My orchestra’s a hobby… a very expensive one, says Andre Rieu

ANDRE RIEU says there are two things that keep him clocking up enough Air Miles for a round trip to Mars.

One is the superstar violinist and conductor’s sheer love of performing with his world-famous orchestra.

The other is to earn the cash to keep paying them all!

Last year he played more than 70 shows and this year is hardly any less hectic, including a UK arena tour announced last month.

“I wouldn’t still be doing this after 30 years if I didn’t still enjoy it,” André, 67, told iN10.

“My father was a conductor and as a little child I often went along to the rehearsals. I saw the soloist come in with his violin and he was always on his own.

“Right from then I knew I wanted to be a musician but I knew I didn’t want to be alone.

“Travelling with my orchestra, we’re all a big family. They’re friends and it’s a fantastic feeling.

“So I never get tired of travelling. It’s just part of our lives.”

The 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra is the largest private orchestra in the world. And with all the other behind the scenes staff required to keep the show on the road, it’s an expensive old business.

Then again, with 40m CDs and DVDs sold as well as the half million-plus fans who pay to see his live shows each year, money aplenty has rolled in.

It has given Dutch-born André an enviable lifestyle, including being able to call home a fairytale 17th Century castle in Maastricht.

“I’m not complaining, but I’m not rich like Bill Gates,” smiled André. “I have to work every month and every year to keep the Orchestra going.

“I have 120 people on my payroll, so you can imagine how much that costs.

“Having the Orchestra is a very expensive hobby and if we didn’t keep touring then the money would be gone very quickly.”

The shows are lavish, fun affairs and André has admitted that the OTT scale of some previous tours took their toll.

One involved a replica of a Viennese palace complete with fountains, ballrooms filled with dancers wearing dresses costing £3000 each and even a state carriage made from real gold.

It cost such a pretty penny that he’s said it left him more than £30m out of pocket and with bank managers looking to see what they could repossess.

But his phenomenally-popular classical music pulling power saved the day.

One of the highlights is the annual concert from his home town, this year taking place on July 22 and 23.

Those who can’t get a sought-after ticket can now pop along to a cinema and see it streamed live via satellite.

The concert has now become a record-breaking cinema event, having grossed more than such forays by Take That and One Direction.

“I was thrilled by the way it went last year,” said André. “It’s amazing that people go to the cinema and have the same experience as those at the concert.”

Scots fans will get the chance to see the Orchestra in the flesh with a Glasgow date announced as part of the UK tour.

The December 14 show will bring Andre back to the SSE Hydro. And despite having played in some of the biggest and most famous venues in the world, he said Glasgow was more than a little bit special.

“It is such a beautiful place and the audience were magnificent.”

He recalled how a joke taking a gentle dig at the English went down a storm, while he had firm views on independence and the current Brexit negotiations.

“I know all about how some Scots want to be free,” he says seriously. “I agree completely.

“I think the whole Brexit thing is very stupid and I’m all for Scots who want to stay within Europe.”

Whatever the politics of those who attend either the cinema shows or the Hydro gig, they can be guaranteed a rousing show.

“The best thing for a musician is playing live on stage,” he adds. “Making records and DVDs is OK but nothing beats playing live and that’s why we still travel the world.”

Maastricht Concert, July 22-23, Cinema details: andreincinemas.com; tour details: andrerieu.com