Together with Margriet editor-in-chief Helene van Santen, André Rieu unveils the cover of the weekly magazine that was co-compiled by him and his wife Marjorie on the occasion of his 75th birthday.

Editor-in-chief Helen van Santen admits that Rieu had been on her list for a long time. "So this 75th birthday was an ideal occasion." "The only thing was not the release date," Rieu counters wittily. "Two days after returning from Bogotá... But here we are." Van Santen still remembers the first brainstorming session at Rieu's home in Maastricht. "Where we had made a purple mood board for this special issue." "That just happens to be the color I absolutely hate," Rieu jokes, which again makes the audience laugh. Serial The Maastricht native explains that he said yes partly because of the history of the 86-year-old magazine. "We also read Margriet at home. At that time, it still contained the serial Angélique. Quite an exciting story for that time, because it was my first introduction to the romanticism that would later play such a defining role in my life." While the guests are treated to a piece of birthday cake, Van Santen admits that Rieu and his wife Marjorie really got involved in every production down to the last detail. "They were super committed. We have a number of fixed items in our magazine and they gave their own interpretation to everything. For example, for the subject "green" we were allowed to take a look at his vegetable garden and for the subject "travel" he described the most beautiful places in Rome, his favorite city abroad."

Van Santen says that her editors started working on the Rieu issue in February. "In April, we already had the first photo shoots because we had to plan them around his busy tour schedule. And I think that in total hundreds of e-mails were sent back and forth. But better that, one comma too many removed, than one too few." Extra thick When the cover of the magazine is revealed to all those present – including Emma Kok, but also the Maastricht Duo X-Elle – Rieu jokes again: “It’s just a shame about that sticker ‘Extra thick’ on my photo.” He is supported by Dorrie Satijn and Marie-Ange Castermans, the duo that was allowed to run in front of the bull during the Vrijthof concerts this year. Castermans with a wink: “That should actually have been X- Elle.” After two hours, the first birthday event is over. A festivity that will continue this coming weekend with a party for friends, on Tuesday itself with Marjorie and the children, and the weekend after that during a two- day outing with all the orchestra employees and their families. “Are you all thinking of taking home a goodie bag and a box of violets?” In honor of André Rieu's 75th birthday, De Limburger has published a book about the life and work of the Maastricht maestro. That book can be ordered here via our webshop (the book is only available in Dutch language): https://shop.limburger.nl/product/75-jaar-andre-rieu

Harmonie St. Petrus & Paulus will perform a serenade for André Rieu, who will turn 75 on Tuesday, October 1.

Rieu applauds with those present for Harmonie St. Petrus & Paulus.

Andr é’s favorites Source: Margriet Magazine. Special edition. • Favorite film: “I love the Sound of Music, it is touching and romantic. A true masterpiece: the music, the images, the casting, everything is right in this film. And I was in love with Julie Andrews”. • Favorite books: All books by the British author Ken Follett. • He mixes history with fiction in a brilliant and exciting way. I also like the books by Fik Meijer. They are witty and he describes daily life in Rome as it really was, with an enormous historical fact knowledge. • Favorite podcast: Maarten van Rossum (Dutch scientist). He has such an impressive knowledge. • Dogs. “We have three dogs, Lewieke, Robbie and Ivanhoe. The oldest is 16 years old, the youngest is a puppy. It is funny to see that the old, deaf, blind and maybe also a bit demented dog, comes to life now that there is a puppy in the house. At breakfast the dogs often sit on my lap. The rest of the day they walk behind Marjorie, because she always has dog biscuits in her pocket”. • Butterflies. “I have an orangery in which butterflies fly, only in the summer, in the winter it is too cold. We bring the pupae of the blue butterfly from Nicaragua and they hatch here. The cycle of a butterfly is fascinating. Mating and fertilization take place independently of each other. The eggs become a caterpillar, then there is a pupa, and then a butterfly. Very special”. • Relaxation. “After a busy day I can relax with a sudoku. I have been playing it for about 20 years. First in puzzle books, now on my phone. I play expert-level and sometimes I spend three days solving a game”. • Flowers. “I enjoy the tulips in my garden in the spring. My fans all over the world watch my tulip photos on social media. There is a tulip, a rose and a violet named after me. I like the idea that somewhere in the world there might be "my" tulip in a vase”. • Actress. “Julie Andrews. My great love! I think she is a fantastic actress and singer. I have seen the film Sound of Music at least 15 times. Many people find that film kitsch. What is kitsch? That is different for everyone. I like it. I enjoy the setting of Austria in the 1930s. Julie plays very movingly in that film. • Instruments. “Music is very important. It should be a school subject where children learn about different instruments, such as a harp. This beautiful instrument gives a lot of warmth to a piece of music and that is often the necessary finishing touch. What is sometimes forgotten is that our voice is also an instrument. For me, there is nothing better than a human voice, which always moves me”. • City. “Rome. We go to Rome every year with the whole family for three days. We have been doing that for 25 years. It feels like coming home. I love Italian food and the movie Roman Holiday. Maybe I have that Italy-feeling because my mother was blessed by the Pope when she was pregnant with me.

This week (September 26 – October 2, 2024), André Rieu is guest editor of Margriet (Weekly Magazine Margriet, since 1938). Translation: Ineke, edited by Diana D. Le Photocredits: Marcel van Hoorn. Foreword by André Rieu What an honor, an entire Margriet issue, especially about me! As a young man, who looked forward to the moment when Margriet arrived at our home every week, I would of course never have dared to dream of that. In those years, I was especially fond of the sequel Angélique. How exciting that was! It was probably the first romance novel I read in my life. Who knows, it might have been the first preparation for Romeo and Juliet, which later became my favorite. When I think back to that time now, I realize that I apparently loved romance from an early age. And that love never went away. I know, a lot has been written about romance. What is it actually? Is it love with everything that goes with it? Are they red roses and beautiful poems? Is it a candlelit dinner with soft music in the background? A marriage proposal in the evening sun in a Venetian gondola? Maybe that smile of a cute girl with curls, when you're thirteen? In any case, I know for sure that romance plays a big role in my life, both privately and professionally. It's not for nothing that I chose the violin as the instrument that has been the constant companion in my life for seventy years now. Just pay attention: when there's kissing in a movie, what do you hear in the background? Violin music! Although I hated having to practice the violin for hours every day as a child and growing up, I am now grateful to my teachers for having so much patience with me and helping me through those tough early years. (Speaking of romance: my first violin teacher was a blonde beauty of about eighteen, and I promptly fell in love with her!) So thank you dear Margriet, for your first push in the direction that later became one of the most important things in my life: love! First of all, of course, the love for Marjorie, with whom I have been together for fifty years now. But also the love for music, the violin, my orchestra, and my audience. Every night, we play for thousands of people who, as the concert progresses, I see grow towards each other and become one, culminating in the beautiful song by Elvis Presley Falling in love with you. Every night, at every concert, wherever in the world, people embrace each other, kiss each other and are completely happy. I couldn't wish for a better life! Dear editors, interviewers, and all those others who, with so much love and attention to content, texts, design, photos, and a hundred thousand details, wanted to make this edition about me, thank you! Your, for once guest editor-in-chief, André Rieu

