André Rieu reopens in Tel Aviv

André Rieu reopens in Tel Aviv

Orchestras

norman lebrecht

April 26, 2021

The Dutch violinist, bandmaster and feelgood entrepreneur has decided it’s safe to resume activities in high-vaccinated Israel.

He has booked an arena for  November 4 and 5 this year and is polishing up on local schmaltz.

 

Comments

  • George says:

    The Tel Aviv concerts had originally been planned for 2020 and were rescheduled. Rieu still has Chile and Uruguay scheduled for October accoding to his website, but Israel may very well be the first country where performances are possible again…
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bq_6FulZQo

  • Eyal Braun says:

    Beginning from 6th of May, there will be no limitations of attendance in cultural events in Israel.

    • Gustavo says:

      In Germany, people who can document that they have acquired immunity (either naturally through unsanitary behaviour or through group-selective vaccination) will be receiving privileges, e.g. to attend cultural events, drink Champagne late into the night, etc, etc.

      Those individuals who have “kept safe” so far (to protect their “beloved ones” and themselves) but were prevented from getting the jab in time due to third-party mismanagement will not be able to attend cultural events.

      I consider this to be a Darwinian game based on economic and group-selective competitive principles.

      How can an acquired physiological state (healthy, ill or immune) dictate such decision rules?

      • Hayne says:

        Gustavo,
        I believe it’s called medical apartheid.

        • Gustavo says:

          Stefan Mickisch may have called this “Corona fascism”?

          • Ashu says:

            The second paragraph of your original post suggests that you bought it yourself until you found yourself behind in the vaccination line. “Hai voluto la bicicletta…”

      • Pleasure says:

        Well, for us we’re not gonna take any vaccines especially myself who was allergic to any vaccines likes flu vaccine for ages. Can’t go anywhere except Canada without flying but driving. It saddened us with all the restrictions when some people still secretly had parties.

        • Ashu says:

          [It saddened us with all the restrictions when some people still secretly had parties.]

          These were people who had no “us”. You’ve had your time.

      • Ashu says:

        Unsanitary behavior such as going to work to keep the work-from-home bum class alive.

    • Pleasure says:

      We missed Israel. Too bad the pandemic stopped us to go back and cancelled our trips. Loved Israel and all the warmth people we’ve had met especially those businesses we visited and one great Mediterranean Restaurant in the Arab Community in the farm. Best foods ever and Aroma coffee shop you ever tasted their cappuccino to die for. Hm mm.

  • Hayne says:

    Good for Mr. Rieu and all the musicians and staff he employs!

  • Ellingtonia says:

    “He has booked an arena for November 4 and 5 this year and is polishing up on local schmaltz”…..what a pathetic comment about a musician who has given pleasure to millions of listeners and concert goers. It never ceases to amaze me how the cretins crawl out of the woodwork whenever ARs name is mentioned. His orchestra play excepts from classical pieces, opera, film music and popular songs, all of which are played with utter professionalism. Crawl back under your rock Norman until Covid is over!

  • Anthony Sayer says:

    Overlooking the snarkiness and snobbery, let’s remember that André Rieux donated his scaffolding to the Notre Dame de Paris fund, postponed concerts out of respect to a deceased orchestra member and kept his entire ensemble on salary during this period of enforced inactivity, selling his rather expensive violin to make it possible. I have also heard from other employees how good he is to work for.

    André Rieux, I salute you. You deserve every bit of your success.

    • Greg Bottini says:

      It’s Rieu.

      • Anthony Sayer says:

        Thanks, you’re right. I must have been exercising unconscious bias towards Latinx or some such similar drivel.

    • Pleasure says:

      In my opinion if he can do it live streaming and people register to their website to access and willing to open their hearts to contribute or donate to the concert can still be possibly seen and heard around the world like The Israel Philarmonic Orchestra and others. Music can relieved us from stressed and soothed our hearts and mind. Too bad, I didn’t touched my violin for so long.

  • Greg Bottini says:

    Bravo, Andre, and good luck!!!!
    Please make sure your family of musicians stays safe….

  • Karl says:

    Israel recorded no daily covid deaths for the first time in 10 months recently. They have vaccinated over half their population. Let’s hope that phenomenon repeats itself in other countries.

    • Saxon says:

      There will be outbreaks even after most people have been vaccinated. Of course, fewer people will die when this happens. But we are going to have to learn to live with the virus for the forseeable future.

  • fflambeau says:

    This is a low shot: ” [AR] is polishing up on local schmaltz.”

    I love classical music but this guy is really good; maybe just what classical music needs because he packs people in. He plays with style and taste: I like it.

    • Saxon says:

      He has an audience, and is popular, even if it is rather middle-brow. And he does what he does very competently. And why not: not everyone wants to listen to hour long symphonies.

  • Gustavo says:

    Has he ever played Schindlers?

    Would he be entitled to do so?

    • Pleasure says:

      Oh my, the Schindler’s List! Now you make me crave to watch that movie again though it was a dreadful and rueful but a great one to commomerate those who lost their lives. Knew some who fleed Germany but they’re no longer here in earth. Thank you for reminding me about Schindler’s, I saw and they sent me a to watch but no time . I guess it’s time for it.

  • IT says:

    I love the music of Andre Rieu. But I am not going to his concerts. This is because instead of his music you hear creepy faking voices from the crowd. I’d better with YouTube later.

  • Martin van Heusden says:

    So His Majesty Liberace the Second, emperor of sugar, syrup and schmalz reenters his empire in the Promised Land!
    Poor, poor people over there!

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