André Rieu
Dutch violinist and conductor (born 1949) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu (Dutch: [ˈɑndreː riˈjøː], French: [ɑ̃dʁe ʁjø]; born 1 October 1949) is a Dutch violinist and conductor best known as the founder of the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra.
André Rieu | |
|---|---|
Rieu in 2010 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu |
| Born | 1 October 1949 Maastricht, Netherlands |
| Genres | Classical, Classical crossover, Waltz, Easy listening |
| Occupation(s) | Violinist, Conductor, Entrepreneur, Arranger |
| Instruments | Violin, 1667 Stradivarius, Captain Saville |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Labels | Denon Records, Philips |
| Spouse |
Marjorie Kochmann (m. 1975) |
| Website | www.andrerieu.com |
Rieu and his orchestra tour worldwide, often playing in stadiums.[1] He resides in his native Maastricht, where he also regularly performs at the Vrijthof.[2]
Early life and family
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Perspective
The name Rieu is of French Huguenot origin, though both of Rieu's parents were Roman Catholic.[3] André was born to Andries Antonie Rieu and is the third of six children.[2][4]
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Rieu's father was conductor of the Maastricht Symphony Orchestra. Showing early promise, André began studying violin at the age of five. From a very early age, he developed a fascination with orchestra, although he found his parents strict and moved away from his father's musical style in adulthood.[5] He studied violin at the Conservatoire Royal in Liège and at the Conservatorium Maastricht, (1968–1973), studying under Jo Juda and Herman Krebbers.[6][7]
From 1974 to 1977, he attended the Music Academy in Brussels, studying with André Gertler. He completed his training with the distinction "Premier Prix" from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.[8]
He married Marjorie Kochmann in 1975.[9] She has been a language teacher and has written compositions. They have two sons, including Pierre, a producer who frequently works with the Johann Strauss Orchestra.[4] He lives in a small castle in Maastricht, which he alleges was once inhabited by Charles de Batz Castlemore-d'Artagnan.[10]
He speaks six languages: Dutch, English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish.[9] His net worth was estimated at €25 million in 2016.[11]
Career
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Perspective
Johann Strauss Orchestra
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Rieu created the Johann Strauss Orchestra in 1987 and began with 12 members, giving its first concert on 1 January 1988.[12] As of 2020, he performs with between 50 and 60 musicians. Rieu plays a 1667 Stradivarius violin.[3]
Rieu and his orchestra have appeared throughout Europe, North and South America, Japan, and Australia, and New Zealand. In 2008, Rieu's tour featured a full-size reproduction of Empress Sisi's Castle, the biggest stage to have gone on tour at that time.[13]
| Year | Rank | No. of shows | Revenue | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #16 | 86 shows | $39,992,285 | Billboard Top 25 Tours 2010[14] |
| 2011 | # 9 | 102 shows | $67,104,756 | Billboard Top 25 Tours 2011[15] |
| 2012 | #10 | 99 shows | $46,785,710 | Billboard Top 25 Tours 2012[16] |
| 2013 | #20 | 70 shows | $49,881,605 | Billboard Top 25 Tours 2013[17] |
| 2014 | #17 | 70 shows | $42,983,266 | Billboard Top 25 Tours 2014[18] |
| 2015 | #20 | 101 shows | $51,151,367 | Billboard Top 25 Tours 2015[19] |
| 2016 | #23 | 71 shows | $40,169,471 | Billboard Top 25 Tours 2016[20][21] |
| 2017 | #42 | 89 shows | $47,700,000 | Pollstar Top 100 Worldwide Tours[22] |
| 2018 | #21 | 71 shows | $55,933,149 | Billboard 2018 Top 25 Tours[1] |
For two weeks in 2013, one of the channels of the BSkyB group, Sky Arts 2 in the UK, was renamed as Sky Arts Rieu. Between 30 March and 14 April 2013 Sky Arts Rieu broadcast Rieu concerts and documentaries 24 hours per day.[23]
Rieu also composed music for the 2014 film Tuscan Wedding.[24][25]
Reception
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Perspective
 | The examples and perspective in this section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (December 2022) |
Australia
Australia has one of Rieu's largest fanbases. Chris Boyd, a critic writing for Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper, did not criticize his playing, but described Rieu's main stage function as "blarney and delegation".[26][self-published source]
