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André Rieu concert reviews and tour history

• reviews: 34
• rating: 73.9% (35)

Fans' concert reviews Read all

Wiener stadthalle in vienna, austria on fri, 10 nov 2023.

So so disappointing. I have loved watching his shows on TV but after attending the concert in Vienna and paying 300 euro for a ticket and to have to listen to gospel singers for almost three quarters of an hour which I didn't go to hear, I came away never wanting to hear him again. Mary

Rudolf Weber-ARENA in Oberhausen, Germany on Fri, 24 Nov 2023

Vreselijke avond. Dat lag niet aan Andre maar aan de organisatie. Mensen stonden buiten in de stromende regen te wachten overal zoeken waar we moesten staan. Geen hond te bekennen die de mensen wegwijs maakte. .iedereen was verkleumd door de kou en de meeste waren zeiknat. Eenmaal binnen kon ik mijn rollator en jas afgeven bij de garderobe. Koffie kon in klein karton bekertje.,Geen stoelen om even bij te komen. Dus snel naar binnen want er was weinig tijd en we wilde niet telaat komen. Veel mensen kwamen telaat en zelfs eentje kwam in de voorstelling met een blad met hamburgers naar binnen. Ik heb me verheugd om yem eens echt te zien maar door anderen werd yet een aanfluiting. Zelfs voor Andre die het ook niet meer leuk vond. Al wonen we nog geen 15 km van Maastricht. Ik had hem nog niet gezien en in Maastricht kreeg ik geen kaartjes op korte termijn. Voor ons en zeker voor mij was het een dag om te huilen. Bedankt organisatie van Oberhausen voor de teleurstelling die jullie een ouder echtpaar hebben bezorgd.

Pechanga Arena in San Diego, US on Thu, 17 Mar 2022

Fabulous show.

Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal on Thu, 02 Dec 2021

I have really enjoyed the concert on December 3rd, lots of fun, great proffessionals! If I may leave a suggestiom is if possible to include a christmas song, i was expecting it. Best of luck JC

OVO Arena in London, UK on Wed, 23 Dec 2015

my wife and I have been to five Andre concerts the Wembley concert was the best,

A wonderful evening!! Fantastic music. played by the best! Thank you Andre and team for sharing your love of music and bringing so much joy to the world!!

Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden on Fri, 29 Apr 2016

Entertainment was on an elementary/simple level, sound system was bad, noise all the time, I felt it was like a cheap summer hotel guest animation and left. Perhaps the Grand Final was better. Handsome Maestro without charm. Pity.

3Arena in Dublin, Ireland on Sat, 05 Dec 2015

we saw him in Dublin on the 5th dec and it was an amazing show. Have seen the show in London,Maastrict,Brussels and Dublin and they just get better and better.

3Arena in Dublin, Ireland on Fri, 04 Dec 2015

Wonderful entertainer & Ochestra Loved every minute of it - It was windy & Wet outside - but we forgot about the Weather & our troubles for 2& half hours & wallowed in the music from his heart - Ive waited a long time to see him live & my dream came through last night. all I can say it was magical - loved the Christmas selection very much. Made my Christmas

Theater aan het Vrijthof in Maastricht, Netherlands on Sat, 04 Jul 2015

Voor de 4e keer op het vrijthof bij Andre Rieu.helaas dit keer de minste.de sfeer kwam er pas laat in. barbershop heren , aanstellerig :zeker niet mijn smaak. en panfluit komt de neus uit na die poncho's op straat.Iedereen kwam pas in de stemming toen de wals ingezet werd. Jammer!!!

Live photos

Rated concerts view all.

• Papp László Budapest Sportaréna in Budapest, Hungary Wed, 20 May 2015 100% from 2 ratings
• Zénith Arena de Lille in Lille, France Tue, 03 Mar 2015 100% from 2 ratings
• Piața Constituției in Bucharest, Romania Fri, 12 Jun 2015 100% from 1 rating
• OVO Arena in London, UK Fri, 19 Dec 2014 100% from 1 rating
• Utilita Arena Newcastle in Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK Sun, 14 Dec 2014 100% from 1 rating
• First Direct Arena in Leeds, UK Sat, 13 Dec 2014 100% from 1 rating
• Salzburgarena in Salzburg, Austria Sun, 25 May 2014 100% from 1 rating
• 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland Sat, 05 Dec 2015 100% from 1 rating
• Pechanga Arena in San Diego, US Thu, 17 Mar 2022 100% from 1 rating
• Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands Fri, 14 Nov 2014 95% from 2 ratings

Ratings View all

• one of the best: 15 43%
• fantastic: 9 26%
• great: 3 9%
• disappointing: 1 3%
• should've stayed at home: 5 14%

Biggest fans

André rieu 2024–2025 tour dates view all, andré rieu tour history, about andré rieu.

André Rieu was born 74 years ago, on Saturday, 1 October 1949.

Based on our research data, it appears, that the first André Rieu concert happened 21 years ago on Fri, 07 Nov 2003 in The SSE Arena - Belfast, UK and that the last André Rieu concert was 8 days ago on Sat, 20 Apr 2024 in OVO Hydro - Glasgow, UK.

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A Maestro for the Masses, if Not the Critics

By Nina Siegal

• Dec. 21, 2016

MAASTRICHT, THE NETHERLANDS — The Dutch violinist André Rieu, known by many as the “King of the Waltz,” is constructing what looks like the garden of a monk’s cloister, with marble arches and sandstone arcades, next to his 17th-century castle here. The only things missing are the monks.

What else to do with the millions this classical musician for the masses earns every year with his hit worldwide concert touring act and his best-selling albums and concert films?

The superstar violinist, 67, has sold 40 million CDs worldwide, and his tours, featuring popular favorites like “The Blue Danube” waltz and the theme from “The Godfather,” have outsold Janet Jackson, Fleetwood Mac and Beyoncé, according to Billboard. His orchestral tour in Europe and Latin America from June to October 2015 had $19.1 million in ticket sales.

His son Pierre Rieu recently gave a tour of the family’s home and gardens while Mr. Rieu was away on an Australian concert tour. He said the cloister, part of a complex that includes father and son homes and three guesthouses, was inspired by the family’s yearly trips to Rome. “André was always very impressed by these structures,” he said, “and he decided to build one of his own.”

André Rieu performs about 100 concerts a year with his 55-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra, often in stadiums filled with tens of thousands of swooning (and sometimes waltzing) fans, who are typically gray-haired and mostly women.

His new album, “Falling in Love,” released on Nov. 25, has reached No. 7 on the British CD charts and has bolstered sales for his holiday tour there. He also had two popular concert movies this year, with more than 2.5 million pounds, about 3 million euros, in ticket sales with “André Rieu’s 2016 Maastricht Concert” in July and “André Rieu: Christmas with André” in November, according to CinemaLive, the films’ distributor. “Christmas with André” played in 480 theaters in Britain and Ireland on Nov. 19, and 290 theaters on Nov. 27, CinemaLive said.

