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André Rieu
Rieu in 2009
Background information
Birth name	André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu
Born	(1949-10-01) 1 October 1949 (age 75) 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

André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu (Dutch: [ˈɑndreː riˈjøː], French: [ɑ̃dʁe ʁjø]; born 1 October 1949) is a Dutch violinist and conductor best known for creating the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra.

Rieu and his orchestra have turned classical and waltz music into a worldwide concert touring act. He resides in his native Maastricht.

Early life and family

The name Rieu is of French Huguenot origin, though both of Rieu's parents were Roman Catholic. André was born to Andries Antonie Rieu and is the third of six children.

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. He studied violin at the Conservatoire Royal in Liège and at the Conservatorium Maastricht, (1968–1973), studying under Jo Juda and Herman Krebbers.

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.

He married Marjorie Kochmann in 1975. She has been a language teacher and has written compositions. They have two sons.

He speaks six languages: Dutch, English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.

Career

Johann Strauss Orchestra

Rieu created the Johann Strauss Orchestra in 1987 and began with 12 members, giving its first concert on 1 January 1988. As of 2020, he performs with between 50 and 60 musicians. Rieu plays a 1667 Stradivarius violin.

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.

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.

Rieu also composed music for the 2014 film Tuscan Wedding.

In 2025, Andre Rieu will embark on an extensive European and UK tour.

Reception

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Australia

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".

Eamon Kelly wrote in The Australian newspaper: "It is disappointing to see professional journalists indulging in cheap, inaccurate stereotypes to dismiss criticism of Rieu." 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."

By December 2008, Rieu had achieved his 100th platinum accreditation in Australia 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.

Honours

Country	Date	Appointment	Ribbon	Notes
Kingdom of the Netherlands	2002	Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
Province of Limburg, Kingdom of the Netherlands	2009	Honorary Medal of the Province of Limburg
French Republic	2009	Knight of the Order of the Arts and the Letters
City of Maastricht, Kingdom of the Netherlands	2010	Medal of Honor from the City of Maastricht
Republic of Austria	2011	Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria
Kingdom of Bahrain	2023	Order of Bahrain - First Class
Republic of Chile	2024	Pablo Neruda Order of Artistic and Cultural Merit

Selected discography

Albums

Videos

References

1. ^ "The Year in Touring Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
2. ^ Rieu, André. "André Rieu Biography". Andrerieu.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
3. ^ "Interview on German TV". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
4. ^ Sonja. "Andre Rieu and his family". Andrerieutranslations.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
5. "André Rieu". classicfm.co.uk. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
6. ^ "André Rieu: ten things you never knew". Classic FM. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
7. "Still going strong - the Johann Strauss Orchestra". ClassicFM. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
8. "Andre Rieu is top 10 Touring act". Andrerieu.com. 5 January 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
9. "Top 25 Tours of 2010". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
10. "Top 25 Tours of 2011". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
11. "Top 25 Tours of 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
12. "Top 25 Tours of 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
13. "Top 25 Tours of 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
14. "Top 25 Tours of 2015". Billboard. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
15. "Charts – Year End". Billboard. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
16. "Top 25 Tours" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
17. "Year End Top 100 Worldwide Tours" (PDF). Pollstar. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
18. "Sky Arts 2 Celebrates André Rieu". Skyarts.sky.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
19. "André Rieu componeerde muziek Toscaanse Bruiloft". NU.nl (in Dutch). 20 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
20. "Lieke van Lexmond bruid in Toscaanse bruiloft". NU.nl (in Dutch). 21 May 2013. Archived from the original on 25 June 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
21. Admin (8 December 2024). "Andre Rieu Concerts 2025: A European and UK Tour You Don't Want to Miss • Festivals and Tours: Your Guide to European Music Events". Festivals and Tours: Your Guide to European Music Events. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
22. Mozart, Marie (2018). Andre Rieu Coloring Book: King of Waltz and Classical Music, Johan Strauss Orchestra and Violinist Prodigy Inspired Adult Coloring Book. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1-7258-9105-0.
23. ^ "Music's Great Polariser". The Australian. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
24. "The Rieu Records Tumble". auspOp. December 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
25. "Andre's $50M". auspOp. May 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
26. ^ Cooper, Kevin (14 November 2015). "Interview:Andre Rieu". UK Music Review. Retrieved 1 March 2021. For his work, Rieu has been awarded such honours as the Order of the Netherlands Lion by the Netherlands, the Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France, and the Honorary Medal by his native Province of Limburg.
27. ^ "Awards". Andrerieu.com. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
28. "Bahrain News Agency". Bna.bh. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
29. "André Rieu recibe la Orden al Mérito Pablo Neruda por su contribución a la difusión de la música clásica en el mundo". EMOL. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
30. "Discografie André Rieu". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
31. ^ Australian chart peaks:
    • Top 50 (ARIA) peaks from 13 June 1988: "australian-charts.com > Andre Rieu in Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
    • Top 100 (ARIA) peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 234–235.
    • Silver Bells: "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 28 November 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1708. Australian Recording Industry Association. 28 November 2022. p. 6.
32. ^ "Künstlerportal: André Rieu". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
33. "Discography of André Rieu". charts.nz. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
34. "Andre Rieu Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
35. ^ "Dutch album certifications Goud/Platina" (in Dutch). NVPI. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
36. Guido Van Der Heijden & Annemiek Leclaire (14 July 1995). "Nederlandse violist verkoopt meer dan de Beatles". Trouw. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
37. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (André Rieu)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
38. ^ "British certifications – Andre Rieu". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 November 2022. Type Andre Rieu in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
40. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2008 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
41. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
42. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2011 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
43. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
44. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
45. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
46. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
47. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2015 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
48. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 December 2021.

Further reading

• Rieu, Marjorie (2000). André Rieu: My Music, My Life. Naarden: Strengholt. ISBN 90-5860-0637.

External links

• André Rieu at IMDb
• André Rieu (official website)
• André Rieu's Official Australian website
• André Rieu (C Music TV Biography)
• André Rieu at AllMusic
• The Magic of Andre Rieu
• André Rieu official channel on YouTube

• 1949 births
• Living people
• 20th-century Dutch conductors (music)
• 20th-century classical violinists
• 20th-century Dutch male musicians
• 21st-century Dutch conductors (music)
• 21st-century classical violinists
• 21st-century Dutch male musicians
• Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
• Dutch classical violinists
• Dutch people of French descent
• Easy listening musicians
• Knights of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
• Maastricht Academy of Music alumni
• Male classical violinists
• Dutch male conductors (music)
• Musicians from Maastricht
• Recipients of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria