ANDRÉ RIEU - THE WORLD'S GREATEST MUSIC STAR
He's bigger than U2 and a most unlikely musical sex symbol. If you have not heard of the Dutch violinist and conductor André Rieu, you soon will - 'Sydney Morning Herald'
"King of the Waltz" André Rieu - the charismatic Dutch violinist, conductor and composer - has created an international revival in waltz music with his spectacular musical extravaganzas, a revival further encouraged in the UK by BBC 1's Strictly Come Dancing. A musical phenomenon, André Rieu is unlike anything else in the entertainment world. Conducting his own Johann Strauss Orchestra with his violin bow, Rieu's onstage charisma and rock-star demeanor makes his productions irresistible.
Rieu's current sold out World Stadium Tour is the biggest transportable set up ever. The sheer scale of this spectacle, with its fairytale romanticism, is spellbinding. The perfect form of escapism from the drudgery of every day life, its popularity has already been proved all over the world. André Rieu is the biggest solo male touring artist in the world - more successful than Springsteen, Coldplay and AC/DC. This overwhelming sonic experience has, here, been captured on disc.
Each New Year's Day the eyes and ears of the world turn to Vienna and to the music of Johann Strauss. The warm-hearted geniality of this tradition is so all-embracing that it really should last longer than a day. Forever Vienna would be better - which is exactly what the world's favourite Strauss specialist André Rieu provides with his new album, which includes Stauss favourites Blue Danube, Vienna Blood, Voices of Spring and Wine, Women & Song, as well as Perpetuum Mobile, Thunder & Lightning Polka, music from The Gypsy Baron, and of course father Johann's Radetzky March. Franz Lehár of Merry Widow fame is strongly featured too with the Song of Vilja and You Are My Heart's Delight.