Eamon Kelly wrote in The Australian newspaper: "It is disappointing to see professional journalists indulging in cheap, inaccurate stereotypes to dismiss criticism of Rieu."[27] He also wrote: "Equally misguided are those who cursorily dismiss Rieu. Rieu's live and recorded performances have brought joy to millions of people. Few in his audiences are regular classical music attendees and it could be seen as promising that, via Rieu, they are listening to standards of the classical canon. The fact that Rieu's focus is on highly accessible, enjoyable repertoire is not an argument against his musical credentials."[27]
By December 2008, Rieu had achieved his 100th platinum accreditation in Australia[28] and by May 2011, Rieu had sold over $50 million worth of wholesale shipments of his CDs and DVDs in Australia and was the highest-selling music artist in the Australian market between 2006 and 2011.[29]
United Kingdom
Tom Service, reviewing a film of one of Rieu's Maastricht concerts (the highest-grossing concert film in British history upon the article's publication in 2015) in The Guardian, described the performance as the "very acme of commodified classical music", saying that Rieu turned "unsuspecting masterpieces" into "saccharine fodder".[30] Also in The Guardian, in an interview with Rieu, Alfred Hickling stated that Rieu's critics were "missing the point", comparing Rieu's showmanship and business acumen to that of Johann Strauss II.[31]
United States
Nina Siegal, for the New York Times, described Rieu as a "maestro for the masses, if not the critics", comparing him to Liberace while noting that his fame in the US had not reached the levels it has in Europe, Australia, and Brazil. In an email interview with Siegal, Rieu remarked that he saw frequent criticism of his act as "schmaltzy" as a compliment: "I’m trying to create a ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’ where music, décor and costumes all add up to a magical evening."[5]
Regarding a 2017 concert in the Moda Center, Dean Paton for the Christian Science Monitor said that Rieu's performance felt "more like a pop concert than a classical recital" and a "two-hour running gag punctuated by this waltz or that aria". Paton compared the accessibility and popularity of Rieu's work to Arthur Fiedler of the Boston Pops and Leonard Bernstein of the New York Philharmonic.[32]
Honours
| Country | Date | Appointment | Ribbon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingdom of the Netherlands | 2002 | Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion |  |
[33] |
| Province of Limburg, Kingdom of the Netherlands | 2009 | Honorary Medal of the Province of Limburg | [33] | |
| French Republic | 2009 | Knight of the Order of the Arts and the Letters |  |
[33] |
| City of Maastricht, Kingdom of the Netherlands | 2010 | Medal of Honor from the City of Maastricht | [34] | |
| Republic of Austria | 2011 | Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria |  |
[34] |
| Kingdom of Bahrain | 2023 | Order of Bahrain - First Class |  |
[35] |
| Republic of Chile | 2024 | Pablo Neruda Order of Artistic and Cultural Merit | [36] |
Selected discography
Albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLD [37] |
AUS [38] |
GER [39] |
NZ [40] |
SWI [39] |
UK [41] | ||||
| Serenata (with Maastricht Salon Orchestra) |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| La Belle Epoque (with Maastricht Salon Orchestra) |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Eine Kleine Salonmusik (with Maastricht Salon Orchestra) |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Hieringe Biete (with Maastricht Salon Orchestra) |
|
22 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Strauß Gala/ Strauss Gala (with Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
9 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Preuvenemint / Vrijthofconcert (with Maastricht Salon Orchestra) |
|
71 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| D'n Blauwen Aovond (with Maastricht Salon Orchestra) |
|
16 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Merry Christmas |
|
34 | - | - | - | - | - |
| |
| The Second Waltz |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - |
| |
| Strauß & Co / Strauss & Co (with Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
1 | 82 | 4 | - | 20 | - |
|
|
| Hieringe Biete 1 & 2 (with Maastricht Salon Orchestra) |
|
7 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Vienesse Blend |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - |
| |
| Straus Gala |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - |
| |
| Het Beste Van André Rieu 'Live' |
|
48 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Wiener Melange / The Vienna I Love (with Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
1 | - | 19 | - | - | - |
| |
| En Concert / In Concert |
|
5 | - | - | - | - | - |
| |