Although his greatest concentration of fans seems to be in Britain, Australia, Brazil and Germany, Mr. Rieu is slowly finding an American audience; he performed his hit rendition of “My Heart Will Go On,” from the movie “Titanic,” on the American television show “Dancing With the Stars” in October. Pierre Rieu, who is the executive vice president of his father’s company, said Mr. Rieu has many fans in the United States, but has not caught on yet.

Mr. Rieu has long been a celebrity here, with annual concerts for about 11,500 audience members in the historic square at the center of Maastricht each year for the last 13 years. The eight annual concerts, which take place across three weekends in July, bring more than 60,000 visitors to the city, Pierre Rieu said. Six of the eight concerts for summer 2017 were already sold out in November.

With a sense of style that rivals Liberace’s, Mr. Rieu brings a heavy dose of spectacle to his performances, with his female musicians dressed up in cakelike pastel crinolines, stage sets that include life-size ballrooms and ice rinks, thousands of balloons, and lighting effects that bring to mind magical sunsets.

While critics have called his act schmaltzy, Mr. Rieu wrote in an email interview that he was not bothered. “I rather see it as a compliment,” he said. “I’m trying to create a ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’ where music, décor and costumes all add up to a magical evening.”

If the kitschy elements sometimes make classical music critics take him less than seriously, the press has not been totally stingy with praise. One critic at The Guardian newspaper wrote in December 2015 that he was “an extremely fine violinist with a seductively plush tone and a stage persona that turns out to be surprisingly relaxed and informal.”

That view was at odds with the assessment of another Guardian reviewer, who wrote in July 2015 that Mr. Rieu’s performance in one film was “the very acme of commodified classical music, and as poor old Strauss waltzes and polkas and other unsuspecting masterpieces were turned into saccharine fodder.”

Mr. Rieu’s taste for spectacle has gotten him into financial troubles. For his World Stadium Tour in 2008, Mr. Rieu wanted a full-size replica of Schönbrunn Palace, in Vienna, but because it was so large and complicated to construct, he had to build two to fit into his touring schedule, which included his largest concert ever, to an audience of 38,000 in Melbourne, Australia.

Mr. Rieu described the experience as: “Amazing. I have no words.” It left him about €34 million, about $36 million, in debt, though, and he had to declare bankruptcy.

“But it was such good advertising that all concerts were sold out the next year, and the next year I had €20 million plus,” he said, cheerfully. “But I promised my wife never to do it again.”

Quote 500, an annual list of the wealthiest Dutch people, estimated that he is now worth about €25 million.

Mr. Rieu seems to have an outsize appreciation for all kinds of dazzling things. Behind his house, he has built a butterfly sanctuary, which is really a lush greenhouse only for tropical birds and pools of koi fish most of the year. However, once a year, he orders 100 rare species of butterflies just before they emerge from their chrysalides, and enjoys them for a month before they die. The greenhouse is Mr. Rieu’s personal sanctuary, Pierre Rieu said.

Mr. Rieu, who sports long curly locks and favors high-necked blazers and tunics with flowing sleeves, grew up in a musical family, one of six siblings, who all played several instruments. His father, André Rieu Sr., was a conductor in East Germany and at the Limburg Symphony Orchestra in the Netherlands, and Mr. Rieu remembers him as “very strict” and “a conductor at home, too!”

“But I remember one concert during which he put his musicians in Mozart costumes and let them play, and the people loved it,” he said. “So I may have inherited that from him.”

As a child, Mr. Rieu studied violin, piano, flute and oboe, but he said he had paid special attention to his violin lessons. “My violin teacher was an 18-year-old blonde, and I immediately fell in love with her,” he said. “So I practiced a lot.”

The piano teacher, on the other hand, “was an old witch, I hated her,” Mr. Rieu said. But he did admire the castle she lived in, he said, and he bought it as soon as he had enough money. “I bought it because as a child I loved the comics from Tintin, and the professor in it owns a castle. So one day my wife and I were taking a walk past it, and I said, ‘I’d love to buy it.’ She replied, ‘You’ve got to sell a lot more CDs for that.’ So I did, ha-ha!”

The turning point of his career came in 1994, when he performed at halftime of a game between Ajax Amsterdam and Bayern Munich at the Amsterdam football stadium, and the crowd sang along.

Since then, it has been all balloons and chandeliers, and a nonstop schedule of touring that keeps him away from home more than half the year. Still, he said he had no plans for retirement. “My plan for the future is to play on the moon,” he said. “I’ve already talked to Richard Branson about it, and when he opens a hotel, I want to be the first to play there.”

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Review: Andre Rieu at Manchester Arena

Violinist Andre Rieu and his Johan Strauss Orchestra bring their extraordinary classical show to Manchester Arena

• 09:47, 22 MAR 2017
• Updated 10:24, 22 MAR 2017

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What an extraordinary chap Andre Rieu is.

The virtuoso violinist is the world’s leading pop classical artist having racked up album and DVD sales of more than 40 million worldwide, and consistently appears on the worldwide list of highest-grossing touring artists.

With his Johann Strauss Orchestra, which he brought together in 1987, his spectacular live shows have gained him hundreds of thousands of fans all over the world.

Thousands more pack into the Manchester Arena this week for his latest live show, rescheduled after the original December date was cancelled when an orchestra member fell ill.

It’s testament to the close knit nature of the group that Andre felt he had to cancel the entire end of the tour rather than carry on without one important piece of his 60-strong team.

Seeing them perform that decision does make sense - for this is no ordinary orchestra, and every single person really does play a unique part in the performance.

It’s an orchestra where an over-exuberant flautist trying to get his moment in the spotlight is taken to task with a rather large mallet by his neighbour on the oboe. And where an enthusiastic sway from a trumpeter results in a comedic near stage dive.

After walking to the stage through the crowds Andre says: “We are together with only one goal, to enjoy music.

“Today is exactly 30 years ago we had the first rehearsal with the Johann Strauss orchestra. Isn’t it fantastic that we can celebrate here with you in Manchester?

"At that time we were 13 members all dressed in black. Look how they look now, all fantastic.”

He’s got a point. With the men in full dress suit and tails and the ladies in dazzling Disney-style princess ball gowns they look like they’ve wandered straight off the set of Beauty and the Beast.

Dutch maestro Andre is the perfect host, delivering amusing speeches to the audience between each song.

And there’s the moments of comedy, like the arrival of Frederic Jenniges with his zither, cracking his fingers, and stifling yawns (and flirting with the violinists) in between his solo moments on Tales from the Vienna Woods.