Margriet Magazine, September 26 – October 2, 2024. Special edition. By Annemarie van Looij. Translated by Ineke, edited by Diana D. Le The child in me is still very much alive Orchestra leader, violinist, arranger, music producer, and this week's guest editor André Rieu receives Margriet's Annemarie at his home in the castle, where they have a beautiful conversation about love, connection, and passion. At ten o'clock sharp, he enters the kitchen of his sixteenth-century castle. Or no: André Rieu (74) makes his entrance. His entrance seems to do something to the atmosphere. Everyone in his entourage goes “on”. It will be a busy day for the world-famous orchestra leader. First up is an extensive photo shoot. "Just tell me where you want me," he says to the photographer. "We have to hurry up a bit, the sun is still shining now." The conductor of the impressive Johann Strauss Orchestra leads us through his castle, the stately Huis de Torentjes, located on the eastern flank of the Sint-Pietersberg. He likes to think along and wants to show everything. He leads us to the enormous wooden garden statues of his favorite comic strip characters Tintin, Snowy, and Captain Haddock. "Received from my son Pierre for my seventieth birthday." He is proud of his self-built orangery in the courtyard of the castle. It is full of tropical plants, a butterfly house, and two hyperactive white-cheeked Turacos, a tropical bird species from Ethiopia. The birds immediately come to André when he lets out a mating call from his phone. "This is the place where I completely relax. Except when these two get into a frenzy," he says laughing. That laughter continues throughout the photo shoot. With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he makes one joke after another. Or he tells a hilarious anecdote. About the imperfect carrots he bought from a farmer from Zeeland (Dutch province). He could not sell his products to the store, because the carrots were "too ugly". A shame, Rieu thought and he bought 250 kilos from the farmer. "I had peeled 50 kilos and then I was done with it. Now everything is in my walk-in freezer. We can take a picture of that too." (Click HERE for the organic carrot article on our website) And we should especially come along to his pride, a large greenhouse where he grows his own vegetables. “I make delicious Legumes Provençales (French recipe), everything from my own garden. That is much healthier, because it is unsprayed. All that poison is not good for a person.” Staying healthy and fit is important to André, who will celebrate his 75th birthday next month. Together with his personal trainer, he has created a balanced exercise schedule and nutrition plan. Although there is always room for kroonselevlaoj (gooseberry merengue pastry). “Have you had a piece yet?” he asks several times when we sit down at the table for the conversation. After all, a visit to the castle is not complete without a piece of Limburg gooseberry meringue pastry. What are your plans for your 75th birthday? “I haven’t really thought about that yet, I prefer it when those kinds of things come up spontaneously. Planning and looking ahead is my profession, I am good at that. But I put off these kinds of private matters.” And a surprise party? Is that something you expect? “Oh, I don’t like that at all. But that doesn’t stop my family from doing it, I’m afraid. I once said that I would really like to have Tintin’s rocket, the red and white checkered one. And then 3 meters high, right? My son Pierre and his friends are tinkering in the shed every Wednesday. They make complete tanks from the Second World War from a pile of scrap metal, for his Resistance Museum. I once said that about the rocket. Since then, they've been very secretive about it, I suspect I'll finally get my rocket." A boyish twinkle appears in his eyes. It's great to see how enthusiastic you get about a rocket as a birthday present. "Yes, that child in me is still very much alive. I cherish that too. And I think I owe a large part of my success to that. Like a child, I dare to dream big and I have the opportunity to make those dreams come true. Not only my own dreams, but also those of Emma Kok, for example, who now has a huge hit with ‘Voilà’. That makes me so proud." Is there also a downside to daring to dream big? "Yes, it made me slide down the abyss. I was almost bankrupt in 2008. I told Pierre that I wanted to have the imperial palace Schönbrunn made as a set. Life-size. It not only became the largest set in the world, but also the most expensive. Some dreams come with a very expensive price tag, but I didn't realize that at the time." What happened? "I had made a huge miscalculation. I went on tour to Australia, where I was the best-selling artist at the time. Madonna, Abba, and Beyoncé were all far behind me in the charts. I thought I could easily fill the arenas five times. But I forgot that the enormous number of DVDs sold was not equal to the number of people who would come to a concert. Of course, there were far fewer, because every fan bought all of our DVDs, so maybe ten or fifteen per fan! And instead of five times, we only managed to sell out the