André Rieu

André Rieu

Musician

André Rieu is a globally renowned Dutch violinist, conductor, and composer celebrated for reviving the waltz. He performs with his own massive ensemble, the Johann Strauss Orchestra, which he founded in 1987.The Band: Johann Strauss OrchestraOrigins: Rieu created the orchestra in 1987, starting with just 12 musicians.The Name: It is named in honor of the "Waltz King," Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, reflecting Rieu’s passion for Viennese operettas and waltzes.Size: What started as a small group of 12 now regularly tours worldwide with 50 to 70 musicians, making it one of the largest private orchestras in the world.Repertoire: While classically trained, Rieu and his orchestra are known for making classical crossover, operetta, and film music accessible and interactive, famously encouraging audiences to sing and dance.Early BeginningsBefore creating his massive global orchestra, Rieu formed his very first group in 1978 known as the Maastricht Salon Orchestra. Named after his hometown in the Netherlands, this smaller, intimate ensemble allowed him to experiment with lighter classical pieces and laid the foundation for his crowd-pleasing performance style.