Andre Rieu and Joy

In the annals of orchestral music, there is no conductor whose audience appreciation could surpass the showmanship of Andre Rieu. If you attend, or watch online, a performance by the orchestra and chorus conducted by this Dutch genius, you understand my enthusiasm.

I write “genius” because it is the truth. Andre took the ancient, formal, rather stuffy tradition of orchestral music and turned it around 180 degrees. He and his performers have done for classic music what the Beatles did for popular music. There is a precedent for Andre’s historic role. Johann Strauss had composed and conducted waltzes in Vienna, back in the late 19th century. Johann had the people dancing instead of just listening. I suppose that is why Andre calls his ensemble the “Johann Strauss Orchestra.” This nominal recognition of his Viennese forebear is appropriate. To behold a Rieu concert online is an experience unprecedented in the history of music. There is perhaps another predecessor for Andre’s contribution: Ludwig Van Beethoven. This comparison may seem strange when we consider that Ludwig, the Bonn genius who revolutionized 19th century Romantic music, is known for his gruff facial expression in the pictures that we see nowadays. But Ludwig saw the light. While nearing his life-end, Beethoven composed his last—his 9th symphony—as a tribute to Joy. That last labor of Ludwig’s love featured a libretto, a Schiller poem, “Ode to Joy”. T’was a great labor of love, a great onus of orchestral and vocal celebration. I devoted a whole chapter to it in my novel, King of Soul, So, yes, that hyper-serious genius laid the groundwork for Andre Rieu’s 2-centuries-later joyful inspiration. But hey! What Andre does with his people is beyond comparison, beyond tradition, beyond description. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVH89ggy1fY Glass half-Full