ANDRE RIEU TOPS BILLBOARD’S
CLASSICAL MUSIC CHART WITH
“THE FLYING DUTCHMAN”
CD/DVD/PBS Special/US Tour/Direct Response TV Campaign
Set For Fall/Winter 2005-2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—DENON Classics is proud to announce that the new release from violinist/composer/conductor Andre Rieu “The Flying Dutchman” is the #1 album on Billboard Magazine’s Classical Music Chart. This marks the artists first #1 position on the Classical Chart in the U.S. and is recognition of his phenomenal growth in this market over the last few years. The same week ‘The Flying Dutchman” CD appeared atop the Classical music chart the DVD video of “The Flying Dutchman” debuted at #40 on Billboard’s Music Video chart marking the artists first appearance on that chart. In an age of dwindling exposure for classical music on television and sliding album sales, Andre Rieu’s evolution in North America in the last three years has been nothing short of remarkable. His musical spectaculars, whether filmed in the sublime landscapes of Tuscany or the lush Dublin countryside, have touched a legion of fans worldwide and have earned the multi-talented conductor, composer and violinist a reputation as a musician and entertainer unparalleled. Denon Classics is excited to announce the arrival of “The Flying Dutchman,” Andre Rieu’s all-new multi-media production. Rieu’s recent North American successes already include being Billboard’s #2 Classical Artist for Fall 2004, a Top 40 Pop Chart artist in Canada, a Pollstar Top 10 touring act for 2005 and PBS’ #1 Pledge Drive musical performer. “The Flying Dutchman” is primed to become Rieu’s biggest success yet due to an unprecedented marketing program including a national direct response TV campaign, a December US tour and extensive television exposure. “The Flying Dutchman” will first be part of the premier programming nationwide for PBS’ August Pledge Drive. Commitments are firm for all major PBS stations including KCET in Los Angeles and WNET in New York as Rieu’s specials have proven to be the most popular of all of the PBS musical programming during pledge drives. Legendary television marketer Time Life will mount a direct response campaign for a special TV package including “The Flying Dutchman” that will run nationally beginning September 8. Following all of this TV exposure, Denon Classics will release “The Flying Dutchman” CD and DVD on September 27. PBS will reprise it’s airing of “The Flying Dutchman” for the all important December Pledge Drive and Rieu and his orchestra will then close 2005 with an extensive western tour of North America. Beginning in Calgary Canada on December 7 and Rieu and company will be making stops in Seattle, Portland, San Jose, Sacramento, Fresno, Phoenix and three sold out nights in Los Angeles.

Recorded and filmed as part of a triumphant return from his global touring in 2004 to his native Holland, “Dutchman” is a strikingly creative and energetic showcase of Rieu’s unparalleled musical magic captured in front of an adoring audience of over 20,000 in the Kerkrade soccer stadium. Impeccable musicianship and spectacular stagecraft make “The Flying Dutchman” one of Rieu’s most ambitious and entertaining television productions ever.
Also known as “The Waltz King of Europe”, the Dutch born violinist consistently tops the classical charts since his first recording and has recently seen all of his Denon Classics releases become best-sellers, each cracking the Top 5 of Billboard’s prestigious Classical charts. With his Holland-based orchestra, Andre Rieu has electrified audiences worldwide with his unique musical vision—blending classical and pop elements, rhythm and dance into a charismatic event. It’s a vision that has solidified Rieu’s reputation as one of the premier live performers.

The 15 emotionally charged and compelling compositions on “The Flying Dutchman” vividly capture the sense of camaraderie and celebration felt upon Rieu’s triumphant return to Holland. The complete song list is as follows: “Entry of the Gladiators,” ”Vienna, City of My Dreams,” “Wiener Praterleben (Sports Stadium Waltz),” “Blaze Away,” “The Laughing Song” from Die Fledermaus “ “Triumphal March from Aida,” “ Snow Waltz,” “The Wild Rover,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Habanera from Carmen,” “Moonlight (Kojo no tsuki),” “Manha de Carnaval,” “Volare,” “How Beautiful is Our Limburg,” “O Fortunata from Carmina Burana.”

Extra performances on the DVD include: “Intermezzo Sinfonico from Cavalleria Rusticana,” “Bummelpetrus,” “Concertino G-major Op. 11,” “Light Cavalry Overture,” “En noe de hennekes de loche in,” “A Child’s World,” “The Saloon (Country Medley)” and “The Last Rose ,”In an Persian Market and a stirring ‘We are the Champions’.The leading independent classical music label in North America, Denon Classics is a division of the Savoy Label Group which is the North American unit of Columbia Music Entertainment (formerly Nippon Columbia), the oldest music company in Japan. Newly reorganized and now headed by Chairman Strauss Zelnick, Columbia Music Entertainment has reemerged as a significant force with a stable of newly signed platinum-selling artists.