André Rieu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 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

André Rieu is a famous Dutch violinist and conductor. He is known for making classical and waltz music popular around the world. He created the Johann Strauss Orchestra, which performs lively concerts.

André Rieu and his orchestra travel the globe, bringing their unique style of music to many people. He lives in his hometown of Maastricht, in the Netherlands.

Early Life and Musical Start

André Rieu was born on October 1, 1949. He was the third of six children. His family name, Rieu, comes from French ancestors.

André's father was a conductor for the Maastricht Symphony Orchestra. This meant André grew up surrounded by music. He started playing the violin when he was just five years old. From a young age, he loved orchestras.

He studied violin at important music schools. These included the Conservatoire Royal in Liège and the Conservatorium Maastricht. He also studied at the Music Academy in Brussels. He finished his training with a special award called "Premier Prix."

In 1975, he married Marjorie Kochmann. She was a language teacher and also wrote music. They have two sons together. André can speak six different languages, including Dutch, English, and French!

Amazing Music Career

The Johann Strauss Orchestra

The Vrijthof square during one of Rieu's yearly concerts in his hometown of Maastricht (2018).

André Rieu with singer Carmen Monarcha (Düsseldorf, 2009).

André Rieu started the Johann Strauss Orchestra in 1987. It began with only 12 musicians. Their very first concert was on January 1, 1988. Today, the orchestra has between 50 and 60 musicians. André himself plays a very special violin made in 1667 by a famous maker named Stradivarius.

Rieu and his orchestra have performed all over the world. They have played in Europe, North and South America, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2008, his tour even included a huge copy of Empress Sisi's Castle as a stage! It was the biggest stage ever to go on tour at that time.

Worldwide Concert Success

André Rieu's concerts are very popular. They are among the top-grossing tours in the world. This means they make a lot of money because so many people buy tickets. Here's how well his tours have done:

In 2013, a TV channel in the UK, Sky Arts 2, was even renamed "Sky Arts Rieu" for two weeks! It showed his concerts and documentaries all day long. André Rieu also wrote music for the 2014 movie Tuscan Wedding.

Special Awards and Honours

André Rieu has received many awards and honours from different countries. These awards recognize his important contributions to music and culture.

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

Music Albums and Videos

André Rieu has released many successful albums and videos. His music often reaches high positions on music charts around the world. Many of his recordings have sold millions of copies, earning him gold and platinum awards.

Albums

Here are some of his popular albums:

• Serenata (1984)
• Strauß & Co (1994) – This album was a huge hit!
• Wiener Melange (1995)
• Stille Nacht (1997) – A Christmas album.
• Romantique (1998)
• La Vie est Belle (2000)
• Musik Zum Träumen (2001)
• Walzertraum (2002)
• Tuscany (2004)
• Songs from My Heart (2005)
• New York Memories (2006)
• André Rieu in Wonderland (2007)
• Waltzing Matilda (2008) – Very popular in Australia.
• You'll Never Walk Alone (2009)
• Forever Vienna (2009)
• Moonlight Serenade (2010)
• And the Waltz Goes On (2011)
• December Lights (2012)
• Rieu Royale (2013)
• Magic of the Movies (2013)
• Love in Venice (2014)
• Roman Holiday (2015)
• Falling in Love (2016)
• Amore (2017)
• Happy Days (2019)
• Jolly Holiday (2020)
• Happy Together (2021)
• Silver Bells (2022)
• Jewels of Romance (2023)
• Love Is All Around (2024)

Videos

André Rieu's live concert videos are also very popular. They let people experience his exciting shows from home. Many of his videos have also received platinum awards for high sales.

• Strauß & Co (1994)
• Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2002)
• Dreaming (2002)
• Live in Dublin (2003)
• The Flying Dutchman (2004)
• Songs From My Heart - Live in Maastricht (2005)
• New York Memories (Live at Radio City Music Hall) (2006)
• In Wonderland (2007)
• Live in Australia (2008) – This video was incredibly successful!
• At Schönbrunn, Vienna (2009)
• Live in Sydney (2009)
• A Midsummer Night's Dream (Live in Maastricht 4) (2010)
• Roses from the South - Live in Dublin (2010)
• Under the Stars (Live in Maastricht V) (2011)
• Fiesta Mexicana! (2011)
• Home for Christmas (2012)
• Rieu Royale (Coronation Concert Live in Amsterdam) (2013)
• Love in Venice: The 10th Anniversary Concert (2014)
• Wonderful World - Live in Maastricht (2015)
• Christmas in London (2016)
• Christmas Down Under: Live from Sydney (2019)

See Also

In Spanish: André Rieu para niños