| Silent Nights |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - |
| |
| Stille Nacht / The Christmas I Love / Mein Weihnachtstraum |
|
18 | - | 6 | - | - | - | ||
| Romantique / Romantic Moments |
|
19 | - | 6 | - | 17 | - | ||
| 100 Jahre Strauß / 100 Years of Strauss |
|
13 | - | 3 | - | 3 | - |
| |
| Das Jahrtausendfest / Fiesta! |
|
9 | - | 3 | - | 8 | - | ||
| Celebration (with Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
- | - | - | - | - | 50 | ||
| La Vie est Belle |
|
15 | - | 6 | 17 | 12 | - | ||
| To Dream |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - |
| |
| The Collection |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Musik Zum Träumen / Dromen / Dreaming |
|
8 | - | 7 | 25 | 13 | - |
| |
| Walzertraum |
|
- | - | 8 | - | 35 | - |
| |
| Tour D'Amour / Love Around the World |
|
11 | - | - | 38 | - | - |
| |
| Die Welt Der Violine - Ein Himmel Voller Geige |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Croisière Romantique / Romantic Paradise |
|
10 | - | 6 | - | 24 | - |
| |
| Live At Royal Albert Hall |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Live in Dublin |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| At the Movies |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Tuscany |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Der Fliegende Holländer / The Flying Dutchman |
|
38 | - | 17 | - | 27 | - |
| |
| Aus Meinem Herzen / Songs from My Heart (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
33 | - | 26 | - | 56 | - |
| |
| Weihnachten Rund um die Welt / Christmas Around the World |
|
60 | - | 20 | - | 34 | - | ||
| Love Songs |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| The Homecoming |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| New York Memories |
|
24 | 86 | 13 | - | 51 | - | ||
| The André Experience |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| André Rieu in Wonderland // Im Wunderland |
|
29 | 72 | 14 | - | 62 | - |
| |
| The 100 Most Beautiful Melodies |
|
- | 2 | - | 38 | - | - | ||
| Waltzing Matilda (with Mirusia Louwerse) |
|
- | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| |
| Top 100 |
|
11 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| At Schönbrunn, Vienna (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra and The Platin Tenors) |
|
- | 76 | - | - | - | - | ||
| Live in Australia |
|
97 | 14 | - | 31 | - | - |
| |
| Ich tanze mit dir in den Himmel hinein / Dancing Through the Skies / Passionnément |
|
99 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Live in Vienna (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Masterpieces |
|
- | 9 | - | - | - | - | ||
| You'll Never Walk Alone (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
80 | 2 | - | 4 | - | - |
| |
| Best of André Rieu |
|
- | 23 | - | - | - | - | ||
| Á Toi |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| My Music My Life |
|
- | 83 | - | 35 | - | - | ||
| Live in Sydney 2009 |
|
- | 51 | - | - | - | - | ||
| Forever Vienna |
|
- | - | - | 18 | - | 2 |
| |
| Celebrates Christmas and New Year |
|
- | - | - | - | - | 91 | ||
| Dreaming |
|
- | - | - | - | - | 94 |
| |
| The Magic Of André Rieu |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - |
| |
| Live in Concert |
|
- | - | - | - | - | 43 | ||
| Rosen Aus Dem Süden / You Raise Me Up |
|
- | 8 | - | 5 | - | 38 |
| |
| André Rieu presents Mirusia, Always & Forever (with Mirusia) |
|
34 | 17 | - | - | - | - | ||
| Moonlight Serenade (with His Johann Strauss Orchestra)) |
|
100 | 17 | - | 38 | - | 4 |
| |
| New Years Eve Concert |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Hits & Evergreens (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| And the Waltz Goes On |
|
63 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Waltzing in Europe |
|
- | - | - | - | - | 63 | ||
| December Lights / Joyeux Noël |
|
24 | - | - | - | - | 53 |
| |
| In Love with Maastricht |
|
- | - | - | - | - | 53 | ||
| Rieu Royale (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
3 | - | - | - | - | 40 | ||
| Mother & Child - Lullabies The Whole World Loves |
|
- | 16 | - | - | - | - | ||
| Classic Album Selections |
|
98 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Magic of the Movies |
|
- | 50 | - | - | - | - |
| |
| Celebrates ABBA / Music of the Night |
|
24 | 10 | 42 | 34 | 67 | 4 | ||
| Christmas Collection (with His Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
92 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Love Letters (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
- | - | - | - | - | 35 | ||
| Magic of the Musicals |
|
34 | 17 | - | - | - | 42 | ||
| Love in Venice / Eine Nacht in Venedig |
|
15 | - | 50 | - | 98 | 4 |
| |
