Family spirit prevails in André Rieu's orchestra
The musicians of the Johann Strauss Orchestra, with which André Rieu tours the world, feel they are members of one musical family. The orchestra is made up of many nationalities, but it does include quite a few musicians from Maastricht.
Frank Steijns
Perhaps the best-known member of the Johann Strauss Orchestra is Frank Steijns. A pure Maastricht native with the humour that goes with it. Nevertheless, Frank is very serious about his profession as a musician.
He has been a member of the Johann Strauss Orchestra for 30 years and hasn't regretted it for a day. Frank has become André Rieu's musical right-hand man. 'Frank is better at music theory,' says André Rieu. 'So when I think of a certain arrangement, I bring Frank in to write it out, he's better at that. I think I used to pay a little less attention in theory lessons, haha.'
Multi-instrumentalist
Frank Steijns is first and foremost a violinist, but plays the piano just as easily. And in addition, he is a renowned carillon player. He has already climbed many a church and bell tower in the Netherlands and abroad to let his sounds roll over the city.
'It's great that with André we have so much freedom as musicians, also to do our own things alongside the orchestra. Of course, we do have to be present when he needs us. We are indeed one musical family. We travel around the world together, so you know each other inside out. All those tours give us the unique opportunity to discover many countries with all those different cultures. That is an enormous wealth. But we are always happy to return to Maastricht, which is my home base.'
Interested in history
In the orchestra, Frank takes extra care of young singer Emma Kok, among others. 'It's fantastic how she has developed in a short time. She has now been on tour with us for a whole year, which has meant she has had to take education at a distance. When it comes to history, I can help her a bit.'
His interest in history is also reflected in his commitment to support various cultural heritage preservation projects in Maastricht. 'That heritage makes Maastricht unique, but it should all be cherished. That's what I like to dedicate myself to.'
René Henket
A familiar face in the orchestra is certainly trumpeter René Henket. He has been playing with André Rieu for 36 years, he proudly tells us. 'In 1988, our collaboration started. I was only in the second year of the Conservatory and André was still playing in the LSO. In between, he did New Year's concerts with about twelve people and I was the only brass player in those. That programme was called 'Wien bleibt Wien'. It wasn't a full-time job then, so I could just finish my studies.'
Henket also studied school music and conducting. I enjoy teaching. I do that a lot at home, mostly to trumpet players, especially those who sometimes encounter blockages. I have special measuring equipment that allows us to study techniques such as how to breathe differently, which is very important for a wind player. I do that in a small studio in the back garden of our house.'
We complement each other
After the Conservatory in Maastricht, Henket also studied further in Cologne. 'My father, who was also a brass player, advised me to do so. If I then came to play in Germany for my career, at least I had the right papers. Of course, I didn't know then that the whole project around André would grow so enormously, it's unimaginable. I still enjoy every day. That's also because we have a great group. There is no mutual competition, as you sometimes hear from some orchestras. Within the wind group, we complement each other and know each other's qualities. That goes automatically.'
Henket on Rieu's style
The trumpeter who, like most members of the Johann Strauss Orchestra, is classically trained, loves André Rieu's style. 'Our musical performances are more accessible than from the 'heavy orchestras'. It's just different. In our case, that allows you to reach more people because the threshold is lower. We are in the happy circumstance of being able to make many people around the world happy, which is satisfying.'
Joline Soomers
Still 'only' five years old, Maastricht-based Joline Soomers sings with André Rieu in the choir. That was a dream of hers when she was studying at the Conservatory in Tilburg, music theatre department. 'Most of my fellow students wanted to do musicals. In itself, I didn't think that was wrong, but joining the Johann Strauss Orchestra, that seemed totally awesome. I was able to audition through channels and a week later I was already on stage in Germany. Then things went really fast.
Things stagnated for a while because of corona, but then Joline was able to pick up where she left off. 'Yes, it's full-time, so you're involved a lot. Although sometimes I still sing solo with a brass band or something. And together with two colleagues in the choir, we sometimes perform as a trio, which is also great fun.'
Joline enjoys the audience's reactions the most. 'Every night is another experience. You really feel how the audience reacts. And on top of that, we also have a really nice little club as I call the choir. It's really nice.'
Joline on travelling
For Joline, travelling has now also become a regular element in her life. 'That is spicy at times, but we are very well looked after, everything is made as comfortable as possible. I find it especially clever of those older orchestra members that they still go everywhere with us. But the best part of all that travelling is coming back to Maastricht. And then those concerts on the Vrijthof, which we experience as unique. It is the city where I started learning violin and piano as a seven-year-old child. And now when you see where you are then, yes, that's really incredible.'
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André Rieu in Maastricht
Rieu's performances in Maastricht are a firm tradition. A great experience in his hometown. Want to know more about André Rieu and his Vrijthof concerts and winter concerts?
