André Rieu

It is not without reason that he is called the King of the Waltz and compared to Johann Strauss the Younger. With his virtuoso violin playing and conducting skills, André Rieux has won over the most demanding audiences in his homeland and around the world. Today he is one of the most renowned performers of classical music. Performances accompanied by the famous Johann Strauss Orchestra, which he founded, can hardly be called just concerts. They are magnificent symphonic shows that will leave no listener indifferent.

Childhood and youth of the future maestro

Dutch violinist, conductor and composer André Rieu was born in 1949 in Maastricht (Netherlands). The boy from an early age showed interest in practicing music, which was often played in the house. And this is not surprising: the head of the family Andre Rieu (senior) was a conductor of a symphony orchestra.

The future celebrity began to learn to play the violin at the age of five. Since that time, the boy practically did not part with the instrument, constantly improving his skills.

Having decided early on the choice of profession, Andre decided to get the best musical education and graduated from three conservatories - first in Liege, then in Maastricht and Brussels. Studying took a lot of effort and time. The most strict teacher was the most famous musician Andre Gertler, who did not tolerate even the smallest mistakes in the game of the future celebrity. But all the efforts of the young talent were not in vain.

Career of the artist

At first, the future musician was taken under his father's tutelage: Andre played second violin in his team. Then Rieux founded the Maastricht Salon Orchestra, which included only a few people. At first they performed in nursing homes, playing famous waltzes, later they toured all over Europe and beyond.

An important milestone in the creative biography of the artist was 1987. It was then that André Rieux gathered 12 musicians and organized the "Johann Strauss Orchestra". Over time, the number of the collective increased. Today it fluctuates within 50 musicians invited from all over the world.

Each performance is an incredibly bright and memorable spectacle. A special style of the orchestra has become the use of show elements in its concerts: large-scale scenery, original costumes. Such an approach and the pop style of performance caused outrage from a number of critics who believe that violinist André Rieux oversimplifies and popularizes classical music.

The maestro himself absolutely disagrees with this, assuring that he performs the music as it was intended by the authors, without changing anything. He only supplements the performance with gorgeous numbers. Rieux's goal is to revive interest in the classics, to make them more attractive in the eyes of the audience.

And this he succeeds in doing. The musicians' concerts, transformed into a real feast for true connoisseurs, are enchanting and unforgettable. The halls are always full of grateful spectators.

In the repertoire of the maestro and his team there are popular works that the public is ready to listen to forever:

• "Dove" by Sebastian Iradiere;
• "Bolero" by Maurice Ravel;
• My Way by Frank Sinatra.

Very often the performance of compositions so conquers the hearts of listeners that they cannot hold back tears. Such an effect, for example, is achieved by the lyrical "Ballad for Adeline", which the maestro and the orchestra regularly perform.

With no less enthusiasm the musician's fans meet the release of his albums. The first of them, entitled Merry Christmas, was released in 1992. Two years later the musicians recorded a waltz by Dmitri Shostakovich, which brought the group wide fame. The second album "Strauss and Company" became an instant sales hit and stayed at the top of the music charts for almost a year. Then the composer began to release at least 5 longplays a year. To date, the number of compilations sold is more than 30 million copies.

Family of the maestro

The personal life of André Rieux was quite successful. He met his love in his youth, when his career was just beginning to gain momentum. Make an offer maestro decided not immediately, but never regretted it. Marjorie became for him a faithful and loving wife, muse, manager of his music company. In this marriage the couple had two sons - Marc and Pierre.

The family of Andre Rieux supports his head in every possible way. His wife is still the manager of the company Andre Rieu productions. Here also works and son Pierre. Not so long ago, the maestro became a grandfather. The musician adores his grandchildren and tries to spend as much free time with them as possible. Unfortunately, the celebrity has it a little. Andre Rieu continues to tour around the world. The schedule of performances is scheduled for months ahead.