A classical violinist is #4 tonight in the UK pop charts
mainThat’s the good news.
Don’t hold your breath.
It’s ….
press release at 1900:
Global superstar violinist, André Rieu, has today made a monumental return to the UK Pop Album Chart as his new orchestral album enters at No. 4, competing with youngsters Ed Sheeran, Calvin Harris and only just behind Taylor Swift.
The astounding success of ‘Love in Venice’, which was released on Monday, places the Dutch instrumentalist above the likes of Sam Smith, George Ezra and The Script – an extraordinary result for an album of music mostly written in the 1800s.
Alongside this historic music are three of Rieu’s own compositions, written for orchestra and chorus, all intricately crafted and worlds apart from his competitors in the charts. The album is also No. 1 in the Classical Chart.
Rieu is wonderful and honest classical musician in his way. It is not my cup of tea, but many people get in touch with classical music thanks to him and his orchestra. He gives millions of people a happy moment with classical music.
If you don’t like the way he performs, stay away from his recordings and his concerts.
Dear Mr. de Jong,
I agree with you about Andre Rieu’s bringing joy to so many people.
His stage productions may be a bit over the top, costume-wise, but he and his orchestra are fine musicians, and anyone who is able to present well-played light classical music to a wide audience without mashing it up with hip-hop, rock-style electronica, or other gimmicks should have our gratitude.
And I’ve never met him, but I’ve heard that he’s a nice guy as well.
Congratulations, Andre!
(And by the way, Mr. Ohglorioso, I once heard Liberace play a Mozart sonata in what was one of the finest performances of that composer I’ve EVER heard – it was stylish, beautifully played, and well-conceived in every way. And yes, the candelabra was on the piano.)
Even though I don’t normally listen to Rieu, I see him as an honest musician who does a good job in promoting music. To put him in the ranks of Bocelli and Jenkins is laughable.
A friend of mine in his 80s who had been disabled and housebound for years watches Rieu’s concerts on Sky tv and he gets as much pleasure as I get from watching the Berlin Phil Digital Concert Hall. And that is a huge amount.
Personally I had never heard of him until a neighbour told me that he likes classical music, ie. Andre Rieu. I could not understand how there was a classical musician that I had not ever heard of until I googled him found out!