Highlights of an interview with André Rieu by magazine Navenant, presented by “De Nieuwe Ster”, December 4, 2025 by Peter Eberson Photo by ARP André Rieu about the appreciation he never got André Rieu will start his series of six almost sold-out Christmas concerts in the MECC on Saturday, December 6, 2025. His difficult relationship with his parents, and especially with his father, has been discussed before, but this time Rieu is very candid in Navenant magazine about what his father's pressure on him to perform and the fact that he disapproved of André's choice of music meant to him. "When I see movies with a father and son who are having a good time together, I cry. I never received that kind of appreciation. Not even from my brothers and sisters. Except for Robèrt," says Rieu in an interview with Maastricht actor Jon van Eerd. Religiously fanatical Speaking about his father, André says: "It always had to be more and better. And my choices were always too popular. I also had to fight terribly for what I wanted. I was in therapy for four years.” His wife Marjorie was someone who saw something in his choices. "I studied in Brussels and then Marjorie came into my life. At one point, I just said at home, 'I'm sleeping at Marjorie's tonight’. It was as if the bomb of Hiroshima exploded, hahaha." When Jon van Eerd asks if his parents eventually embraced Marjorie, Rieu says: "Embraced? My father was already becoming religiously fanatical at that point. Marjorie had to stand on a chair in front of us. All the children were called over, and then my father said, 'This is your new sister.'" According to the world-famous musician, the fact that Rieu is such a positive person has nothing to do with his parents' genes. “No, genes can skip a generation. If I had done what my father wanted, I would already be dead.”

MSN, December 2, 2025 Article by Jan de Raab André Rieu is one of the richest artists in the Netherlands André Rieu performs every year in his hometown of Maastricht, at the Vrijthof square. He also normally tours, traveling to a number of countries to perform. But how much does André earn from these performances? The 76-year-old André Rieu is still a major player in the classical music world. Not only is his music still listened to enormously, but many people also attend his concerts every year. Rieu has already earned a considerable amount of money from the performances he has given in recent years. This is not surprising, because at his "home game" in Maastricht alone, an average of 50,000 visitors come to see his show. This alone clearly demonstrates the considerable amount of money he has earned. He earns slightly less than DJ Tiësto (successful Dutch Disk Jockey). André Rieu has now given over 150 concerts at the Vrijthof square and travels the world to perform. This makes him one of the richest artists of Dutch descent. Tiësto is in first place with an unprecedented fortune of 100 million euros. André Rieu is now in second place. André Rieu had an exceptionally successful 2023, resulting in a dramatic increase in his net worth. André Rieu currently has an estimated net worth of 73 million euros. Rieu's expensive Stradivarius almost up for sale Five years ago, André Rieu's financial situation was very different. The coronavirus crisis had taken its toll on the 75-year-old artist, as his multi-million-euro fortune seemed to be slowly but surely collapsing. As a result, Rieu reportedly even considered selling his violin, a very expensive Stradivarius, to fill the financial gap. The value of this rare instrument is estimated at over 7 million euros.

Photo: André Rieu being presented with the Christmas sounds from Maastricht CD by the Mastreechter Staar in his studio before rehearsal in Amby, (district of Maastricht), on December 1, 2025. Click HERE to read the entire article.

André Rieu helps Mastreechter Staar out of a tight spot Chapeau Magazine, December 2, 2025, Photo: ARP. Click HERE to read the entire article.

December 5, 2025 article from De Limburger. By Ivar Hoekstra. Photo by Marcel van Hoorn Translation Diana D. Le André Rieu rehearses for Christmas concerts with Mastreechter Staar and last time with Emma Kok: "You guys did well, but not good enough yet" They start again on Saturday afternoon, the six Christmas concerts of André Rieu in Maastricht. We took a look at the rehearsal and saw how the men of the Mastreechter Star are prepared to give the visitors the ultimate Christmas feeling. It has rarely been so busy in André Rieu's studio in Maastricht, as the 120 members of the Royal Choir De Mastreechter Staar gather for their rehearsal led by the violinist. And even though there is little sign of Christmas in the studio apart from a stray Christmas tree when the men start their first Christmas carol, you still feel as if you are in Dickens' London in the nineteenth century. It is the magic of music that still moves Pierre Rieu, who is also present at this rehearsal. “It's beautiful, isn't it? And they're still singing in their everyday clothes. When they come on stage at the MECC in their white suits, it will be so impressive. Yes, it definitely gives me goosebumps.” Handkerchief The participation of the renowned Maastricht choir in this edition of the Christmas concerts will be one of the highlights, together with the Platin Tenors and Emma Kok (for the last time), guaranteeing a good dose of Christmas cheer. “We will be playing some new, international Christmas songs that perhaps not everyone knows yet, but are very beautiful. Without giving too much away, there will be a Polish Christmas song that will undoubtedly have everyone reaching for their handkerchiefs.” Again, the MECC is transformed into a Christmas paradise, including a Christmas village in Dickens style with brass, (fake) snow, and mulled wine. “It may surprise people, but setting up this Winter Wonderland takes more time than setting up the stage at the Vrijthof concerts. Because you have to spend even more time on the details here. Fortunately, we have a permanent crew who know exactly what needs to be done and does a fantastic job every year.” And that crew can only start to phase out when the very last visitor has closed the door of the MECC behind him. “We are very fierce about that. I have been to a pop concert where I sat on the left side of the stage and they started to break things down next to me, during the concert. So deadly for the experience.” Bicycle For the Rieu family, the Christmas concerts in their own city are a nice change after the concerts abroad. “It’s great to be able to go to work with your bike for a change.” Where the Vrijthof concerts are a household name worldwide, that is not the case with the Winter Wonderland concerts held in 2019 for the first time. “We do a bit more advertising for these Christmas concerts than we usually do. There are now a total of 75,000 visitors, but we notice that there is still growth and therefore want to increase awareness. We are now doing six, but we would like to go to eight or maybe ten concerts ourselves in the future.” Music connects people, especially during Christmas, Pierre Rieu notes. “You really feel that unity during these concerts. More than ever in recent years, because the world is pretty much on fire right now, so feeling united for a few hours is even more important.” But to feel that unity, according to André's son, everything has to be right on stage. “If you leave something there in terms of energy, the public will notice it immediately. You can never do anything on autopilot, that's deadly. That’s why my father is so strict on perfection, almost perfect is not good enough.” We also see this pursuit of perfection at this rehearsal. There is nothing missing from the violinist/conductor. A second too early deployed? Again! Sopranos that come up a little too early? Back! After two hours of rehearsal, André is satisfied, but not yet satisfied enough. “You have done well,” he says to the men of the Mastreechter Star. “But it’s not good enough yet, so tomorrow night we’ll rehearse again.” It is accepted without grumbling, because the men of the Mastreechter Star also understand that for conveying the ultimate Christmas feeling there is no room for even the smallest false note. Christmas with André at the MECC on December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2025. Tickets are still available. https://www.andrerieu.com/en/tour