André Rieu

Born on October 1, 1949, in Maastricht, Netherlands, André Rieu hails from a musical family and began his violin studies at the age of five. His father was a conductor, and Rieu developed an early fascination with orchestras. He pursued his violin education at the Conservatoire Royal in Liège and the Conservatorium Maastricht from 1968 to 1973, studying under Jo Juda and Herman Krebbers. He furthered his studies at the Music Academy in Brussels from 1974 to 1977 with André Gertler, earning a Premier Prix.

Career Beginnings and the Waltz Revival

During his university years, Rieu's performance of Franz Lehár's "Gold And Silver Waltz" garnered significant audience enthusiasm, inspiring him to focus on the waltz genre. He founded the Maastricht Salon Orchestra and performed as a violinist with the Limburg Symphony Orchestra. In 1987, Rieu established the Johann Strauss Orchestra and his own production company. His theatrical stage performances and charismatic persona have been credited by some with contributing to a resurgence in the popularity of waltz music. André Rieu plays a 1667 Stradivarius violin.

In 2009, Rieu made a guest appearance as himself on the Australian soap opera "Neighbours."

The Johann Strauss Orchestra and Global Success

The Johann Strauss Orchestra, initially comprising 12 members, now performs with 40 to 50 musicians. Their European tours coincided with a renewed interest in waltz music, a revival partly sparked by their recording of Shostakovich's "Second Waltz." This led to Rieu being known as the "Waltz King."

Rieu and his orchestra have toured extensively across Europe, North America, and Japan. Their recordings have achieved gold and platinum status in numerous countries, including eight times platinum in the Netherlands, and they have received multiple awards, including two World Music Awards. In 2007, Rieu made his first solo appearances in Australia, performing at shopping centers in Melbourne and Sydney before returning with his orchestra for a major tour later that year. Their concerts, often themed around "A Romantic Vienna Night," feature elaborate stage designs, including replicas of Viennese castles, ice rinks, and ballrooms.

Rieu records a diverse repertoire, encompassing classical, popular, folk music, and soundtracks from films and musicals, at his own studios in Maastricht. His dynamic orchestral presentations and effective marketing have drawn large global audiences to this segment of classical music.

Select performances by Rieu and his orchestra have been broadcast internationally on public television networks, including "André Rieu Live in Dublin" (2003) and "André Rieu Live in Tuscany" (2005).

Artistic Reception

Rieu's music has drawn criticism from some quarters. Richard Tognetti, artistic director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, has described Rieu's music with terms such as "Schlager music." Eamon Kelly, writing in The Australian newspaper, noted that Rieu often portrays his critics as part of a "stuffy musical elite" while also expressing disdain for musical styles and artists who do not align with his preferences.

Personal Life

André Rieu is married to Marjorie, who manages production for his shows. They have two sons, Marc and Pierre. Rieu is fluent in Dutch (including his native Maastrichtian dialect), English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish. He previously worked with his brother, Jean Philippe, who has since established his own production company.