André Rieu wins European Mediaprize
2/1/2010
The Dutch violinplayer André Rieu, member of Buma/Stemra, receives the European Mediaprize for his work for classical music. According to the judges in Aken ''Rieu speaks a language that everyone can understand''.
The Mediaprize is awarded to people who have contributed to the European unity. Rieu, who with his renditions of popular classical works like those of Johann Strauss, enjoys an enormous popularity and is the second Dutch person to receive this award. The Dutch writer Cees Nooteboom received this award in 2001.
André Rieu was knighted in the French Order of the Arts and Literature on the 5th of March 2009 because of helping classical music's popularity throughout the entire world. The Netherlands had already knighted him in the Order of the Dutch Lion in 2002.
Rieu will receive the European Mediaprize on the sixth of May in Aken.