André Rieu

André Rieu was born in Maastricht, Netherlands, in 1949. He began playing the violin at a young age and studied at the Conservatory of Liège and the Conservatory of Maastricht. Before achieving international fame, Rieu played with various orchestras and founded his own Johann Strauss Orchestra in 1987, initially performing for smaller audiences.

• •André Rieu's orchestra, the Johann Strauss Orchestra, is one of the largest private orchestras in the world, with approximately 50 musicians.
• •He is often called the 'King of the Waltz' due to his popularization of waltz music and his opulent stage productions.
• •Rieu plays a 1667 Stradivarius violin, which he affectionately named 'The Peasant'.
• •His concerts are known for their grand scale, featuring elaborate costumes, impressive stage sets, and often special effects like snow or fireworks.