stadiums twice. Yes, that's when the money goes in the wrong direction. The bank seized all my assets, even my name. Fortunately, there was one man at the bank who thought that I should keep playing, because that was the only way they could get their money back. In no time, I went from being way down to way up. I did have to promise my wife, Marjorie, that I would never have such idiotic ideas again." This year, you have also been married to your great love Marjorie for fifty years. What are you going to surprise her with? "Another fifty years? No, seriously. I could buy her a ring, I have done that before. She said then: 'I look like a Christmas tree.'" How did love ever begin? "I had to wait a long time. We have known each other since we were thirteen. Even then, I felt that there was something special between us, but it was purely platonic. I was about sixteen or seventeen, when I went to Liège on my moped to drive past her house. Marjorie knew my sister Teresia from when they were younger, they had been in the same class. Later, she was a German teacher at their school and she came up with the idea of inviting Teresia to give a harp concert at school. That's how we got back in touch." Are you still in love after all these years? "What a good question. I've never really been head over heels in love with her. I've experienced it, but I thought it was a horrible feeling. But with her... I knew right away, she's the one I was looking for. We're the same and complement each other well. We often say exactly the same thing at the same time. That foundation of love and equality is what makes our relationship so beautiful." What makes her so special in your eyes? "Her wisdom and ability to put things into perspective. It reminds me of the Swedish film As it is in Heaven. It's about a child prodigy, a conductor and violinist. He gets stressed out and goes back to his old village in the snow. There he learns to live, really live. So, not the focus on his career. He falls in love with the cashier and only at the end does he dare to say 'I love you'. And then something happens... sorry." You get emotional. What moves you now? "He learns to ride a bike, he rides a bike for the first time in his life. But he also has a heart condition and dies. When I told Marjorie about this, she said: 'And what's the moral of this story? Cycling is bad for your health.' It's exactly that reaction... that's why I love her so much." It's great that you dare to show your emotions. Have you always had that? "Always. To the dissatisfaction of my parents. My father was a conductor, not only on stage, but also at home. Later, he became a religious fanatic, it was impossible to have a normal conversation with him. My mother didn't let me look anyone in the eye. She thought that was rude. While it is so important to really see someone. Emotions connect us as people. I had to learn that during therapy. Marjorie and I went to therapy together for a long time. We both had to deal with the necessary childhood traumas, we were able to do that together. It was a difficult period, but also a very valuable one. I knew immediately that I would give my children a completely different upbringing. I regularly let them know that I am proud of them and love them." You never heard that from your parents yourself, is that perhaps also the reason why you are on stage? "Do you mean that I rake in the love of the audience on stage every night? As a kind of confirmation? No, I think it's more of a reciprocal thing. I like to play music that moves me, that's my motivation, and I like to convey that feeling to my audience. I don't do it for the money or for the appreciation. For me, it's purely about making a connection through beautiful music." You also have grandchildren, do you also manage to connect with the music they listen to? "Oh, yes, definitely. When I was little, I was only allowed to listen to classical music at home. But secretly, I listened to Bob Dylan in my room. When the grandchildren are in the car with me, they are allowed to turn on the music. On their phones. And then I hear all that new music, I find Taylor Swift very interesting for example. We can also talk about that, what they like about certain music. Recently one of Pierre's said that she thought Toselli's ‘Serenade’ was so beautiful. That's one of my pieces. Then I'm very proud." You are now almost 75. Do you ever think about retirement? "I had a nice conversation about it with Youp van ’t Hek (comedian) by coincidence. He was here in Maastricht for his farewell tour. I asked him afterwards: 'Stopping, how do you do that?' He pointed to his heart and said that he had received a severe warning. Luckily I didn't get one, but I am also realistic. This spring, I had to cancel a number of concerts in Mexico. The jet lag, the smog, and the altitude meant that I couldn't continue. Of course it has to remain fun, but I don't see myself performing so far from home anymore. With all that time difference. That was a lesson for me. So, stop performing? No, I don't see that happening for the time being. But I do want to keep learning. Until I'm dead. Then I'll have finished learning." (Laughs).

