André Rieu Trounces Pop Acts and Rises To #2 in UK!

Classical Violinist Trounces Pop Acts and Climbs To Number Two in The Charts

Sunday Feb. 7th: A Classical Violinist trounced established pop acts yesterday when his album of Strauss waltzes climbed to NUMBER TWO in the Pop Charts. André Rieu beat pop stars including Paolo Nutini, Florence and the Machine and Lady Gaga with his album Forever Vienna. The Dutchman put his surprising surge in popularity down to the success of prime time TV dance shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing on Ice. The record is not only the highest-charting orchestral album ever, but also the first time a CD of 19th century music has appeared in the pop charts. Forever Vienna has steadily beaten off competition from Susan Boyle, Cheryl Cole and Michael Buble in the six weeks since it was released.

The album completely sold out in its first week of release and sales have since snowballed, with the album going gold - reaching 400,000 sales - in just three weeks and taking the No.1 spot in all of the major supermarkets sales charts. Since the UK Album Charts began in 1958, only once – when violinist Nigel Kennedy reached No.3 over 20 years ago – has classical instrumental music made such an impact. Kennedy brought Vivaldi into thousands homes with his landmark Four Seasons recording, which peaked at No3.

The UK is the latest in a string of countries to be swept off their feet by the violinist and his Johann Strauss Orchestra. He is already a huge international star with his tours, outselling music heavyweights Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay and AC/DC.

Rieu's spokesman told the Mail: ' André's popularity has a lot to do with the proliferation of prime-time dancing shows like Strictly Come Dancing, So You Think You Can Dance?, Got To Dance and Dancing On Ice.'The waltz has been an important part of many of those shows and really seems to have captured the public's imagination. 'He also appears to have a wide age-group of admirers. He's 60 but he does have sex appeal. He also seems to have knocked the stuffiness out of classical music.'At his live concerts, people actually get up and dance like they did when Strauss used to be performed the first time around in Vienna.'

Rieu said: ‘The waltz encapsulates all emotions in life, and this is why people love it. This UK 'pop' chart position is proof of that, so of course I am thrilled'.

Gennaro Castaldo, of HMV, said: 'Never before has this music made it into the pop charts. Rieu is adored all over the world and with this album he has shown music fans in the UK why. 'He certainly has a talent for bringing traditional waltz music to life, to be enjoyed in the way it was in its heyday.

'The success of Classical Music crossing over into the Pop mainstream has been evident some years now, but for André Rieu, who was relatively unknown in the UK until recently, to be in the top 2 and outselling the likes of Lady Gaga and Florence and the Machine suggests that something a little deeper is happening.

'Clearly, many fans have taken to Rieu's engaging personality and infectious brand of music, but it also seems likely the public's fascination with all things dance right now, and with the likes of Strictly and Dancing on Ice in particular, is also helping to boost sales.'

André's Comment About This From His Twitter: "I believe we just wrote pop chart history in the UK. Forever Vienna is on 2 position in the charts. UK here we come!!!!"

UPDATED FEBRUARY 10, 2010 ARTICLE ► How Andre waltzed his way to stardom