much from our audiences. It’s so rewarding.”
“Humour, emotion are of great importance.”
“Add romance to it and you have a good description of what our evenings are like.”
“My mother always said, don’t look people in the eyes like that. But I do.”
“I look them in the eyes and I see everything that is going on in the audience.”
“I am 100 % authentic and the audience can feel that.”
“I am no different on stage than at home.”
“My favourite moments are when the audience starts dancing in the aisles during the beautiful Blue Danube…”
“… and during the encores when everyone celebrates a big party with us at the end of the concert.”
“And of course when doctors write me letters that their patients don’t need them anymore, because the head nurse put in a DVD of my happy orchestra. That’s a true story. Isn’t it wonderful?!”
“I personally don’t like surprises, but of course, we always prepare some for the audience.”
“Like special guests, for example.”
“I invited Dame Edna to be on stage with us in Australia, we had Jermaine Jackson with us in Maastricht last year and I have arranged and played a valse by Anthony Hopkins.”
“I wanted people to interact with us, to enjoy the music and listen to melodies they knew and have loved for all of their lives.”
“We play with our hearts for you and we want you to go home happy and excited.”
André Rieu’s 10th Anniversary 2014 Maastricht Concert will be broadcast in cinemas globally.
Rieu’s current album is ‘Magic of the Musicals’.
His new album, ‘Love in Venice’ will be released in November.
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