André Rieu: The King of Waltz

Inside the cavernous Hallen Stadium in Zürich, André Rieu is pacing back and forth in his dressing room. His dressing table and his warm rug are in their usual place in front of the sofabed that travels with him everywhere he goes. This way Rieu, 59, can always return to a familiar environment.

Even so, he is nervous about the upcoming performance. He will be supported by 50 experienced musicians this evening but knows that all eyes, 7000 pairs, will be mostly on him.

Rieu is not the kind of man to avoid taking risks. He has kicked off a tour that takes him to the largest stadiums in the world. Everywhere he goes, a replica of the Viennese castle of Schönbrunn – once the palace of the stunning Empress Sissi – goes too. The castle’s façade measures well over 3000 square metres. Hundreds of stage designers have to work non-stop for five days to build it. It is the largest travelling concert podium ever.

While The Rolling Stones make do with a mere 400 tonnes of gear, Rieu will be dragging an astonishing 600 tonnes of material with him on a tour to Australia this month – 80 shipping containers’ worth.

The Dutch musician is responsible for around 500 people including his 55-strong Johann Strauss Orchestra and the Vienna State Ballet, which travels with him too. There will also be 60 figure skaters performing on two ice rinks in front of the castle. There will be working fountains, and 36 horses will pull carriages on and off the stage.

"People think I’ve gone crazy," says Rieu. "A set like this costs me millions and I had to order two of them, otherwise I would have had problems with my performances in Australia. All the money I’ve saved is in this tour, but I enjoy it."

"André has an excellent nose for business,"says Herald Jongen, a partner at international law firm Allen & Overy and Rieu’s former business ­adviser. "He finds the classical music world too elitist; he wants to bring music back to the people. And not in cheap tuxedos that have been dry-­cleaned 50 times, but in a breath­taking show, with fairytale dresses, castles – the works."

Rieu lives in an imposing medieval castle in the Dutch town of Maastricht. He owns an impressive collection of instruments for his orchestra. His ultra-modern recording studio has a complete set, and the rest travel the world in specially prepared containers. Rieu himself tucks a 276-year-old Stradivarius under his chin, which he says is worth"several million".

Not everyone believes he should be playing this precious possession. "I think Herr ­Stradivari is spinning in his grave," complained the renowned German baritone Thomas Quasthoff. "I wish André Rieu nothing but the very best of luck, but for God’s sake, let him play on a cheaper violin!"

Rieu refuses to let such criticism affect him. "I recently heard on Dutch Concert Radio the slogan: ‘Guaranteed 100% Rieu-free!’ That’s fine," says Rieu.

He may sound dis­interested, but at least he has the fan mail to compensate. "It’s simple. I play the music I like," he says. "And yes, I am privi­leged to play a Stradivarius, because it has a uniquely beautiful sound. He built my previous violin in 1667, when he was just a young man and desperately in love. You could hear it. Now I have one made in 1732. A little girl in Korea owns that other one now, because it was actually a little too small for me.