A photo from 2009. Lewieke turned 16 in 2024.

His favorite comic strip: Tintin.

white-cheeked Turaco

kroonsele met zjoem pastry

Lewieke

Wily

Wedding, 1975

In the 80’s, in Gent, Belgium

Article from Margriet Magazine, September 28, 2024. Interview with Marjorie, by Mieke van Wijk Translated by Ineke, edited by Diana D. Le Marjorie (76) is the woman behind André I thought: what inspiration and what discipline! This is the man who suits me They have been together for almost half a century: Marjorie (76) and André Rieu (74). Although she consciously avoids the spotlight, behind the scenes she is the driving force behind his career. "I believed in him and had every confidence that he would realize his dreams." "At grammar school, I was in the same class as Teresia, André's sister. Every year, we celebrated Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas party) at someone's house. In 1962, we did that at the Rieu family. What I remember most of that is that I thought: wow, they have so many children. There were six of them. I am an only child myself, so that was quite a contrast. On that occasion, I had already noticed André, because with his dark curls he looked different from the rest. I was fifteen and he was thirteen, so there was not one thought in me that he could be my future husband. It was not until twelve years later that we saw each other again after a concert that Teresia had invited me to. She performed as a harpist with the Limburg Symphony Orchestra, which was conducted by their father. André had come from Brussels, where he was at the Conservatory, to Maastricht to attend the concert of his sister and his father. At that time, André and I still smoked, because I remember that we were holding an ashtray together to tap off the ashes. They probably played a symphony by Mahler that evening, because André and I talked about Mahler at length. André had just turned 25, so I thought it would be nice to send him the book Der Tod in Venedig (Death in Venice) by Thomas Mann as a birthday present. After all, Mahler's beautiful music was played in the film version of that book. As a German teacher, I read a lot, but I was particularly impressed by that book. A few days later, I found a red envelope in my mailbox. A letter from André! That first letter was almost one long sentence. Inspired by the style of Thomas Mann, who wrote very long sentences. An intensive correspondence developed between us that made us fall in love. After I visited André in Brussels, my choice for him became almost definitive when he told me that when he was in Maastricht, he went to the Conservatory every morning at six o'clock to study there. The cleaning lady had the key and let him in. That way he could study undisturbed for a few hours. At that moment it sparked in me. I thought: what inspiration and what discipline! This is the man who suits me!"

Family photos from Marjorie’s book: “My music, my life”.

The boy "The first time André came to our house was for my mother's birthday. We had aunts visiting and there was a cake on the table. André immediately felt at home and asked: 'Shall I cut the cake?' He cut the cake into about four pieces and gave my aunts such a gigantic piece that one of them exclaimed enthusiastically: 'Wow, we've never had such big pieces of cake here!' That was André in a nutshell: the enthusiasm, the generosity, the direct contact. The whole family was immediately charmed by him. That evening, my mother even gave me something for breakfast the next morning: 'Here, something nice for the boy.' She would always affectionately call André ‘the boy’. My parents adored him. Even when my father asked André at a later stage whether he could support me and André wittily replied: 'No, she supports me.' How unusual that division of roles was at the time, my father could appreciate it." Music from the past "We got married in 1975. It was clear that we belonged together. By being the breadwinner, I gave André the space to develop himself further. I believed in him and had every confidence that he would realize his dreams. In 1978, André founded the Maastricht Salon Orchestra. At the time, I was pregnant with our first son Marc, who was born that same year, and I still remember listening to those five people rehearsing. They played music that appealed to me. By the way, André did not know that salon music at all at first. I introduced him to it. That music was played a lot at home. My Jewish father, who fled from Berlin to the Netherlands in 1936, managed to take his precious record collection with him. During the war, he had to go into hiding and it was my mother*, who was in the resistance, who helped him find a hiding place. His record collection had to be moved elsewhere, but it survived, just like my father. It was quite a problem to get sheet music of that nice salon music. Through an advertisement in the local newspaper, the salon orchestra received a truckload of music 'from the past'. André often did not know the titles, but I knew most of them from home and sang them to him. If he liked it, we put the sheet music aside. We spent weeks searching for suitable numbers from hundreds of boxes." Against the feeling "The salon orchestra became a success, but in the beginning there were quite a few internal quarrels, which sometimes made André shout: 'I'm quitting!' My father, who was enthusiastic about the orchestra, opposed this: ‘Stop? No, continue!' The same thing I heard during my German studies, when I was crying on the phone because I wanted to quit. I was just too well-behaved at the time. If I had not tried my best, I would have been sent away. But I did my best and got good grades. After I got my master's degree, I got a job as a teacher at my old school. Everyone was happy about that, but I was less so. That had everything to do with the fact that I actually wanted to be a secretary. Initially, my parents thought that was fine. After all, they also had a secretary in their business, a wholesaler of hats. Her name was Mia and she was like a big sister to me. However, my parents were persuaded otherwise by my teachers: I had to go to university. What they didn't realize is that it will eventually go wrong if you make a choice that goes against your feelings. After a few years as a teacher, I became overstrained. Then I translated books. Until André looked for someone for his management. I thought I would take on that task temporarily, but it soon became clear that that work suited me like a glove. I became increasingly busy. Especially after André founded the Johann Strauss Orchestra in 1987 and we started our own company André Rieu Productions."

