Andre Rieu has just celebrated his 60th birthday.  30 of those years he has been around the world.  He has defied critics who have said he was crazy for taking the Schonbrunn Castle throughout Europe, Australia and Canada.  He has sold millions of CD's and DVD''s around the world.   He is a music phenomenon and his fans love him.  Now he comes full circle in his personal life celebrating the birth of 3 grandchildren.

Lieke

Linde

by Pauline Broekema

He comes around often. He is a musician and businessman. Both. Otherwise he had not achieved what he has. The tours of Madonna, Tina Turner and Britney Spears sell just a little better. But then he comes. The violinist from Maastricht. André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu. Just become sixty.

Anniversary
This year it celebrates its 30th anniversary. Today he was in Hilversum for interviews about the thirty years. But the basis for his glittering career is much earlier. If five years he has violin lessons. The son of the conductor of the Limburg Symphony Orchestra, could it be otherwise?

Later he would also be a violinist. He can still shudder when he thinks back on. Playing with a glance at the clock. The lady of the 'union' that was ready to act as the lunch at risk. That had to be not so. Then play it in a salon orchestra. There at least he had the lead himself.

His first stages were the meeting places of retirement homes. There he played his waltzes. Music that people enjoy. Because that is what it is for against regular concerts. Sometimes it seems as if people are not going for fun. Only go to to count.

Vogeltjesmars
He draws a concert audience that never sees the inside. It runs away with him. It sways along to the beat of the drum. Strauss, Lehar. Around the world, he successfully: America, Australia, Europe of course. Japan, where from his roof as he goes after Strauss shamelessly still just dance music of the bird use.

This morning in the radio studio, the program tells the Golden Hours Daniel Dekker rare to have so many comments received. There was a raffle ticket for a concert by Rieu. "It's not because you're against me is Andre, but it was really incredible what we got in response."

Investments
Rieu is a company. With a procession of staff. Investments he does that he takes great risks. He builds after Schönbrunn slot.

Plays violin while the dancers from Holiday on Ice their circles. An audience favorite that meets the wishes of his fans. Rieu There are souvenirs for sale. Silk scarves, posters, t-shirts.

There is also the musician Rieu. Those on tour are worthy movements. Runs. Documents practice. A day without a violin is still a little bare. Music should always be. And it sounds hope in his voice when it comes to whether his grandchildren his musical talent. Metallic and Linde, a few weeks ago he had been a born-grandson-react to music. He does not play for them. Of course not. Such a violin, which still sounds too hard for them.

 

Kitsch
Kitsch? His repertoire, his concerts? He will be a concern. Fact is, he is a nice word kitsch. He is demanding. It is those last five percent. Everything. And then expect them to be musicians for that extra return.

Once they were on tour in the United States and fell with Easter a few days. That was nothing, he thought, people are not home at Easter. So it was arranged that the whole orchestra was back and forth.

Arctic
Candidates always assess it themselves. Then he lets them play. After one minutes he usually knows where he stands. `Then they should resign their violin and what we talk." And immediately be asked about holidays and days the conversation fast.

Plans he has plenty. He wants to conquer England, a white spot on his map with European achievements. Playing the Arctic in order to call attention to the dangers of climate change. There is the new DVD box set of highlights from his career.

As the legendary performance in the rest of the match Ajax-Bayern Munich, which he was known to the general public. Barend, Van Dorp and Mulder who sang along to his music and competing ends.

And of course André van Duin. Visiting Maastricht. Across the maestro and his Stradivarius. The first violin lessons. Van Duin that the lesson ends with a sigh, "It was very nice, pity that you played through it."