Andre Rieu's Music Magic

I am not the first to have discovered Andre Rieu. At large open-air concerts across Europe and the world, hundreds of thousands have delighted in his eclectic repetoire. I may, however, be the latest. Yesterday I watched several hours of concert from Kerkgarde in his native Holland and from the Schonbrunn in Vienna. I was struck by the wide range of ages in the audience and the obvious enjoyment of his music. That music ranged from famous opera choruses, through light opera and musical choruses, to waltzes and folk music and even nursery rhymes. Nor were the concerts without spectacle and humour. Watching the Vienna State Opera and Ballet dancing to the Blue Danube and Emperor Waltz in the beautiful ballrooms of the Schonbrunn was magical. In the staduim in Kerkgarde, at one point the music was accompanied by young riders from the Bismark Riding School in bright non-military uniforms. All of this was enthusiastically appreciated by the audience.

Andre Rieu is an incomparable showman as well as a virtuoso violinist. He leads and conducts centre stage with verve and abundant enthusiasm. His Johann Strauss Orchestra is as vivid. The ladies wear bright ballgowns giving the orchestra a colourful and vibrant feel. The white tie and tails of the men nicely balance the look. He introduces novelty items to keep the atmosphere light. In Kerkgarde, he brought on a 3 year old boy called Akim who played a violin concertina with the orchestra, from memory! Quite extraordinary.

As I was enjoying the concerts, I wondered whether we in England would have been as appreciative. I compared it in my mind to Concert in the Park reflecting that that was about big name singers, Pavarotti or the Three Tenors. Those were great concerts by outstanding musicians. But often we, as a nation, seem unduly impressed with those served up to us by slick marketing campaigns, sometimes despite their apparent lack of talent. How would such wholesome musical entertainment be received? Would we be able to fill an 18,000 seat stadium with young and old, black and white, to enjoy an evening of muscial merriment? Or are we just too jaded?

With concerts planned in Newcastle, Manchester, London and Birmingham in December 2012, I guess the answer is no. I feel encouraged. Perhaps good wholesome family musical entertainment, well done, is still appealing. Perhaps the cynical, celebrity England so often portrayed is another artifical creation. If so, lets encourage its early demise.