I saw a lot of sharp dressed snobs becoming extatic when Rieu made a "joke". Am I the only one thinking that the guy is exploiting the snobs in North America?
2007-08-31 19:27:50 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Performing Arts
Andre is the real deal, the genuine article, and if a bunch of rich snobs want to support him, so much the better for the rest of us. He is keeping a tradition alive that is extremely expensive to support, requires patronage (as it always did) and requires the logistics of a large accounting firm to get around. If you are offended by the somewhat scripted humor and "live canned laughter" remember that in addition to the supportive audience up front, he has an extremely supportive ensemble behind him! When he speaks of his entourage as "family" he is not exaggerating at all.
If you read his biography, you will eventually understand that Andre is an extremely talented, somewhat introverted World Class Musician, who overcame his own social limitations out of respect for the music. English is not his native language (obviously) so I am sure that he comes across as being more spontaneous in one of the European languages that he speaks. I am also sure that he is never completely at ease in large crowds however. Many musicians share that same anxiety. They come across as being somewhat ingenuous, when they are really just a little shy and nervous.
Close your eyes, forget the crowds, and listen to the instrument. This is a man who is trying to keep popular classical music alive (yes there is such a thing) in the world, and nobody who was exploiting the snobs in North America would make two back to back trips to El Paso. I have a lot of respect for the man and for his ensemble, and I hope that someday you can find that respect as well. I keep his DVDs in my classroom and play them for my students whenever possible. Sometimes they brag that they have seen him on PBS. Sometimes they come in afterwards and tell me that they have watched his show because they saw it in class. Sometimes the parents come in and tell me that their children are insisting that they watch him instead of a cop show or a comedy. He is a tremendous resource for my classroom and I am grateful that he is around.
2007-09-01 03:13:30 · answer #1 · answered by MUDD 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Andre Rieu takes beautiful classical music and popularizes it for mass consumption.
2016-03-17 21:33:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay. Andre Rieu. I watched his PBS specials from the time I was four and I was completely in love with him. I got tickets to his first performance in Colorado, and needless to say, I was ecstatic. He is an arrogant *****. I completely agree with you. Watching him live....the show was not nearly as entertaining as he is on PBS, and he was very fake. It seemed like his orchestra was almost afraid of him. Any time he came near them, they smiled, but cowered at the same time....I was bitterly disappointed...
2007-09-03 13:01:46 · answer #3 · answered by La Tromboniste 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Andre should get a Nobel Peace Prize. He brings people together. He's a peace maker.
2014-10-16 19:27:34 · answer #4 · answered by chiefredwater 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kitsch. I don't care about him "exploiting snobs"--I care about him popularizing classical music through smarmy waltzes and arrangements. If he truly wants to broaden the audience for classical music, he really ought to stick to playing great solo repertoire.
2007-09-01 15:28:20 · answer #5 · answered by lovethemusic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