| Best of Christmas (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
- | 46 | - | - | 95 | 83 | ||
| Magic of the Violin (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
- | - | - | 28 | - | 36 | ||
| Roman Holiday (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
43 | 39 | - | - | - | 8 |
| |
| Magic of the Waltz |
|
- | 34 | - | 35 | - | 16 | ||
| Viva Olympia (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
- | - | - | - | - | 42 | ||
| Falling in Love |
|
- | 20 | - | 22 | - | 7 |
| |
| Amore |
|
72 | - | - | 20 | 82 | 7 |
| |
| Romantic Moments II (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
6 | 27 | - | - | - | 22 |
| |
| Happy Days (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
26 | 25 | 60 | - | 82 | 6 |
| |
| Jolly Holiday / Fröhliche Winterzeit (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
7 | 10 | 18 | 25 | 94 | 6 |
| |
| Happy Together (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
28 | 28 | 63 | - | 71 | 5 |
| |
| Silver Bells (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
48 | 78 | - | - | - | 4 | ||
| Jewels of Romance (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
- | - | - | - | - | 8 | ||
| Love Is All Around (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| The Sound of Heaven (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
51 | - | - | - | - | 29 | ||
Videos
| Title | Details | Certifications |
|---|---|---|
| Strauß & Co / Strauss & Co / Strauss & Co (with Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
|
| Wiener Melange / The Vienna I Love (with Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
|
| In Concert (with Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
|
| Au Zénith de Paris (with Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
|
| Romantic Moments (with Johann Strauss Orchestra) |
|
|
| La Vie est Belle |
|
|
| Live at the Royal Albert Hall |
|
|
| Dreaming |
|
|
| Tour D'Amour / Love Around the World |
|
|
| The Best of Live |
|
|
| Croisière Romantique / Romantic Paradise |
|
|
| Live in Dublin |
|
|
| Der Fliegende Holländer / The Flying Dutchman |
|
|
| The Christmas I Love / Christmas with Andre Rieu |
|
|
| Songs From My Heart - Aus Meinem Herzen (Live in Maastricht) |
|
|
| Christmas Around the World / Weihnachten Rund um die Welt |
|
|
| New York Memories (Live at Radio City Music Hall) |
|
|
| In Wonderland |
|
|
| Live in Vienna |
|
|
| New Year's Eve in Vienna |
|
|
| Romance |
|
|
| On Holiday |
|
|
| On His Way to New York |
|
|
| Love Songs |
|
|
| Gala Concert |
|
|
| Live in Maastricht II |
|
|
| Live in Australia |
|
|
| The 100 Greatest Moments |
|
|
| Ich tanze mit dir in den Himmel hinein / Dancing Through the Skies |
|
|
| Champagne Melodies |
|
|
| At Schönbrunn, Vienna (with The Johann Strauss Orchestra and The Platin Tenors) |
|
|
| Live in Maastricht 3 |
|
|
| I Lost My Heart in Heidelberg |
|
|
| Forever Vienna |
|
|
| Live in Sydney |
|
|
| Gala: Live in de Arena |
|
|
| My African Dreams |
|
|
| A Midsummer Night's Dream (Live in Maastricht 4) |
|
|
| Roses from the South - Live in Dublin |
|
|
| Under the Stars (Live in Maastricht V) (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
|
| And the Waltz Goes On - Vienna, City of My Dreams (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
|
| Fiesta Mexicana! |
|
|
| From Maastricht With Love - The Collection (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
|
| Magic of the Movies (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
|
| Home for Christmas (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
|
| 25 Jahre Johann Strauss Orchester / Happy Birthday! (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
|
| Rieu Royale (Coronation Concert Live in Amsterdam) (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
|
| Live in Brazil (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
|
| Christmas Around The World / The Christmas I Love (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
|
| Magic of the Musicals (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
|
| Love in Venice: The 10th Anniversary Concert |
|
|
| Magic of the Violin (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
|
| Wonderful World - Live in Maastricht (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
|
| Magic of the Waltz (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
|
| Falling in Love in Maastricht (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
|
| Christmas in London (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
|
| Christmas Down Under: Live from Sydney (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir) |
|
References
Further reading
External links
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