The orchestra play with stunning video backdrops of European splendour, Austrian woodlands, the Amalfi coast, Bavarian castles, while Andre is joined by The Platin Tenors and female soloists, the highlight coming with Mirusia Luwerse’s Over The Rainbow and The Platin Tenors’ You Are My Heart’s Delight. They all join together on stage for a spine-tingling You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Cheeky Andre plays it for laughs with his audience, quipping about Maastricht being “my hometown, where I live,” while eyeing up his audience and saying: “Everyone pretend you’re 40 years younger... looking around I can see that this is possible.”

But youthful exuberance is what he gets when the king of the waltz announces “every time we start to play this song people jump up and dance, every night, everywhere in the world.”

It’s all the excuse the audience needs to jump up and sway along to the Blue Danube.

The show comes to a dramatic finale with the truly mesmerising sight of father and son percussionists Marcel and Glenn Faliza brought to the front of the stage to play the pounding drum rhythm to Ravel’s Bolero.

Andre says: “I could not sleep all night after I heard this as a six year old and now you will not sleep all night either”.

He talks of “all good things coming to an end” and there’s a huge balloon drop which makes many in the audience think the show is all over. and many rush to the doors.

But despite taking a final bow the show carries on for an epic series of encores with all the returning singers belting out Hallelujah.

Andre booms: “Are you tired? Do you want to go home? No!” And cue a boogie woogie of Tutti Frutti. But the droves and droves do start to go home.

Those that do go miss the lighters in the air moment for Can’t Help Falling in Love.

Still the crowds disappear, like football fans not bothering to wait for the final whistle.

It’s the sad reality of advancing years that most in the room would rather be first out of the car park onto Trinity Way than hear the final strains of Y Viva Espana.

Sorry Andre - but you just had too much staying power for most of them.

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Andre Rieu Concert - Vrijthof

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Andre Rieu Concert

we went to see Andre Rieu concert live in the Virthof a large square in Maastricht part of the square was closed of until the concert but the restaurants around were open until about 1500Hrs when the staff put out all the tables for people who were having a dinner and show. We were had tickets to see the show and what a show it was a really great night in a lovely setting I would like to go back to see the square when it is empty so you get a better view of the fine buildings but I do not want to stop the July highlight Andre Rieu if you get a chance to go and see him do. You Wont Regret It

This was a dream come through for us .My sister and her husband joined my best friend and myself for a trip to Maastricht and the Andre Rieu concert. The whole experience was just so wonderful. We had dinner before at a beautiful restaurant called Ut lieuwke and the service and staff and the dinner was 10 out of 10. Well worth a visit ! We then sat for 3 hours in the Vrijthof ,listening to a brilliant concert , but the atmosphere of this beautiful square was just out of this world. You just have to visit Maastricht and the Vrijthof, truly wonderful

Lovely square and place to attend the concert by Andre Reiu. There are many restaurants surrounding the square with charming outside seating There are beautiful churches to tour that are in the square also and of course the bookstore in the church, very unique.

The ensemble of buildings on this square (Romanesque cathedral, Gothic Notre Dame, renaissance palaces) is truly picturesque.

This is a superb square with a large range of bars and restaurants which are open as normal until about 4pm on concert days. The transformation from 'normal' to concert is clearly well rehearsed and as we had tickets for the Saturday concert the closure activities just added to the excitement. The concert was great and typical Andre Rieu with audience ending up dancing in the isles. There is a vast range of packages available but we just bought concert tickets online and accommodation via Airbnb. No travel to and from the concert and time to enjoy the night life after the concert was finished. Highly recommended So much to see and do all year around and with parking underneath the Vrijthof it is easy to make this a definite stop in your journey

We have just returned from seeing the Andre Rieu Concert in Maastricht, it was the most wonderful experience and an evening to treasure for the rest of my life! The organisation was excellent, the arena staff were kind, helpful and efficient. I would recommend this event to anybody, of any age who loves music. However, book your own tickets on line and make your own travel arrangements. We took a Newmarket Travel package and the journey to and from Maastricht was the worst I have experienced. So, book on line and make your own arrangements, the event is well worth it!

André Rieu Brings Classical Music To The Masses

Last Sunday, I had the privilege of attending an André Rieu concert at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.  As a connoisseur of classical music, I looked forward to hearing the sweet sounds of the Dutch violinist and his waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra.  An André Rieu  concert is part music, part comedy and part entertainment.  From the operatic voices of the soloists, to the melodic sounds of the soothing strings, to the comical interactions between Andre and his orchestra, an André Rieu  concert appeals to all ages.

André Rieu is The King of the Waltz

André Rieu , also known as “The King of the Waltz,” is one of the best-selling classical musicians of all time, and one of the most popular musicians in Europe.  He has sold over 40 million CDs and DVDs and notched 30 No. 1 chart positions worldwide. 

As leader of his own Johann Strauss Orchestra , the largest private orchestra in the world with 60 members, Rieu has played for more than 15 million people.   Over the years, his concerts have featured Mary Poppins flying over the audience, the sweet accompaniment of the Soweto Gospel Choir, and special guests like Jermaine Jackson and Sir Anthony Hopkins.  

During his concerts, Rieu likes to make jokes, tell stories, and even indulge in a bit of slapstick comedy in between performing some of the most beautiful waltzes in the world, along with hits from musicals and films, and beloved popular and romantic songs from all decades.

In particular, one of my favorite moments during the LA concert, was when clarinetist, Manoe Konings, played Hava Nagila .  She not only toyed with the audience, but encouraged them to get up out of their seats and dance in the aisles.  In addition to the clarinet, she also played the saxophone and sang and danced on stage.

Another memorable moment was when soprano soloist, Donij van Doorn, sang the hit song Think of Me from the musical Phantom of the Opera.   Donjj soured over the tops of the high notes unlike any other I had ever heard and was flawless in her vocal runs.

Attending the  André Rieu concert was similar to being an honored guest at a soiree.  Attendees at the LA concert were dressed in fancy attire and elated to be in the presence of such a talented entertainer.

There was not an empty seat in the house.  From the moment André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra entered the theatre, to their final encore, the audience greeted them with a standing ovation and numerous cheers.  At the end of the performance thousands of balloons descended from above onto the crowd.  It was a beautiful ending to a beautiful concert.

“Shall We Dance” by André Rieu

On October 6, André Rieu released a new ablum called “ Shall We Dance “   on Decca Gold and features some of the world’s most beloved classic songs including “The Blue Danube,” “Love in Venice,” “Bolero,” “Zorba’s Dance,” and more.    The album package also includes a separate, live DVD which captures his visually spectacular, party-like live concert experience.

