I’m still not ready for my last waltz
HE HAS JUST TURNED 70 BUT CONDUCTOR ANDRÉ RIEU TELLS MARION McMULLEN HE NEVER PLANS TO HANG UP HIS VIOLIN BOW
How did you celebrate your recent 70th birthday?
IT was a whole week of celebrations. I’m slowly coming back to Earth.
First, we had a weekend with friends, then I had the real birthday at home and then we went out with all my employees – 120 people plus 153 freelancers and we invited all their partners and children as well, to Efteling fairy tale park.
We had about 400 and it was really amazing. We spent the whole day there, then we all had dinner together. It was very emotional.
Were there any memorable birthday presents?
THEY gave me a very, very nice present. When I was 65 they organised a cookbook filled with all their personal recipes and this time they made a picture of me, a collage, which was made on a computer using all their pictures.
The portraits are so small you have to use a magnifying glass to see them. (Smiles) The picture is now hanging in my studio – next to a magnifying glass so everyone can look for themselves.
It is the 25th anniversary of your breakthrough album Strauss And Co and you perform more than 100 concerts every year to more than 600,000 people. So what is next for you?
(LAUGHS) Life goes on. I’m 70 and I plan to go on until 140 ... so I’m halfway there. People ask me ‘when will you retire?’ But I never will.
What better life is there than being on stage for three hours, going everywhere in the world and seeing smiling faces in front of you? I couldn’t imagine a better life.
How do you prepare for your international tours?
I KEEP in good health and I do my sports. I’m terribly nervous before I go on stage but the moment I am on and I see all those faces, the nerves are gone. It gives me so much enjoyment. The encores alone are almost 45 minutes long. We have a snack, some food and wine, afterwards. We really need several hours to come down to earth.
Do you enjoy recording and performing at home in Maastricht?
WE HAVE had the recording studio in Maastricht for 20 years now and the most popular place in the whole studio is the canteen. Everyone comes together there.
Rehearsals start at 10, and my orchestra often comes an hour earlier because it’s so cosy in the canteen.
When we play the last concert in Maastricht in July before the holidays my whole orchestra is crying ‘oh, no, it’s the holidays, we want to carry on playing’. It’s really true. We are always on tour. That is my life. My suitcase is always packed and ready. In fact, it’s besides me right now.
You have sold more than 40 million albums and your new one, Happy Days, features tracks like Paloma Blanca, Those Were The Days and Happy Days Are Here Again alongside classical tracks. How did you arrive at the choices?
IT IS a real mix and a reflection of the 70 years of my life. People often ask me ‘Do you play classical or pop music, operatic or theatre?” I just play good music. Music that touches your heart. If it does not touch your heart then I don’t call it music. Music is an art form that goes to your soul.
When I started all those years ago I had a small orchestra and would go to homes for the elderly and people would be sitting there for the concert. Nurses and doctors would later come to me and say ‘that man has not moved for 25 years and you come along and he is dancing’.
You and your orchestra will be touring the UK and Ireland next year. Have you ever left anyone behind travelling the world?
WE HAVE been performing for something like 30 years and Manoe Konings, our clarinettist, helps get everyone together.
She has the list and we have three buses and she’s rushing around and counting everyone. When she says it’s OK, then we leave. I’m the boss normally, but at that moment she’s the boss and I’m in her hands. We never leave anyone behind.
Where is home in Maastricht?
(LAUGHS) I’m living in a castle, it’s only a small castle, and it’s the only castle in Maastricht.
I rest when I’m at home and I’m happy to be a dull dad.
We bought the property 25 to 30 years ago. I remember we were walking along the river and saw the castle and I said it would be a nice place to live.
My wife said ‘Well, you’ll have to sell more records’ ... so that’s what we did. I’m lucky. I’m only 70 and I’m having such a good time.
●André Rieu Happy Day is released on CD/DVD on November 22 and 70 Years Young – the ultimate concert – is in cinemas next year, January 4 and 5. Andre is at Resorts World Arena, NEC, on April 23. Go to andrerieu.com for more details.