Andre Rieu

Andre Rieu, born Andre Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu on October 1, 1949, in Maastricht, Netherlands, developed an early interest in music through his father, who was the conductor of the Maastricht Symphony Orchestra. Rieu began studying violin at age five. His formal education included studies at the Conservatoire Royal in Liège and the Conservatorium Maastricht from 1968 to 1973. He continued his training at the Music Academy in Brussels from 1974 to 1977, where he received the distinction “Premier Prix” from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.

In 1987, Rieu founded the Johann Strauss Orchestra with an initial 12 members, giving their first performance on January 1, 1988. This orchestra has since grown to include between 50 and 60 musicians and has toured extensively across Europe, North and South America, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Rieu himself performs with a 1667 Stradivarius violin. His tours are known for elaborate productions, including a full-size reproduction of Empress Sisi’s Castle in 2008, which was noted as the largest stage setup to tour at that time.

Throughout his career, Rieu has achieved significant commercial success, with his global tours consistently ranking among the top-grossing of the year, competing with popular music artists. His albums and DVDs have earned numerous platinum accreditations worldwide. For instance, by December 2008, he had achieved his 100th platinum accreditation in Australia, and by May 2011, his CDs and DVDs had generated over $50 million in wholesale shipments in Australia, making him the highest-selling music artist in that market between 2006 and 2011. Rieu has also composed music for film, contributing to the 2014 film _Tuscan Wedding_.