“Shall We Dance” Tracklisting

• Second Waltz
• The Blue Danube (This is my favorite song on the album.  During the concert itself, audience members of all ages danced with their partners in the aisles.  Young and old alike were serenaded to the sweet sounds of this classic waltz.)
• And The Waltz Goes On
• Godfather (Main Theme)
• Strauss & Co Medley
• Love In Venice
• Radetzky March
• A Time For Us (Romeo & Juliet)
• Zorba’s Dance
• Carnival Of Venice
• My Heart Will Go On (When I was younger, I remember seeing the movie Titanic in the theater.  It was a heart wrenching story of love, loss and adventure.  The same holds true to Rieu’s version of this song on “Shall We Dance”.)
• Time To Say Goodbye
• Music Of The Night (From Phantom Of The Opera)  (Target Exclusive)
• Lara’s Theme (From Dr. Zhivago)  (Target Exclusive)

As a bonus, Target has an exclusive version  of “Shall We Dance” with two bonus tracks – “Music of the Night” (from Phantom of the Opera) and “Lara’s Theme” (from Dr. Zhivago).

André Rieu on Ovation TV

Furthermore, you can watch Andre Rieu live in concert during a special upcoming 10-part series on Ovation TV .

Happy Field Tripping!

Marielle Altenor

Thursday 9th of November 2017

André Rieu is legendary! My dad used to play his music. That was back when it was on cassette lol

Heather Johnson

Tuesday 7th of November 2017

I have never been to a classical music concert. The André Rieu concert at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles sounds like an amazing experience!

I really love classical music, it is great when I am writing content for clients. That way it keeps the mind calm yet creative and there aren't any lyrics so I am less likely to start singing aloud!

This soundslike an incredible experience. I like that Andre incorporates lots of different things into the performances!

I've never actually heard of André Rieu, but this is a great collection of songs. Sounds like a good way to use up the rest of my Target gift card.

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André Rieu tour dates 2024

André Rieu is currently touring across 21 countries and has 58 upcoming concerts.

Their next tour date is at 3Arena in Dublin, after that they'll be at 3Arena again in Dublin.

Currently touring across

• 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
• 🇳🇱 Netherlands
• 🇨🇴 Colombia
• 🇵🇹 Portugal
• 🇸🇰 Slovakia
• 🇸🇮 Slovenia
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland

Upcoming concerts (58) See nearest concert

The SSE Arena, Belfast

First Direct Arena

Resorts World Arena

Atlas Arena

Mała Hala, Prezero Arena Gliwice

TAURON Arena

Quarterback Immobilien Arena

Messehalle Erfurt

Jyske Bank Boxen

Royal Arena

Scandinavium

Oslo Spektrum

Movistar Arena

Altice Arena

Wiener Stadthalle

TIPOS Arena

Štark Arena

Arena Zagreb

Dvorana Stozice

Mediolanum Forum

Vaudoise Aréna

Hallenstadion

Past concerts

Utilita Arena Sheffield

M&s Bank Arena

View all past concerts

Recent tour reviews

Absolutely all I expected and more from the second row! Loved the little girl soprano and antics of the performers. Outstanding entertainment, hotel was convenient, and food at the Jackson restaurant restaurant there was very good.

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Det var en SUPER god koncert med Andre Rieu. Såvel musikken, hans kommentarer (som dog er gentagelser både i tv-udsendelser og i går på scenen) - men han er en skæg spradebasse, også hans mimik er fantastisk. Specielt i Herning, hvor han kommenterede publikums tilbagekomst til pladserne efter pausen - skægt.

Jeg savnede dog Carmen fra Brasilien, men hun er jo i glædelig omstændighed. Til lykke med det også.

An excellent concert,at O2 Arena, Prague. Maestro Andre Rieu never fails. I love his sense of humour and interaction with the audience. Great performance from the Johann Strauss orchestra, directed by the best maestro on the globe!! WELL DONE.

Antoinette from Malta

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Concert Review: Andre Rieu, Liverpool Echo Arena

The master showman puts on a fabulous show in Liverpool

• 01:11, 14 DEC 2013

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The violinist and conductor Andre Rieu is one of classical music’s great popularisers, whose mission is to show that such concerts can be both fun and a great night out.

He certainly succeeded on both counts when he brought his famous Johann Strauss Orchestra to town.

The informality was established right from the start, with Rieu and his orchestra emerging from the back of the auditorium and walking to the stage, high-fiving audience members along the way.

The stage itself looked like something from a Liberace concert, all sparkle, glitter, and chandeliers.

Despite the Viennese trappings, Rieu himself is a Dutchman hailing from Maastricht.

Throughout an eclectic evening of musical entertainment, he brought on a wide variety of guest musicians and singers from all over the world - including Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa.

While Rieu may take a light-hearted approach and enjoy a joke with the audience - he had a lot of fun heckling latecomers - it is obvious that he is deadly serious about his craft.

He and his orchestra are all fine musicians who - to these ears at least - did not put a foot wrong all evening.

The musical choices were eclectic to say the least.

In fact, it is pushing it to call this a classical music concert at all. Sure, we had the famous Strauss waltzes, as well as Puccini and many others. But there was also The White Cliffs of Dover (complete with a video greeting from Dame Vera Lynn), a rousing version of You’ll Never Walk Alone with three tenors and three sopranos, and a song called African Dream, dedicated almost inevitably to Nelson Mandela.

The performances took place against an ever-changing visual backdrop, which made the show as much a feast for the eyes as for the ears.

I have to say that during the early part of the show there were some longueurs where my attention wandered. In particular, the way that Rieu - with his mullet and occasional mad stare - bears more than a passing resemblance to Mel Gibson in his Lethal Weapon era.

Incidentally, Rieu is a great advertisement for music’s youth-bestowing powers - he still cuts a fine figure at the age of 64 and could easily pass for someone younger.

The show really kicked into top gear when Rieu invited the audience to get out of their seats and waltz along to Johann Strauss’s Blue Danube, which many did with great enthusiasm.

This created a magical atmosphere, topped off by the release of a shower of balloons.

By now, Rieu had really got the party started and the audience were unwilling to let him go.

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André Rieu: 'I spent £34m on fountains, ice rinks and gold carriages'

He has outsold Beyoncé and played to bigger crowds than Take That. He also lives in D’Artagnan’s castle and has his very own orchestra. An audience with André Rieu, the violin superstar nicknamed King of the Waltz

W hatever your opinion of the Dutch superstar violinist André Rieu, there’s no denying that he knows how to make an entrance. As the lights go down on a packed arena in Dublin, Rieu appears, waving and smiling, from the back of the auditorium and leads his 60-piece private orchestra towards the stage.

It’s quite a procession, with the female members dressed like Disney princesses in pastel silk ballgowns that Rieu designs himself. In fact, he’s responsible for every detail of the production, from the lighting display to the music stands; while at least three-quarters of the programme is in three-quarter time as Rieu lives up to his billing as the King of the Waltz.

