www.andrerieumovies.com
www.andrerieu-fans.com
Edwin Evers has a popular breakfast show on the Dutch radio station "Radio 538". He called André because he was elected to be the Person of the year 2007.
André elected "Person of the year 2007",
a radio interview with Edwin Evers.
Edwin Evers radio interview (on the phone). Dec.2007
Congratulations André!
-Yes, thank you-
You are the “Person of the year for 2007”. Who do you think came in as number two? Jan Peter Balkenende (prime minister)? No Elvis Presley!!
Congratulations!! André, did you not see the results of the election?
-No, not at all, I didn't even know there were such elections.
Well, it's an annual election on the internet. People can vote for the Person of the Year. In total almost 700.000 votes were received, that's a lot. Elvis Presley was number two with 35.138 votes. You are number one with a sweeping majority of 45.205 votes.
- Fantastic, I did not know anything about it!
Nothing at all?
- No, fantastic.
There were extensive elections: for instance the politician of the year, and selected this year: Geert Wilders, the comedian of the year: Ruben Nicolai, member of the Royal family of the year, this year: Queen Beatrix, and we could go on and on.
But in general: the Person of the Year 2007: That's you!
- Oh wait, I'll have to tell my wife, she is here sitting next to me: "I have been elected as the” Person of the Year 2007". She is laughing out loudly!
Laughing? Is she in agreement? That is the most important question.
- "Do you agree?" She says: "Person of the century!" Ha, ha.
Who knows, maybe someday a program like that might be stated! Congratulations!
How are you doing? Are you very busy at the moment?
- No, not at all, we are having a nice breakfast together. I just returned from three weeks in the USA and Canada. Today I rose very early, because I am still suffering from jet lag.
Are you busy during Christmas or do you keep those days for yourself?
- No, the last thirty years I have been home for Christmas. Home under the Christmas tree.
I would think that your music is very cozy during the Christmas season.
- O yes, of course, but for me it is even cozier to be at home! Ha, ha.
Do they like that?
- Yes, I am gone so often. I don't perform between Christmas and New Years so don’t bother to come knocking. That time I'm at home.
How many days a year are you on tour?
Maybe a little more than half a year. We tour in parts. I have a lot of very young mothers in the orchestra with babies, who like to nurse the babies. So we are home more regularly so they can do that.
It almost sounds like: We have to go home to go milking... Ha, ha.
- Oh, you know what I mean!!
Yes, I know, but they could harvest the milk.... you should tell them that....
- Yes, that is exactly what they do! But every now and then they need to be home.
To harvest the milk for the next three weeks in advance....
- Indeed, they really walk around with those small ice cream carts filled with milk....
Ha, ha, I can just visualize that! How funny!
- It is really true.
What does your wife think about all this that you are telling us on national radio.
the” Person of the Year 2007". She is laughing out loudly!
Laughing? Is she in agreement? That is the most important question.
- "Do you agree?" She says: "Person of the century!" Ha, ha.
Who knows, maybe someday a program like that might be stated! Congratulations! How are you doing? Are you very busy at the moment?
- No, not at all, we are having a nice breakfast together. I just returned from three weeks in the USA and Canada. Today I rose very early, because I am still suffering from jetlag.
Are you busy during Christmas or do you keep those days for yourself?
- No, the last thirty years I have been home for Christmas. Home under the Christmas tree.
I would think that your music is very cozy during the Christmas season.
- O yes, of course, but for me it is even cozier to be at home! Ha, ha.
Do they like that?
- Yes, I am gone so often. I don't perform between Christmas and New Years so don’t bother to come knocking. That time I'm at home.
How many days a year are you on tour?
Maybe a little more than half a year. We tour in parts. I have a lot of very young mothers in the orchestra with babies, who like to nurse the babies. So we are home more regularly so they can do that.
It almost sounds like: We have to go home to go milking... Ha, ha.
- Oh, you know what I mean!!
Yes, I know, but they could harvest the milk.... you should tell them that....
- Yes, that is exactly what they do! But every now and then they need to be home.
To harvest the milk for the next three weeks in advance....
- Indeed, they really walk around with those small ice cream carts filled with milk....
Ha, ha, I can just visualize that! How funny!
- It is really true.
What does your wife think about all this that you are telling us on national radio.
- Well, she is okay with it. I didn’t say anything wrong, did I?
No, but it sounds so funny!
Nice things are about to happen, also in the Amsterdan ArenA next year..
- Yes nice, we just did the Schönbrunn Castle décor for the first time in Toronto, Canada. Fountains, horses, golden carriage, we transported everything to Toronto. My son Pierre erected it and he just finished tearing it down.
Next year the 28th of June 2008 you are performing with the castle in the Amsterdam ArenA. I think you can start setting it up right now already! Ha, ha.
-They need five days to set it up, working 24 hours a day, and three days to tear it down.
We see it right now on the internet... That's not normal...
-Beautiful, uh?
- It was my dream; we worked a year and a half on it. When I saw the final result for the first time, I had tears in my eyes. We did it! Fantastic!
You are copying half of Vienna...
- Yes. During the summer a year and a half ago, we performed in Vienna. We had a program with Viennese ballet dancers, debutantes, horses, carriages, figure skaters, fountains and all that romantic stuff together.... it was so beautiful!! I thought: "I want to perform here forever". Of course that is not possible. I said to Pierre: "Let's copy it and take it with us around the world".
So you need five days to build it up and 24 hours a day.
- Yes, with 250 people...
Oooooh, unbelievable.
Is it true that you intend to perform in Central Park in New York?
- Yes. Pierre is still in Toronto, but tomorrow he'll fly to New York to discuss the possibilities. With a ruler.
And to see if it fits?
- O yes! Everything has to fit.
Central Park is very big.
- I think we have to adapt in the width a little.
Otherwise just pull out a few trees.
- Or take a piece off the Empire State Building...
When is this going to happen?
- August 21st next year (2008).
We wish you happy holidays.
- Thanks, you too.
And again congratulations with the title “Person of the Year 2007”.
- Marjorie sends her regards.
Regards back. Bye bye.
Bye, Edwin.
Nieuwsbank: interactive Dutch Press : Beverwijk December 18th 2007
André Rieu is Person of the Year 2007
Not only Andre, but also other musicians from the Johann Strauss Orchestra got a lot of votes this year.
Top 10:
1. André Rieu 45.205 votes (6.82%)
2. Elvis Presley 35.138 votes (5.30%)
3. Bill Kaulitz 32.049 votes (4.84%)
4. Carmen Monarcha 23.901 votes (3.61%)
5. Suzan Erens 23.291 votes (3.51%)
6. Carla Maffioletti 22.036 votes (3.32%)
7. Manoe Konings 20.310 votes (3.06%)
8. Marjorie Rieu 18.949 votes (2.86%)
9. Pierre Rieu 18.807 votes (2.84%)
10.Tom Kaulitz 17.572 votes (2.65%)
Woman of the Year: Carmen Monarcha