6 minute read
WORLD FAMOUS DUTCH VIOLINIST Loves to Have an Albanian Talent
BY RUDINA HOXHA & JOSE PINTO
More than 100 concerts all over the world with his orchestra for 30 years. This is the Dutch violinist and conductor, André Rieu best known throughout the world for his unique concerts inspired by the classical and waltz music. A native of Maastricht, Rieu started in 2005 the summer concerts on the Vrijthof Square where thousands of people from all over the world come together. Last year, almost 100 nationalities were counted.
In an exclusive interview with TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE, he throws light on his early life, the secrets of his success and of his orchestra and his wish to perform in Albania. “We are always looking for new places to perform and as soon as we have found a nice spot in Albania, we’ll try to arrange a concert there. During my summer concerts in Maastricht, quite a few people in the audience are Albanian descendants. So who knows... ,” Rieu said.
Full interview below:
Mr. Rieu, thank you for accepting our kind request for this interview. Please let’s start to the very beginning. How did it all begin for you? 70 years ago, I was born in Maastricht where I grew up in a musical family: my father was a symphony orchestra conductor and all of his children (I have two brothers and three sisters) learnt to play one or more instruments. These were chosen by my mother and she thought, that the violin would suit me best. She was right! There is no other instrument in the whole world, that is able to translate my inner feelings so well as the violin. My parents took care of the best violin teachers and when I witnessed my father, I started dreaming of having an orchestra for myself to travel the world with. His encores (waltzes by Johann Strauss!) enchanted the audience; they began to move their bodies a little bit while this magical 3/4 rhythm could be heard. I was gobsmacked! What was a real turning point for yourself in building a career? What was the concert that you feel was a breakthrough for you? 1995. While I played violin solo for 60.000 soccer fans during half time of an important match, and they all sang along, I got goose bumps all over my body. That performance turned out to be my breakthrough.
In 2005 we started the summer concerts on the Vrijthof Square, where thousands of people from all over the world come together. Last year, almost 100 nationalities could be counted. Isn’t that unbelievable?
How many shows have you organized so far all over the world and what is the secret to their perpetual success? I’m afraid I lost count but we give about 100 concerts and we try to visit each continent every year. The secret of the success is a combination of several factors, I think. First of all, it is the genuine and authentic joy you’ll notice, both in the audience and on the stage. We (my orchestra
and me) really enjoy the music that we play and because of that, the men and women in front of us enjoy themselves too. Then there is the factor of working hard and taking nothing for granted; nothing must be less than perfect and when that level is reached, I am a happy and satisfied person. Last but certainly not least is the endless love and loyalty from both my orchestra members and my fans to our music: that brings people together and it keeps them together too. I have several men and women in my orchestra who have been sharing my Johann Strauss dream for more than 30 years now; we all believe in the magical power of the waltz,
and we all are convinced by the fact that the world would be so different when we all would play an instrument or use our voice in order to sing. Never give up that dream, or (like Walt Disney once said): “If you can dream it, you can do it!” Team work makes that dream work, really!
What is the key you and your company have in your hand for having all your professional musicians in your orchestra so happy and for performing at such high levels all the time? It is the key to the unconditional love and affection for the music we perform. Some critics say that our concerts do not belong to the classical repertoire, but have you ever seen a statue for a critic? I haven’t! Personally, I have never seen a bigger private orchestra.
Besides that, we sincerely adore our repertoire and get the people in all continents to know it. We are like one Big Family and now and then, I call them like that. There is also a Small Family by the way: my wife, our sons and their wives and our five gorgeous grandchildren. Their support, as well as the support of all the other small families at home, make sure that we keep that key for a long time to come.
In one of your 2018 shows at the Square of Vrijthof, you mentioned that your orchestra consists of 13 different nationalities. Do you have any Albanian musician? Do you plan to hire any of the Albanian stars who shine out all over the world? I’d like very much to have an Albanian star on stage! Until now no Albanian applied for a job. But whenever I hear a talent – she or he is invited to perform for me. And when my heart, the center of my feelings, is touched by him or her, I’m sure that my audience will be touched too. You never know, may be one day an Albanian talent will join us on stage.
We love you in Albania. Are there anyplans to give a big concert there? We are always looking for new places to perform and as soon as we have found a nice spot in Albania, we’ll try to arrange a concert there. During my summer concerts in Maastricht, quite a few people in the audience are Albanian descendants. So who knows...
Today after 70 years, what do you think when you have a look over your career and your life? Who you miss most and who you owe most? It is my wife Marjorie, love of my life, whom I owe the most; she always believes in me, although she thinks I’m a little bit crazy now and then. And when I’m on tour, I miss my five lovely grandchildren! Thanks to modern communication devices, I’m on an almost daily contact base with them and then, I see their happy faces. That keeps me up for, let’s all hope for that, many years to come.
The following video is one of the most preferred of Mr. Rieu. Please check it: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd16sNr9T2Q
