‘Sky Arts 2’ Waltzes into ‘Sky Arts Rieu’
From Saturday 30th March until Sunday 14th April 2013, Sky Channel 130
“Many of you have written to us asking why the flamboyant Mr Rieu isn’t on our screens more often.
Well someone at Sky seems to have heard your pleas.” Total TV Guide
“My thanks to the critic who highlighted the Andre Rieu concert on Sky Arts 2.
The best Saturday-evening viewing for a long time.” Reader’s Letter, Sunday Times Culture
“The King of Waltz truly is one of a kind.” Music Week
“Truly magical… …He is well and truly catnip to thousands of women.” Liz Jones – Mail on Sunday
Sky Arts today announces that Sky Arts 2 will change its name to Sky Arts Rieu in honour of the Classical Brit Award-winning violinist André Rieu. From Saturday 30th March until Sunday 14th April, Sky Arts 2 will become a 24 hour Sky Arts Rieu channel, broadcasting back-to-back concerts by the acclaimed Dutch violinist.
André Rieu has sold more than 35 million albums globally and has been awarded more than 330 platinum and 100 gold awards for his phenomenal success. The flamboyant violinist burst onto the UK scene in 2010, selling more than 400,000 copies of his first UK release, and is now one of the best-selling live acts in the world. More than 700, 000 fans attend his concerts and stadium tours every year.
The channel rebrand comes off the back of André Rieu’s most successful year ever. He won a Classic Brit Award for his album And The Waltz Goes On and performed a record-breaking 30 sold-out concerts in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He reached the number one position in Pollstar’s Box Office Chart of highest-grossing tours, outselling the likes of Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Radiohead, Coldplay, Celine Dion and Pearl Jam.
With his natural charisma and the help of The Johann Strauss Orchestra, Andrécreates a colourful and celebratory atmosphere at each of his concerts. Sky Arts Rieu will capture the magic of André’sperformances and his renowned showmanship. From Viennese operettas to film scores and folk songs to marches, Sky Arts Rieu will be full of a vibrant mix of thrilling, romantic, festive and emotional melodies combined with fun surprises, beautiful solos and, of course, Rieu’s wonderful sense of humour.
For two weeks, Sky Arts Rieu will feature several UK premiere concerts including And the Waltz Goes On in which the dancers of the Johann Strauss Orchestra perform on skates at the Vienna Town Hall in an enthralling performance which includes a golden coach and six white horses. 25 years of the JSO Live In Maastricht VI sees Maastricht’s famous Vrijthof Square transformed into a fabulous open-air temple to music as The Johann Strauss Orchestra, 100 children from the music school, the Platinum Tenors, Mirusia, Carmen and Suzan and 13-year-old musical protégée Melissa Venema join Andréon stage for a musical spectacular. There will also be a special documentary presented by Charlotte Hawkins (Sky News) featuring new interviews with Andréand exclusive behind-the-scenes footage filmed at his home in Maastricht.
Sky promises to deliver high-quality, exclusive content to customers, supported by a commitment to increase investment in programming to £600 million by 2014, an increase of more than 50% over three years.
“André Rieu is one of the best-selling live acts in the world and one of the most successful violinists ever, which is why Sky Arts customers adore his music,” comments James Hunt, Channel Director of Sky Arts. “Sky Arts Rieu will be a celebration of classical popular music which now has thousands of adoring fans thanks to the magic of the King of Waltz and the Johann Strauss Orchestra. We are thrilled to be working with the maestro on his very own channel.”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Dominic Collett Sky Arts Publicist, Sky Press Office
T: 0207 032 4892
E:
Katherine Solomon PR Manager, Sky Press Office
T: 0207 032 0599
E:
NOTES TO EDITOR
About Sky Arts Rieu
Sky Arts Rieu will broadcast from Saturday 30th March until Thursday 14th April 2013 on Sky channel 130. On Virgin Media the channel will be called Sky Rieu and will broadcast on channel 283. From 6am Monday 15th April the channel will return to Sky Arts 2.
About Sky Arts
Sky Arts offers an eclectic mix of the best music, arts, biographies, chat shows, film, drama and comedy. Sky is the only broadcaster in the UK and Ireland with channels dedicated solely to the arts, with 48 hours of the best arts content from around the world across Sky Arts 1 and Sky Arts 2 daily. Sky Arts now reaches more than 6 million viewers every month.
Recent highlights include Playhouse Presents… a series of one-off comedies and dramas starring renowned talent including Jon Hamm, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Thompson, Sir Tom Jones, Brenda Blethyn, David Tennant and Alison Steadman. The channel was also responsible for resurrecting the much-loved South Bank Show and The South Bank Show Awards. Sky Arts also encourages new formats and methods for accessing the arts, working with the ENO and National Gallery to beam the world’s first live opera and first live opening night of an exhibition in 3D to cinemas across the UK and Ireland.
Sky Arts also seeks to connect with culture on the ground; creating and collaborating with the best of the arts in the UK and Ireland to bring new experiences to life. Sky Arts has collaborated with a number of arts organisations including the English National Ballet and has supported the Hay Festival as broadcast partner since 2006. The Sky Arts Ignition Series launched in in 2011 to invest in the arts landscape of the UK. The Series will seek to collaborate with six arts organisations over the next three years in the creation of brand new works; Sky Arts Ignition Series: Futures Fund will support five young artists with a bursary of £30,000 each, enabling Sky Arts to back the creation of new works of art as well as nurture emerging talent.
Follow us on twitter @skyarts. See sky.com/arts
About Sky
Sky is the UK and Ireland’s leading home entertainment and communications company. Around 40% of all homes have a direct relationship with Sky through its range of TV, broadband and home telephony services.
Sky is the UK’s biggest investor in television content, investing more than £2.3 billion a year in channels such as Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living, Sky Arts, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and Sky News. Around two-thirds of Sky’s content spend is invested in the UK and Sky is the fastest-growing source of investment in original British programmes. More than 30 million people watch Sky content each week.
Alongside its commitment to offering customers a greater choice of high-quality content, Sky is a leading innovator. Customers enjoy total control and flexibility over their favourite TV through Sky+, watch TV on the move through Sky Go, and enjoy the best quality TV experience at home through High Definition and 3D.
Sky distributes its content broadly over several platforms, including satellite, cable, IPTV, mobile and WiFi. NOW TV, Sky’s second consumer brand, builds on the company’s leadership in internet TV. Sky is also the UK's fastest-growing home communications company and favourite ‘triple-play’ provider of TV, broadband and home phone.
Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates by taking positive action on the environment, supporting grassroots sports and increasing access to, and participation in, the arts. Sky employs 23,000 people, has annual revenues of £6.8 billion and is estimated to support a £5.4 billion contribution to UK GDP. Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BSY). www.sky.com/corporate
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