Rieu is, in case there is any doubt, an extremely fine violinist with a seductively plush tone and a stage persona that turns out to be surprisingly relaxed and informal. Referring to the howling gales outside, he introduces the Skater’s Waltz as “the perfect piece of music for your Irish shit weather”. And the concert is subject to a strange microclimate of its own, with sudden downpours of balloons and flurries of fake snow that takes some shaking off afterwards.

There are still pieces of the polyester avalanche filling my pockets when I meet Rieu a couple of days later at his home in Maastricht. It seems only natural that the man at the heart of this elaborate fairytale should live in a castle: Rieu inhabits a 17th-century chateau with its own butterfly house and a coat of arms belonging to a previous occupant, Charles de Batz-Castelmore d’Artagnan – the inspiration for Alexandre Dumas’s fictional musketeer, who died at the siege of Maastricht in 1673.

Rieu strides into his drawing room at precisely the appointed time. He is tall, remarkably well-preserved for his 66 years, and dressed in a navy bespoke suit, red silk tie and shiny silver boots that look as if they might have been purchased in anticipation of his oft-stated ambition to become the first musician to perform on the moon.

I compliment him on his home. “Thank you,” he says. “It is beautiful. It didn’t use to be. I first came here for piano lessons when I was six years old – the teacher was a total bitch and I hated her. It was dark and damp and practically falling down. But later I told my wife Marjorie that I should like to own it. She said, ‘In that case you had better sell some records.’”

He did – over 40 million at the last count, firmly establishing him as the biggest-selling classical musician in the world. Billboard figures indicate that Rieu’s 2014 world tour outsold Metallica, Ed Sheeran, Rod Stewart and Beyoncé; while his annual summer concert from Maastricht’s medieval town square was broadcast live to cinemas this year, becoming the first concert film to take more than £1m at the box office in a single day, beating previous records set by One Direction and Take That.

Even though Rieu’s father was a conductor who led the Maastricht Symphony Orchestra, following in the family business wasn’t always easy. “There was a time when I felt like putting my violin away for good,” he says. “I founded my first orchestra in 1978 with just 12 musicians and we played for weddings, restaurants, anywhere we could get a booking, and we were always ignored. Marjorie was studying languages and she was fed up too. So we thought that we might open a pizza restaurant. We had menu cards printed up: the most expensive item was going to be the Pizza Paganini. If you ordered that, I would come out of the kitchen and play at the table – but then I realised that I would have to start practising again.”

In 1987 Rieu renamed his band the Johann Strauss Orchestra in honour of his idol, Johann Strauss II. “Strauss is my example,” Rieu says. “He proved that it is possible to be a businessman as well as a musician – I have only one orchestra, he had five. It made him very rich, but he was a fantastic musician, so what is so wrong about that?”

Having rejected the life of a conventional soloist, it was fitting that Rieu’s big break should occur not on the concert platform, but the centre circle of a football pitch. One of his most-viewed YouTube clips shows the violinist leading several thousand Ajax fans in a sing-along of Shostakovich’s hummable – though hardly well-known – Waltz No 2, for the 1995 Champions League final.

“We had just finished our first major recording,” Rieu says. “At the time an insurance company had used the Shostakovich piece for a television commercial and at the last second I decided to put it on the album. I knew that there was a big European game coming up, Ajax against Bayern Munich, so I bought a minute of live TV coverage during the break. Ajax did me a huge favour and scored just before half time. The next week I sold 200,000 CDs.”

How might it have influenced his career, I wonder, if Ajax had lost ? “I don’t know,” he laughs, “but sometimes you need these pieces of luck. And there’s nothing we love more in this little country than beating the Germans.” As the platinum awards tumbled in, Rieu’s vision became increasingly grandiose. One evening in 2008, after a concert in front of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna , Rieu decided it would be marvellous to play in front of such a spectacular backdrop every night. So he did.

“We constructed a full-scale replica of the imperial palace – it was the largest touring stage set in the world,” he says. “In fact I built two, and another one for Australia. There were fountains, an ice rink, a ballroom full of dancers – we even had a state carriage covered in real gold.”

This does seem like an exceptionally profligate attention to detail, I suggest, given that the majority of the audience were many hundreds of feet away. “Yes, but I know the difference,” Rieu counters. “It’s the same with the women’s dresses – these are not theatrical costumes and they cost £3,000 a piece. Even the champagne is real champagne. My wife says: ‘Are you stupid?’ because I don’t even like champagne. She asks me: ‘Why can you not use sugar water?’ But then we would be pretending and when the pretence starts, it becomes just a show. What I do is not an act. If we look like we are having fun on stage, it is because we are having fun. And this is why most of the players have been with me for 25 years.”

Even so, Rieu admits that he is unlikely to attempt anything on such a scale again. “It left me with minus £34m in the bank,” he reveals. “I sat in this room for a whole day with the bank manager and his officials were looking round to see what they could repossess. But the boss said: ‘No – let him go on.’ And he was right because now we are healthy again.”

Rieu has long been a target for critics who complain that his celebrity lifestyle and glitzy spectacles do nothing to broaden his audience’s interest in classical music. But this is surely to miss the point. Who else could have a football crowd swaying to Shostakovich? Even Johann Strauss was, first and foremost, a popular entertainer who elevated the humble waltz from an unsophisticated country dance into an international sensation. Does Rieu believe that if Strauss were alive today, he would also have included video screens and balloon drops as part of his act?

“I’m sure he would,” Rieu replies. “You know, I very often wonder what Strauss would think of me.”

And what might that be?

“I think he would be angry that he doesn’t get paid! Because Verdi, you see, was much cleverer. When I play Verdi, I still have to pay his publisher. But this gift of Strauss I have completely for free.”

• André Rieu plays Sheffield Arena tonight and Wembley Arena, London, Tuesday and Wednesday. His new CD Roman Holiday is out on Decca.
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André Rieu World Tour

Waltzes, film scores, opera and musicals.

André Rieu is quite simply a musical phenomenon like no other, a true King of Romance, having sold a massive 40 million CDs and DVDs and notched 30 Nr. 1 chart positions worldwide. Along with his 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra (the largest private orchestra in the world), André has created a global revival in waltz music, staging spectacular extravaganzas which are second to none. Having received over 480 Platinum Awards, three Classical Brit Awards for “Album of the Year” and billions of Youtube views, André is one of the biggest solo male touring artists in the world. Each year his passionate live shows attract more than 600.000 fans and outsell mega artists such as Coldplay, AC/DC and Bruce Springsteen.   „My concerts are about joy and love!“ says André Rieu. „We should make decisions in our lives with our hearts, not our heads. People often ask me ‘how do you choose your program?’ – the answer is: with my heart. I love Johann Strauss but I am also fascinated by Andrew Lloyd Webber or Bruce Springsteen. We should stop limiting ourselves with categories and boundaries – not just in terms of music but in our lives in general” – says André Rieu.

