André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu (, ; born 1 October 1949) is a Dutch violinist and conductor best known as the founder of the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra.

Rieu and his orchestra tour worldwide, often playing in stadiums. He resides in his native Maastricht, where he also regularly performs at the Vrijthof.

Early life and education

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

left|thumb|Rieu's residence, the in Maastricht

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, although he found his parents strict and moved away from his father's musical style in adulthood. 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.

Personal life

He married Marjorie Kochmann in 1975. She has been a language teacher and has written compositions. They have two sons, including Pierre, a producer who frequently works with the Johann Strauss Orchestra.

He speaks five languages: Dutch, English, German, French and Spanish. As of 2020, he performs with between 50 and 60 musicians. Rieu plays a 1667 Stradivarius violin.

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Recent world tour results in Billboard / Pollstar annual worldwide top tours lists

|-

! style="width:50px;"| Year !! style="width:40px;"| Rank !! style="width:80px;"| No. of shows !! style="width:100px;"| Revenue !! Source

|- align=center

| 2010 || #16 || 86 shows || $39,992,285 || Billboard Top 25 Tours 2010

|- align=center

| 2011 || # 9 || 102 shows || $67,104,756 || Billboard Top 25 Tours 2011

|- align=center

| 2012 || #10 || 99 shows || $46,785,710 || Billboard Top 25 Tours 2012

|- align=center

| 2013 || #20 || 70 shows || $49,881,605 || Billboard Top 25 Tours 2013

|- align=center

| 2014 || #17 || 70 shows || $42,983,266 || Billboard Top 25 Tours 2014

|- align=center

| 2015 || #20 || 101 shows || $51,151,367 || Billboard Top 25 Tours 2015

|- align=center

| 2016 || #23 || 71 shows || $40,169,471 || Billboard Top 25 Tours 2016

|- align=center

| 2017 || #42 || 89 shows || $47,700,000 || Pollstar Top 100 Worldwide Tours

|- align=center

| 2018 || #21 || 71 shows || $55,933,149 || Billboard 2018 Top 25 Tours

Rieu also composed music for the 2014 film Tuscan Wedding.

Reception

Australia

Australia has one of Rieu's largest fanbases. 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." 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.

United Kingdom

Tom Service, reviewing a film of one of Rieu's Maastricht concerts (the highest-grossing concert film in British history upon the article's publication in 2015) in The Guardian, described the performance as the "very acme of commodified classical music", saying that Rieu turned "unsuspecting masterpieces" into "saccharine fodder". Also in The Guardian, in an interview with Rieu, Alfred Hickling stated that Rieu's critics were "missing the point", comparing Rieu's showmanship and business acumen to that of Johann Strauss II.

United States

Nina Siegal, for the New York Times, described Rieu as a "maestro for the masses, if not the critics", comparing him to Liberace while noting that his fame in the US had not reached the levels it has in Europe, Australia, and Brazil. In an email interview with Siegal, Rieu remarked that he saw frequent criticism of his act as "schmaltzy" as a compliment: "I’m trying to create a ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’ where music, décor and costumes all add up to a magical evening."

Honours

{| class="wikitable sortable"

!Country

!Date

!Appointment

!Ribbon

!Notes

|-

|Kingdom of the Netherlands

|2002

|Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion

|100x100px

|

|-

|Province of Limburg, Kingdom of the Netherlands

|2009

|Honorary Medal of the Province of Limburg

|

|

|-

|Republic of Austria

|2011

|Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria

|100x100px

|

|-

|Republic of Chile

|2024

|Pablo Neruda Order of Artistic and Cultural Merit

|

|

|}

Selected discography

Albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Album details

! scope="col" colspan="6"| Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Sales

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Certifications

|-

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| NLD<br/>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS<br>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| GER<br/>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| SWI<br/>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK<br>

|-

! scope="row"| Serenata <br> (with Maastricht Salon Orchestra)

|

  • Released: 1984
  • Label: Philips (412 322–1)

| - || - || - || - || - || -

|

|

|-

! scope="row"| La Belle Epoque <br> (with Maastricht Salon Orchestra)

|

  • Released: 1985
  • Label: Philips (824 717-1)

| - || - || - || - || - || -

|

|

|-

! scope="row"| Eine Kleine Salonmusik <br> (with Maastricht Salon Orchestra)

|

  • Released: 1987
  • Label: Philips (830 971–1)

| - || - || - || - || - || -

|

|

|-

! scope="row"| Hieringe Biete <br> (with Maastricht Salon Orchestra)

|

  • Released: 1989
  • Label: Marlstone Recordings BV (098904)

| 22 || - || - || - || - || -

|

|

|-

! scope="row"| Strauß Gala/ Strauss Gala <br> (with Johann Strauss Orchestra)

|

  • Released: 1989
  • Label: Marlstone Recordings BV (098917)

| 9 || - || - || - || - || -

|

|

|-

! scope="row"| Preuvenemint / Vrijthofconcert <br> (with Maastricht Salon Orchestra)

|

  • Released: 1991
  • Label: Mirasound (299079)

| 71 || - || - || - || - || -

|

|

|-

! scope="row"| D'n Blauwen Aovond <br> (with Maastricht Salon Orchestra)

|

  • Released: 1992
  • Label: CNR Records (100.385-2)

| 16 || - || - || - || - || -

|

|

|-

! scope="row"| Merry Christmas

|

  • Released: 1992
  • Label: CNR Records (100.396-2)

| 34 || - || - || - || - || -

|

|

  • NVPI: Gold

|

  • NVPI: 7× Platinum

|-

! scope="row"| Hieringe Biete 1 & 2 <br> (with Maastricht Salon Orchestra)

|

  • Released: December 1994
  • Label:

| 7 || - || - || - || - || -

|

|

|-

! scope="row"| Vienesse Blend

|

  • Released: September 1995
  • Label:

| - || - || - || - || - || -

|

|

  • NVPI: 2× Platinum
  • BVMI: Platinum

|-

! scope="row"| Musik Zum Träumen / Dromen / Dreaming

|

  • Released: October 2001
  • Label: Polydor (589 306–2)

| 8 || - || 7 || 25 || 13 || -

|

|

  • BVMI: Platinum

|-

! scope="row"| Waltzing in Europe

|

  • Released: April 2012
  • Label: Motif (MOTIF2005)

| - || - || - || - || - || 63

|

|

|-

! scope="row"| December Lights / Joyeux Noël

|

  • Released: December 2012
  • Label: Universal Music (0602537123292)

| 24 || - || - || - || - || 53

|

|

  • BPI: Silver
  • BPI: Gold
  • BPI: Platinum

|-

! scope="row"| Ich tanze mit dir in den Himmel hinein / Dancing Through the Skies

|

  • Released: February 2009
  • Label: Universal Music DVD

|

  • ARIA: 2× Platinum
  • BPI: Platinum

|-

! scope="row"| Roses from the South - Live in Dublin

|

  • Released: November 2010
  • Label: Universal Music DVD (0602527543253)

|

  • ARIA: 2× Platinum
  • BPI: Platinum
  • BPI: Gold

|-

! scope="row"| Home for Christmas <br> (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir)

|

  • Released: December 2012
  • Label: Universal Music DVD (0602537123339)

|

  • ARIA: 2× Platinum

|-

! scope="row"| Magic of the Violin <br> (with His Johan Strauss Orchestra & Choir)

|

  • Released: 2015
  • Label: Universal Music DVD (0602547258212)

|

  • ARIA: Gold