Music from grandpa "The fact that we had the self-confidence for this was partly the result of a few years of therapy. I started doing that when I became overstressed. André, who followed my findings, wanted to work on himself at a certain point. He was bothered by the fact that his parents rarely or never told him that they loved him or that they were proud of him. In short, therapy helped us to leave behind limiting beliefs from our childhood. After that, we were determined to fill in our lives in our own way. A space that we also grant our two sons. Pierre was born in 1981. They both had violin lessons from André, but after Pierre smashed his violin on Marc's head, that chapter was closed, haha. They now play the piano and clarinet. Pierre works with great dedication in our company. Marc, who was initially a painter, has now completely found his place as a teacher. Thanks to them, we have five grandchildren who fortunately all love grandpa's music. I have never suffered from the empty nest syndrome. The company took up so much of my time that I'm afraid I sometimes had to keep the children waiting because I had to make an urgent phone call." Everything in top form "André is always extravagant in everything. If I don't like something, I'll say so, of course. Sometimes he takes that to heart, but not always. Certainly not if he is convinced that not only he, but also the audience will like it. For me, it doesn't always have to be so big. Years ago, he thought he would surprise me with a new car. 'Come and have a look outside,' he said enthusiastically. When I looked down from the balcony, there was a big Mercedes. However kindly it was of him, I wasn't happy with it at all. I enjoyed driving a Volkswagen Golf. Such a gift was a size too big for me. Also literally, I could barely reach the pedals, haha. We are now talking about a new aria that he might do. In a 'normal' evening dress, the singer sings just as beautifully, but no, it also has to look impressive, so, he immediately designs another beautiful costume. Everything has to be in top form." Really completely together "When André is on tour, I don't just sit at home and wait for him. I often take a language course abroad. Always under my maiden name, so that my fellow students don't see me as 'the wife of'. I want to remain myself and that is easiest if I am not recognised. That is why I hardly ever give interviews and stay out of sight at concerts. No, André gives no reason for jealousy. We never have arguments. We love harmony and are perhaps also a bit conflict-avoidant. Of course, we sometimes worry about something, but in general we are optimists. That is necessary when you run a company with 120 employees. This morning, we listened to his test recordings for a new CD* during breakfast. Very critical. It made me realise once again how wonderful this is: we really make a new CD like this completely together. I just don't play in the orchestra. But we come up with the pieces, the title, the cover together, I attend all the rehearsals and hear the music grow. A wonderful process. In short: we have a good time together." Marjorie has chosen not to have her picture taken for this interview. The article was illustrated with well-known photos from Marjorie’s book “My music, my Life”, which is on sale in André’s webshop https://shop.andrerieu.com/product-category/books/ * Read the article about Nelly Eymael, Marjorie's mother, click HERE. * The new CD/with DVD will be released on November 15, 2024. Title: The Sound of Heaven. You can already pre-order from October 4, 2024 on www.andrerieu.com

Summer 1984

André Rieu tulips

Johann Strauss tulips

More articles from Margriet Magazine Sept/Oct. 2024, click HERE to go to page 2.