Hi Auntpat,
André Rieu is a Dutch violinist virtuoso and conductor of the Johann
Strauss Orchestra. He was born in Maastricht, Holland in 1950 into a
very musical family. His father was a conductor, and most of his
brothers and sisters are professional musicians.
To overcome shyness onstage during his early career, and to remove the
emotional distance between himself and his audience, he adopted the
example of Johann Strauss, who would create a festive atmosphere at
his performances and encourage his audiences to enjoy the music by
getting out of their seats and waltzing in the aisles. This was well
received, and Rieu assembled a group of local Dutch musicians,
creating the Johann Strauss Orchestra.
In 1994, he released his first album “Strauss & Co”. It was released
as popular music, and did very well on the Dutch and German charts. In
1996 Rieu toured throughout Europe, gaining additional fans in
Germany, France and Austria. A new album, From Holland With Love,
released that year, held the number one position on the Dutch charts
for over a year.
His appeal is widespread and his fans are legion:
“Rieu's live concerts attract a spectrum of fans, typically ranging in
age from 16 to 65 years old. Members of the audience can be seen in
any manner of attire, from formal black tie, to T-shirt and tennis
shoes. Rieu himself dresses in tails and wears his hair long. The
Johann Strauss Orchestra, also dress elegantly, appear to enjoy every
moment of each performance. Rieu's warm demeanor habitually sets the
audience to tapping its collective feet, if not dancing in the aisles
outright. Rieu is not himself a dancer; he does not waltz and prefers
it that way. Regardless he captured and held the interest of the
mainstream public with his classical music repertoire, a feat
accomplished by only a very few artists. Rieu's phenomenal success is
not an accident; he is considered an excellent conductor, a talented
violinist, and a great showman.”
Source:
Gale Group
Contemporary Musicians, Volume 26. 1999.
http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC?c=1&ste=12&docNum=K1608002428&AI=1168523&NA=André+Rieu&bConts=57&tab=1&vrsn=2.0&ca=1&tbst=prp&srchtp=name&n=10&locID=mlin_s_center&OP=contains
(Access to the above can be obtained through most public libraries,
and your library may provide for home access using your library
account.)
He married his wife, Marjorie, when he was in his mid-20’s, and they
have two sons. Today, Rieu specializes in light classics and Viennese
salon music. He conducts the Johann Strauss Orchestra and his last
three albums have gone platinum in Europe, making him the best selling
instrumentalist there in the last 20 years.
Source:
CBS News. The Showman Violinist
New York, Feb. 1, 2003
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/31/earlyshow/saturday/secondcup/main538805.shtml
He can often be seen on PBS fund-raising events, and, in fact, he is
featured on a PBS program even as I write this. (Monday evening,
Boston)
His personal website is located here:
http://www.andrerieu.nl/
and lists concert dates, personal information, news, goodies to
download, and a “boutique”, should you be interested.
Gracenote (CDDB), the largest online database of music information,
lists the following 30 albums for Rieu:
André Rieu / Romantic Moments
André Rieu / The Vienna I Love
André Rieu / André Rieu - Straus & Co
André Rieu / In Concert
André Rieu / The Christmas I Love
André Rieu & Johann Strauss Orchestra / Strauss Gala! - André Rieu
André Rieu & sein Johann Strauss Orchester / Rosen aus dem Sueden
André Rieu / Love Around The Word
André Rieu / Bal de Vienne
André Rieu / Live Gala Evening
André Rieu / King Of The Waltz
André Rieu / Dreaming
André Rieu / d'n Blauwen Aovond
André Rieu / Great Waltzes: Roses From The South - André Rieu
André Rieu / Fiesta
André Rieu / Ein Strauß-Festival
Verschiedene U. A. André Rieu / Juwelen Und Kostbarkeiten
André Rieu / Hieringe Biete (Disc 2)
André Rieu / Wiener Bonbons
André Rieu / André Rieu - Gala Evening (Disc 1 Of 2)
André Rieu / André Rieu - Valses
André Rieu / Das Walzer-Paradies (Disc 3)
André Rieu / The Collection
André Rieu / Doppel Gold
André Rieu / ANDRE RIEU NO 2
André Rieu / Król Walca
André Rieu / Jazz Suite Waltz Nr. 2
André Rieu / Das Jahrtausend Fest
André Rieu / Strauss Gala!
André Rieu / Heartstrings
Source:
Gracenote CDDB
http://www6.cddb.com/music/artist.html/ART=André+Rieu
2003 Tour info can be found at Pollstar:
http://www.pollstar.com/tour/searchall.pl?By=Artist&Content=ANDRIE&Key=Y
I hope this gives you the background on André Rieu that you were
looking for, Auntpat. If you should need any additional information,
please let me know.
Regards,
Beth
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