Glitzy André Rieu Lives Up To The HypeTHERE was schmaltz, glitz and pizzazz, and then there was Andre Rieu.
Not a moment passes by without this omnipresent, laconic, beaming Svengali impressing his absolute authority on the proceedings, a musical iron fist in a velvet glove. His hero, Johann Strauss, would not have been dissimilar, dictating with his Stradivarius from the podium and talking to an enraptured audience of thousands as if by his own fireside.
The packaging was as important as the contents in this smorgasbord of waltzes, marches, folk melodies and operetta extracts loosely woven around Strauss’s Vienna with stunning visuals from Schönbrunn to the Austrian imperial coach.
Undoubtedly eye-candy surpasses ear titillation in this Rieu production, but his band, his bevy of soloists, including three sopranos and three tenors (of course), dancers, ice-skaters and a pipe band all perform to an excellent standard although, strangely, remaining uncredited in the program.
Undoubtedly, things really took off after dark when the set assumed added depth and there was audience dancing in the aisles to the Blue Danube Waltz, and sing-alongs, whistlings and clappings galore. Ordinary enough, you may think, but quite electrifying when thousands are involved.
And that appears to be the key to Rieu’s great success with the over fifties. This was not exactly a concert of classical music, as frequently observed, but more a celebration of music for the broad community based around the waltz and its off-shoots where people are made to feel welcome.
Is it worth going? Absolutely, if you want to trip the light fantastic figuratively or in reality, or if you like to see grins from ear to ear brought about by the power of simple music in a persuasive setting.
André Rieu AAMI Stadium Tuesday 18th November and Wednesday 19th November ~ Author Rodney Smith ~ Photo the property of Al Girard
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