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CNN Saturday Morning News

Interview With Andre Rieu

Aired March 02, 2002 - 07:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Those were the rousing sounds of the Johann Strauss Orchestra, headed by violinist, Andre Rieu. The 50 year -- or the 50 member ensemble rather has toured extensively in Europe and is currently on the tour across North America, even playing for crews at Ground Zero and, of course, going to play for us this morning -- welcome.

ANDRE RIEU, VIOLINIST: Hello.

PHILLIPS: Did I say it OK? Rieu?

RIEU: Rieu.

PHILLIPS: Rieu.

RIEU: That's OK. It's OK.

PHILLIPS: I have got to work on my accent don't I? It's such a pleasure to have you here this morning.

RIEU: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Well, I definitely want to hear a little bit about your background. I know your father was a conductor.

RIEU: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Music has sort of been a part of the family. Is that where it all began for you?

RIEU: Yes. Music is my breath. Music is in my blood. All of my six brothers and children are now in music. My father was a conductor, so music is for me my life.

PHILLIPS: Now, when did you know that you had a gift, that you just -- it came naturally for you?

RIEU: Yes. I was five years old. My mother gave me the violin.

PHILLIPS: Wow.

RIEU: And my first teacher was a blonde 18-year-old girl. I was completely in love with her.

PHILLIPS: That's inspiring.

RIEU: And I started -- yes, that was it. That was it. That helped me a lot.

PHILLIPS: She's beautiful, she's gifted, I can learn how to do this.

RIEU: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Well -- and tell me, this is your baby, your Stradivarius?

RIEU: Yes, this is my baby.

PHILLIPS: Give us a little background. I mean, this is an incredible instrument, and I bet you never take -- you never let it leave your sight?

RIEU: No. It sleeps even with me.

PHILLIPS: Does it really?

RIEU: My wife is here, the violin here and then me.

PHILLIPS: And your mom, how did your mom find this violin? And when did you...

RIEU: No, this is not my first violin.

PHILLIPS: Oh, this is not the first one.

RIEU: No. I only have it for three years now.

PHILLIPS: OK.

RIEU: It was love at first sight. It's Stradivarius' second violin he made, and he was 23 years old, when he made it.

PHILLIPS: Wow.

RIEU: He was still in love, he was just married, and you can hear it. Do you want to hear it?

PHILLIPS: Would you please?

RIEU: That he was still in love?

PHILLIPS: Yes, give me a little bit.

RIEU: (Playing violin).

PHILLIPS: From "Romeo and Juliet."

RIEU: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Yes. I knew you had to get a love song in there. Charming, very charming. Now, you went to Ground Zero.

RIEU: Yes.

PHILLIPS: And you played.

RIEU: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Why?

RIEU: Because I saw the second plane going live into the Twin Towers, and I was sitting at my television set, and for me it was a terrible experience not to be able to come over immediately to all of my fans and my friends in America and to help. And my wife was keep telling me, "You help the people with your music. Really, believe me, you help the people with your music." And that makes me then happy again. So therefore, I wanted to see the place where it happened before I come to America to play for the people here.

PHILLIPS: When you were there at Ground Zero, who did you play with? Was...

(CROSSTALK)

RIEU: I played all alone, and there were three policemen and fire workers staying there, and they were listening to my music. And they thanked me for my support, and it was a fantastic experience...

PHILLIPS: Wow.

RIEU: ... to be able to play there.

PHILLIPS: And you are going to play something for us and take us into break, and then of course, come back for an encore in the next hour, right?

RIEU: OK.

PHILLIPS: What are you going to play for us now?

RIEU: "America the Beautiful."

PHILLIPS: Of course.

RIEU: (Plays "America the Beautiful" on violin)

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