André Rieu, known as the “King of the Waltz,” is one of classical music’s most successful performers today. Here’s everything you should know about the Dutch violinist and his Johann Strauss Orchestra.Dutch violinist André Rieu, who performs the world’s most spectacular waltz extravaganzas, is credited with ushering in a global renaissance of the waltz, inspiring followers all over the world with his music.
Today, he is one of the world’s most successful solo male touring performers, occasionally outselling AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen, and Coldplay. From his upcoming concerts to his renowned Maastricht castle, here’s everything you need to know about André Rieu.
When was André Rieu born?
André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu was born on October 1, 1949, in Maastricht, Netherlands. On October 1, 2023, he will turn 74. Rieu was born the third of six children. His father, Andries Antonie Rieu, conducted the Maastricht Symphony Orchestra.
André shown great musical potential as a child, beginning to play the violin at the age of five. Growing up, Rieu learnt to speak six languages: Dutch, English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish.
Who is André Rieu’s wife?
André Rieu has been married to Marjorie Rieu for 47 years (as he revealed in an exclusive Valentine’s Day video below). Marjorie has taught languages and created her own music.
She rarely appears in public with André and has stated in an interview that she does not want to be defined by her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Rieu have two sons and five grandkids.
Where does André Rieu live?
André Rieu and his wife, Marjorie, live in a castle erected in 1492 in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Rieu went to the castle for piano lessons as a child and dreamed of one day filling it with chandeliers and artworks and living there. That ambition is now a reality, with the star doing interviews and receiving guests at the Castle ‘de Torentjes’.
In 2014, the musician provided Classic FM unique, personal access to his Maastricht castle; all photographs are available online.
André Rieu’s gigs and how to purchase tickets At an André Rieu concert, you can expect to hear both a Strauss waltz and an elaborate rendition of Lou Bega’s Mambo No.5. “My concerts are about joy and love!” Rieu once stated of his renowned worldwide concerts, which feature massive productions, frequently in an open-air setting, a large audience, and soloists with The Johann Strauss Orchestra (tickets here).
Many of Rieu’s concerts are filmed for cinema streams and DVD releases, and the performances frequently go viral afterward, garnering millions of views on YouTube. “People frequently ask me, ‘How do you chose your program?’
– The answer is “with my heart.” I love Johann Strauss, but I’m also captivated by Andrew Lloyd Webber or Bruce Springsteen,” he continued.
“We should stop limiting ourselves with categories and boundaries – not just in terms of music but in our lives in general.” Watch Rieu and Los Del Rio sing the ‘Macarena’ and try not to smile.
André Rieu’s Johann Strauss Orchestra André Rieu’s greatest achievement is likely his waltzing Johann Strauss Orchestra, the world’s largest private orchestra that is entirely privately owned and funded. He formed the ensemble in 1987, and its inaugural concert, featuring 12 members, took place on January 1, 1988.
As of 2020, the Johann Strauss Orchestra comprises 50 to 60 members and travels around Europe, Australia, North and South America, and Japan. Rieu always appears alone in front of the orchestra, leading while playing his 1667 Stradivarius violin.
