Classical music is a thing of the past? Not when it comes to André Rieu. With his violin and a smile on his face, star violinist André Rieu has been on stage for many decades. He and his orchestra have already reached several million people with their music – and yet the Dutchman is far from finished. Find out more about the start of his career, his success and his special violin here.
André Rieu grew up with music
André Rieu was born in Maastricht in 1949, shortly after his heavily pregnant mother and father moved there from Amsterdam. At that time, André already had two sisters, and later two brothers and another sister were to be added. The Dutchman and his three siblings grew up on his official website in a home filled with classical music: symphonies, chamber music and opera were part of their everyday lives. His father, a professional conductor, encouraged Rieu to learn an instrument at an early age and he began violin lessons at the age of five.
According to his own statements, he came to the violin through his mother. In an interview with Ludwig of Toronto tells Rieu that she thought the violin would suit him best – and that she was right. “There is no other instrument in the world that is able to express my inner feelings,” Rieu said in an interview.
André Rieu’s career start: In a cold school
Twenty years after he began his violin lessons, Rieu’s musical path led him to the Brussels Conservatory, where he was taught by André Gertier. A year later, in 1975, André married his great love Marjorie while he was still a student – who, according to his own statement on his website, later had a great influence on his career and success. In 1977, he completed his studies at the Brussels Conservatory with the “Premier Prix” award. Shortly afterwards, André and Marjorie’s first son Marc was born.
A year after graduating from Brussels, André Rieu founded his first orchestra, the Maastricht Salon Orchestra (Maastrichts Salon Orkest). This was to be the beginning of his great career. But it all started very small. In an interview with Ticketcorner He tells us that the first rehearsals took place in the unheated rooms of his sons’ school. One musician is said to have dropped out as soon as he saw the rehearsal room – something he is probably annoyed about today, as Rieu speculates in the interview.
Looking back, however, it was a very nice time for him. He had always wanted to travel around the world with his orchestra. And that dream came true, “not least thanks to the great support of my wife and family,” Rieu said in an interview. According to information on his website, this was followed by performances in the Netherlands, Germany and even the USA. At the same time, Rieu also played violin in the Limburg Symphony Orchestra.
André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra
The orchestra with which he became globally known is the Johann Strauss Orchestra. It was founded in 1987, and the members are said to have only rehearsed in the first six months of its existence. The orchestra consisted of just 12 musicians at the time – today there are up to 50 members.
Sea Universal Rieu’s orchestra is the largest private orchestra in the world and one of the most successful of its kind – worldwide. The orchestra has already reached more than 10 million spectators with its performances. A particular highlight was the concert in Melbourne in 2009, which was the largest in the orchestra’s history with 38,000 spectators.
Why André Rieu is so successful with his orchestra
Rieu celebrates great success with his Johann Strauss Orchestra and is known worldwide. In an interview with Ticketcorner He attributes this popularity to the fact that they really reach people with their music, as they play with joy and full devotion. They do not turn away from the audience, but play directly to them. This communicates emotions – which Rieu also describes as the secret of their success. “At my concerts, everything is allowed: crying, laughing, singing, dancing. People are happy when they are with us,” Rieu said in an interview.
But it is not just the joy or the music that plays a decisive role, according to him. Breaking with the conventions of typical classical music concerts also seems to bring him success and fame. In an interview with Ticketcornerthat they always have “a beautiful stage, beautiful lighting and elaborate costumes” at their performances. This is particularly important to the musician. In the interview he goes on to say that after his studies he played in a classical orchestra where everyone was dressed in black. “It all looks so serious and sad. So I changed that,” says Rieu in the interview. “Our concerts should be a real joy for the ear and the eye.”
Andrè Rieu: The violin of the star violinist
Rieu is a world-class violinist. And as such, the Dutchman doesn’t just have any violin. He plays a Stradivari violin made by the legendary violin maker Antonio Stradivari, as he revealed in an interview with Ticketkorner tells us that it is special for several reasons. Firstly, it dates back to 1732 and is made of special wood. Secondly, it is one of the last musical instruments created by the violin maker. In the interview, he says that he does not see himself as the owner of the Stradivari, but rather as a “caretaker for the next generation”.
André Rieu is still on tour
Although the star violinist has been on stage with his violin for many decades, he is far from finished. His tour dates for 2024 can be viewed on his official website – and they will take him all over Europe: from Maastricht via many corners to Vienna, via Milan to Zurich. And André Rieu will also be seen in Germany, for example in Frankfurt, Munich and Nuremberg. Tour dates have also already been announced for 2025. He will be visiting Glasgow and Dublin, among other places. So Rieu will continue to travel around Europe with his music in the future.
By the way: You can find out more about musicians in our article about the most successful pop stars of all time.