Waltzes, film scores, opera and musicals On stage André’s incredible musical prowess, passion and charisma make for a magical spectacle. His romantic and fun concerts are the only ones where people regularly jump to their feet and dance in the aisles. It’s not uncommon to see devoted American fans laughing, weeping, clapping, dancing and embracing when they listen to the beautiful waltzes, film scores, spirituals, musicals, folk songs and marches and André’s precious Stradivarius violin from 1732; his concerts are a perfect mix of thrilling, romantic, festive and emotional melodies combined with surprises, balloons, beautiful soloists and of course André’s great sense of humor. It’s all about emotions!

World Tour Known to millions around the world as the “King of the Waltz” André is also a true “King of Romance”. He has been married for 49 years and lives with his wife Marjorie in a romantic castle, built in 1492 in his hometown of Maastricht/Netherlands. The couple has  two sons and five grandchildren. Don’t miss your chance to see André Rieu LIVE!

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André Rieu gives his audience exactly what they want: entertainment

Senior Lecturer in Musicology, University of Sydney

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David Larkin does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Review: André Rieu, Sydney

The phenomenon that is André Rieu was in Sydney last week, an event which gave rise to strong feelings pro and contra. Among musicians, his slick entertainments are at best grudgingly recognised as savvy market-orientated products, at worst despised as shameless pandering to a low common denominator.

Among the general public, his name-recognition is sufficiently high to pack out the 8,000-seater hall at the International Convention Centre for two consecutive nights. There was an atmosphere of palpable pleasure on Wednesday evening as the crowd laughed and applauded for over two and a half hours.

Are these two views at all reconcilable? As a classical-music reviewer who only knew of Rieu as the butt of snooty dismissals, I thought it worth seeing for myself what all the fuss was about.

For the benefit of anyone who has lived under a rock in recent decades, Rieu is a Dutch violinist who founded the Johann Strauss Orchestra 31 years ago (as he mentioned several times during the concert). This group has produced a vast discography of audio and video recordings and regularly tours the world, with both concerts and recordings meeting with enormous commercial success.

One could not ignore the intense marketing both before and during the event. His website does not merely offer tickets and DVDs, it sells entire tour-packages, and a similar range of products was advertised on the screens in the interval. Outside in the foyer, sales of recordings were doing brisk business before the event, and there were several patrons in the hall sporting “André Rieu” scarves and other memorabilia. For some, Rieu is not just for an evening: he is for life, or until the scarf shrinks in the wash.

The polarity of opinions about Rieu is not in itself surprising: the idea of “classical” music (itself a 19th-century invention) carries with it the notions of timeless merit and elevated artistic achievement. To this is opposed the category of the “popular”, with its implications of widespread but possibly more ephemeral appeal.

Classical musicians from Liberace to Vanessa Mae who cross this boundary risk their reputations as serious musicians. A rare instance of someone whose reputation survived was Placido Domingo, a bona fide opera star before and after becoming a world-wide sensation as part of the original Three Tenors.

But like many binaries, this classical/popular distinction is in reality very porous. Certain classical works or excerpts have become enormously popular, and favourites such as Handel’s Hallelujah chorus, Orff’s O fortuna from Carmina Burana, and Verdi’s drinking song Libiamo from La Traviata all featured on Wednesday’s program. Each was arranged to suit the forces available – three solo tenors, up to five solo sopranos and a backing female chorus.

The absence of basses in these choral numbers might have been queried by purists; the presence of the Fazioli grand piano and tuba in the Hallelujah chorus would have had rendered them apoplectic (not that a purist would have ventured within a mile of the gig anyway).

The rest of the program included a mixture of light classics, pop arrangements, folk tunes and Christmas-themed numbers. The Johann Strausses, father and son, were represented by the Radetzky March and the Blue Danube Waltz respectively. A second Hallelujah (Cohen) and Little Richard’s Tutti frutti softened the classical focus, while the likes of Anderson’s Sleigh Ride and O Holy Night provided the aural counterpart to the snowy fir trees and tinsel-decorated music stands. As is apparently typical, one song was included as tribute to the land in which they were performing, in this case the anthemic I am Australian by The Seekers.

More than music

At Rieu’s gigs, it’s clearly about more than the music. The visual plays an important element, from the sight of Rieu and his musicians prancing through the crowd and up on to the stage at the start, to the costumes and the vast screen behind the orchestra displaying imagery appropriate to each song. At the start of the second half, the women of the orchestra temporarily exchanged their prismatic ball-gowns for Dutch costumes and performed a clog dance.

For White Christmas, fake snow fell on to some of those sitting in rows near the stage. And always the immaculately coiffed Dutchman with his antique shirt-front took centre stage, charming the crowd with his accented English as he introduced the next piece or provided his reflections on world peace and what he would do were he prime minister of Australia, neither of which have lingered in the memory.

One constantly finds references in publicity material to Rieu “playing his world-famous Stradivarius violin”. Consequently, I was expecting to hear a few solo numbers such as he has recorded in the past. In fact, whenever he played on Wednesday, he merely doubled the orchestral violins. More often, instrument and bow were tucked in his left hand as he conducted his band.

My sharp-eyed concert companion spotted that, alone among the orchestra, his instrument didn’t have a pick-up mic, leading one to wonder whether he would be at all audible beyond the front rows. Clearly it does not matter to his public that they get to see Rieu the impresario rather than the virtuoso. His general charisma and not his playing seems to be what counts. The choreography reinforces the maestro myth, with all the sopranos curtseying to him after acknowledging the audience.

One could not fault the professionalism of the orchestra, who had clearly played the program so many times that they barely needed to look at the scores. What was more surprising is how few of them seemed jaded or cynical. Perhaps it’s not a bad gig: rumour has it that it’s certainly a well-paid one.

One gets to play before adoring crowds all over the world, giving pleasure to millions. The polite applause of the typical concert-hall audience must seem tepid when you’ve seen couples waltz to your music and crowds scramble for Polaroid photos of Rieu.

At times, one encounters the argument that Rieu and other crossover acts can act as a gateway for people to get into classical music. While this may have happened in individual cases, I doubt whether even a sizeable minority of his listeners would be incentivised by what he offers into making a deeper dive into this world.

The experience of attending a symphonic concert or a full opera is, to begin with, a relatively demanding one: not every part will instantly appeal, and one has often to work to understand what makes Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony hang together, or why Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde sing at each other for such an inordinate length.

Excerpts and short numbers, the sort of thing Rieu exclusively provides, don’t make any comparable demands. In fact, since he stuck mostly to extremely well-known music, there wasn’t even the challenge of the unknown-but-accessible, let alone the difficult. As such, what he offers is easy entertainment.

This is not to be despised in itself; indeed, entertainment should always be a facet of classical music-making (though devotees of new music might well disagree). However, by sparing us the need to make any real effort, Rieu does not open the doorway to what I would argue is the deeper pleasure that comes after engaging mind as well as body and senses.

Dessert and bonbons are all very well, but I hungered for something a bit more nourishing. Clearly, though, in this crowd I was in a tiny minority: the world-conquering showman gave his listeners exactly what they wanted and was cheered and encored to the rafters.

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Latest Reviews

“disappointing in boston, wanted european songs”.

written by rcDuffy344 on 20/09/2023

SO we went to Andre R. last night at the TD garden..... (@ $140.00 each)!!!! We watch him all the time on PBS, and love it! Not the same last night.....he only played 2(of his) songs!!! But he introduced a whole lot more....3 tenors,(very good) the sopranos,(great voices), a marching band? Amen??? and Oh Happy Day???? Is this really Classical music???!!! I'm sorry but we did not sign up for that, we wanted to hear European songs, not other songs that he thought we would like!! ....we will watch Andre on PBS, that's ALL!!! I would like to have a program of songs BEFORE I go next time, if there is a next time. Btw, The Blue Danube was excellent, dancing was fun, need more of that!

Lelalu2's Comment

Written on: 28/09/2023

I have loved Andre and particularly his Strauss waltzes with his fabulous orchestra.for many many years. When I saw that he was coming to Chicago I was under the impression that this tour would be very similar to what I’ve known his performances to be. I purchased VERY PRICEY main floor tickets. Then I watched this 2023 Tour on YouTube. I was sick as it WAS NOTHING like I expected. He was the Master of Ceremonies for a Variety Show. He talked and joked around with the audience as is his usual behavior but…too much talking. The Gospel singers, while talented, took up way too much time! Only 2 waltzes…SO TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTING :( I was fortunate to get a full refund. Will he ever bring that beautiful European tour back? Must I go to Vienna? Is he just too tired these days?

“gospel nightmare, very disappointed- loud screaming...”

written by Silvia729 on 18/09/2023

I saw many of his concerts, even followed him to Canada. This was the worst show I have ever seen. First 1/2 was ok, but gospel screaming very disappointed. I don’t think this really belongs in his show. I will never go to see him in concert again.

Lelalu2's Response to Silvia729's Review

Sadly, I too was very disappointed. I’ve loved Andre and his Strauss music for decades. I was thrilled to find he was coming to Chicago and purchased PRICEY main floor seating. Then I watched his 2023 tour on YouTube and I wanted to cry ????. It was nothing like I had expected. It was like a variety show and he was the Master of Ceremonies. The Gospel singers, while talented, sang for way too long. And only 2 Strauss waltzes!!??!! NOT ACCEPTABLE. I was able to receive a full refund and remain very disappointed ????

“Game of-two halves ”

written by Scotts98 on 16/07/2023

I saw André on Thursday for the fourth time, and I won’t be going again. The first half was amazing with the bagpipes and drums, a beautiful young singer and Andre’s usual beautiful sets. The same cannot be said about the second half, completely ruined by gospel singers who insisted on screaming so loud most of the audience were wincing in pain and local dogs running for cover.. There was also far to many call backs for applause with my hands hurting from all the clapping Having seen this wonderful orchestra, including the time he brought on the village people I’m sad to say I think he’s lost his way.

Smithy4451's Comment

Written on: 19/07/2023

I was at the concert Saturday. It poured with rain for 2 hours prior to the start so most people were huddled in ponchos but still anticipating a great show. No mention of this from Andre or thanks for sitting it out. Some parts of the show were good but overall I was disappointed having seen many of his other shows at the cinema or on tv and excited to actually be in Maastricht. The concert, and Andre, lacked spirit and content and seemed tired which made those gospel singers seem totally over the top with their screaming renditions. Was disappointed ????

Written on: 13/08/2023

Oh my, I was afraid of that! How sad :(. I purchased expensive tickets for the Chicago September 12 show. I watched a 2023 performance on YouTube after my purchase and am seriously thinking of reselling them. I DO NOT WANT TO SEE A VARIETY SHOW!! I want those wonderful Strauss waltzes etc.. I want what he is known for…. I don’t want to pay for jumpin’ gospel music…too much talking and comedy….no thanks

“Disappointed ”

written by on 11/07/2023

Went to the concert in Maastricht 7th July 2023, enjoyed, even loved, most of it but was disappointed when a Gospel Group came on. I, and many more on the same coach trip as my husband and I, expected to hear more from the tenors and the beautiful voices of the opera singers. Instead we had almost half an hour of very repetitive gospel singing. We wanted to go to the Vienna concert but are having second thoughts now...

My sentiments exactly! Do you think the Vienna concert will have this 2023 Tour content?

“SAME OLD FORMAT!”

written by clairpatricia on 09/01/2023

Saw Andrew Rieu Concert in Amsterdam on 6 January 2023 as part of our river cruise package. Most of us were disappointed. My husband and myself watch him quite frequently on TV and have seen two beamed live concerts at the cinema. He spoke in Dutch all the time and when mentioning the nationalities attending I understood enough to know that he did not mention the British. The soprano was excellent as were the 3 tenors but A R seems to follow the same old format from years ago. The whole thing seemed a bit tired and jaded. We wouldn't go to another concert.

“ART WITHOUT CONSCIENCE ”

written by Littlear27 on 16/06/2020

I resort to posting this review because I have not received any replies to my emails or messages from the Andre Rieu Organization. Ticketmaster or StubHub. Following are a few excerpts from those notes: 1. "Due to COVID19, the March 13 2020 Florida BB&T Andre Rieu Event was not held...but the thousands of fans who bought tickets were NOT allowed a refund like other artists gave to their fans. This event was rescheduled for March 5 2021...ONE YEAR LATER! They have our money and they may OR may not.. hold the event then. Is this a fair way to treat long time fans? More than disappointing, we find it unconscionable". 2. "Google says that BB&T concert seating capacity is about 20,000.I paid $400.00 x 2 for my tickets to the March 13 concert. If one used an average price of only $150.00 x 20,000 seats, it appears that up to $3 MILLION DOLLARS may have been spent for tickets, but the Andre Rieu Concert has decided NOT to refund ONE PENNY to his weary, long suffering fans out here dealing with the Corona-virus, lost jobs, lost income and.. possible loss-of-life health issues. I've written several times and I've tried to be respectful, but I have received no response. Once a big fan, I am now extremely disappointed." 3. "You took the ticket money from thousands of fans for tickets to your March concert in Florida. Then you postponed it for ONE year. At one of the most tragic periods in history, you have decided to keep our money while millions face financial problems through no fault of their own. Not your problem I guess.. No one responds to my messages with an explanation so I resort to these public messages to reach you. Your once beautiful smile now seems more like a sneer and the sound of your wonderful music now falls on tainted ears. What happens next year jf you postpone again? Wait another year? Is interest-free money that enticing to your people? Come on Andre. Buy one less Tuxedo and 'Do The Right Thing'. "

Bewildermonkey's Comment

Written on: 01/01/2022

If you pay to listen to garbage mass-marketed for music illiterates, expect a cynical business model to be operating behind the scenes. Learn something about music and life.

“Offensive UK comments”

written by on 13/07/2017

I recently attended a Maastricht concert on the 08 July. I found comments made by Mr Rieu regarding the UK and Brexit offensive and totally un called for. When asking the audience where they came from, when people said Britain he responded "this is Europe" followed by "are you in? out? in? out? etc, this gave people from other countries the opportunity to ridicule us and laugh at us, considering that he says music brings people together and creates harmony, he should really practice what he preaches as his comments just provoked others into making fun of us, In addition the concert content was poor as was the sound but I think the final straw was bringing "the Hoff" on to try and sing a few songs along with Kit from nightrider. The sad thing is that I have been going to his concerts since 2011 and enjoyed them all up until now, but for me he needs to lay off the Brit bashing, he makes a lot of money from the Brits and making silly comments such as he has been doing is not going the right way in improving relations, also I tried to add my comments onto his website but they will only show positive feedback which again is wrong. I for one will not be attending anymore of his concerts.

Tataina's Comment

Written on: 19/01/2020

You will be happy with me...

Happier without you

“Unbelievable pre-Xmas experience!!”

written by on 23/12/2013

The service I received from this ticket agency was FIRST CLASS and would not hesitate to use them AGAIN and AGAIN!! Great value / prompt delivery / fantastic seats!! I took my elderly Mother to see Andre Rieu at the Echo Arena as a surprise pre-Xmas gift and we had a wonderful night!! Thank you so much for providing a reliable, professional service culminating in a never to be forgotten experience. I will certainly look to use you again in the future.

“Still the best”

written by on 15/10/2013

Once again 88 were terrific. Efficient booking and very pleased with the seating. No panic about receiving the tickets. Would definietely recommend to anyone.

“Awesome and magical event”

written by on 26/03/2013

Andre Rieu's and his orchestra/entertainers know how to captivate the crowd with laugher, humor and fantastic music!

“a fantastic night”

written by on 21/12/2012

I bought the tickets for an early Xmas Presant, side seats with a good view,big screens help you see more details.We had a brilliant time full of fun & it made you feel good. The music was superb, the background was amazing, the orchestra members just seemed to enjoy every moment they were playing & had fun with it. It was worth every penny, we will definately go again.

“experiance of a life time”

written by snotty on 20/12/2012

Tickets brought as xmas present for o2 areana on the 17th december 2012. The view from the seats allocated where fabulous . The show it shelf wow great entertainment , The highlights of the show where "the birthday present" ,"kimi". Would recommend to anyone with a love of classical music with some mordern twists. Valve for money . ruth court .20/12/2012

“Andre Rieu Concert 14th Dec 2012 @ at the Men Arena...”

written by on 18/12/2012

The Concert was fantastic, enjoyed every minute of it, the orchestra, the singers, the musicians, the pipers. The whole show was amazing. From booking the tickets to driving home everything went well. Cant wait for Andre and his fabulous orchestra and singers to come to Manchester Men Arena again. 1st Class entertainment.

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André Rieu wants Anthony Hopkins to tour with him after performing waltz actor composed in his 20s

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André Rieu says he wants to ask Sir Anthony Hopkins to tour with him and his famous Johann Strauss Orchestra after being impressed by the actor’s musical abilities.

The world-famous violinist and conductor, 74, first met Hopkins, 86, in 2011 when the two-time Oscar winner approached him via telephone about performing a waltz that he had composed in his 20s.

Together, Rieu says that they created a “masterpiece” with the composition titled And The Waltz Goes On, eventually performing it with his orchestra at a concert in Rieu’s native Maastricht.

Hopkins meanwhile could be seen watching on in the audience wiping away tears of pride.

The Silence of the Lambs actor often delights his fans by sharing videos of him playing the piano online, however the maestro says he was completely unaware that he played.

“He never said that!” exclaimed Rieu while talking to the Standard ahead of his latest shows at the OVO Arena Wembley on May 15 and May 18.

“It’s a good idea!” he said of performing together, “that would be nice Anthony Hopkins on tour! I will ask him definitely.

He’s much more celebrity than me. I was really very honoured that he asked me to play his waltz.

“I was rehearsing with my orchestra and someone came in and said there’s a phone call, it’s Anthony Hopkins. I said ‘THE Anthony Hopkins?’

“Everybody knows his voice and he said I composed a waltz when I was 25 years old and living in Wales as a young musician and there I met Richard Burton and he said ‘you will never earn money as a musician so be an actor’ so that’s what I did, I moved to LA and made my career.

“But this waltz, is still in my head and it was never played. My wife saw you on American television and said ‘that’s the man who is going to play your waltz’.

“I said send me your score because I had my orchestra here and that’s what he did. We had the first draft and we sent it back to him, and he liked it, so we worked again and changed here and there a little thing and he came to Maastricht and that was the story.”

On the changes that were made to the Hollywood favourite’s original, Rieu said: “It was only in his head so I think a conductor and an orchestra has the right to improve it so we did.

“It’s a very, very nice waltz, it’s like movie music at the beginning and then it becomes a waltz like the Viennese Waltz. I think the two of us made a masterpiece out of it. It was really nice to work with him.”

Rieu is often credited with breathing new life into the waltz and has been dubbed the King of the Waltz (although he insists that Johann Strauss was the real king in that department).

While he insists that he never intends to retire amid his plan to live to 140 , Rieu thinks that going forward, the future of the waltz is secure.

“When there are people who are performing the waltz in the proper way, when you play as it should be played, you see the whole audience start smiling and moving and getting up without me saying to get up and dancing in the aisles and that has touched them.

“A good waltz played is a mirror of life. A waltz is not only ‘ha ha ha’ and melancholy but it’s both; everything in life is in a waltz, that’s why I love the waltz. Also humour is in the waltz.

“I think the waltz will stay forever,” he concluded.

For more information on André Rieu and to buy tickets, visit  www.andrerieu.com.

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TOP 20 GLOBAL CONCERT TOURS

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Top 20 Global Concert Tours from Pollstar

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The Top 20 Global Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows Worldwide. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers. Week of April 29, 2024:

TOP 20 GLOBAL CONCERT TOURS

For free upcoming tour information, go to www.pollstar.com