Der Star-Musiker im Interview André Rieu – der Geige ist wieder glücklich
Hier erklärt er zum ersten Mal, warum er seit dem Sommer nicht mehr auf der Bühne stand, und wie er Krankheit und Schulden überwunden hat
Volker Tackmann traf André Rieu
BILD-am-SONNTAG Reporter Volker Tackmann traf André Rieu gestern in Köln
Foto: Christian Knieps
Hier erklärt André Rieu zum ersten Mal, warum er seit dem Sommer nicht mehr auf der Bühne stand, und wie er Krankheit und Schulden überwunden hat: Die Geige ist wieder glücklich
André Rieu gehört zu den erfolgreichsten Geigern – dann überspannte er den Bogen. Im Januar will er wieder in Deutschland auftreten
Foto: Christian Knieps
14.11.2010 - 16:52 UHR
Von VOLKER TACKMANN
BILD am SONNTAG
Er zappelt, ganz leicht nur, aber man spürt, wie viel Energie in ihm steckt: André Rieu (61) ist wieder da.
from Bild am Sonntag
He fidgets very softly, but you feel how muc energy he got: André Rieu is back. Next Thursday he will perform in Antwerpen, his first concert since August.
Star violonist André Rieu talks with "Bild am Sonntag" about his forced break for the first time, about his illness - and an experience for life time.
4 months I lay in bed, he said. It was the hell. Everything spin around me. His physicians said, it was a disturbance of the equilibrium, cuase by a virus.
He was completely down. And then? I discussed a lot with my wife. Then we came across that I have done too many things.
Andrè Rieu went overboard: opening of buildings, readings - Things he did for good friends, he couldn't answer no. He and his wife din't go on vacation for five yeards, because they wished to control everything.
"Bild am Sonntag": Now you don't control anything?
André Rieu: the cancellation of my tours in England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand was difficult. We had a discussion with the financers and asked
How many time we can afford not to perform?
They declared: You ought to go on stage tomorrow. But they are financers.
An artist is hardly interested in data. Yes, I am not a finance man. My task is to spend money. In the tomb I will not be interested how much money is lying next to me.
BamS: Your debts ought to be around 18 millions Euro.
A. R. : Just a moment, I improved last year from 10 millions Euro debts to 10 millions Euro plus. I was free of debts. Until now. Due to the forced break, I am now on zero.
BamS: How did it come to the deficit?
A.R.: Due to the Australian tour, for which we built a replica of the Schoenbrunn castle. I had to make a lot of debts. Everything I owned, I had to put in pawn. Even my stradivarius of 1627.
André Rieu laughs, sweeps over his blue velvet jacket.
BamS: What did you feel , when you loan your violin ?
A.R. I hoped that I do not to loose my Stradivarius, but my bank wished that I sell it. So I offered it - although hopelessly expensive - back to Vienna. I am not stupid. I bought it once for 2 million. But it is still here and now it belongs to me. Nevertheless it is only a violin. I would never sell my wife.
BamS: How do you look back to 4 months of rest in bed?
A.R.: I did a lot before, I was over-worked. I am happy, that the warning which I got was only a equilibrance disturbance and not a coronary. I take much more my children's advise. They say, I am looking good and that I calm down.
