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Original poster

Has anyone ever watched an André Rieu concert?

67 replies

BerfyTigot · 11/09/2023 21:16

The audience look like they're having such a good time.

Presumably they've been drinking all afternoon as there are quite a few years too.

It's on Sky Arts at the moment...

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 11/09/2023 21:19

My dad adored Andre Rieu and had every DVD, watching at least one every day. Not my sort of thing, but a lot of showmanship and knowing what his audience like.

strungy · 11/09/2023 21:19

Yes love them !

Youthinkyoureuniqueyourejustastatistic · 11/09/2023 21:20

Love them…never been live though.
Hahaha my first “gig” growing up was to see James Last at Sheffield 😂😂

eggandonion · 11/09/2023 21:22

I have seen Andre live in concert. It is extremely jolly.
I also like watching his concerts whilst ironing!

OneFrenchEgg · 11/09/2023 21:22

What is the 'quite a few years' typo? And yes I love all that stuff.

Ifailed · 11/09/2023 21:23

Trite nonsense, with a whole heap of sexism thrown in.

eggandonion · 11/09/2023 21:23

Tears? Very emotional women of a certain age!

TenOhSeven · 11/09/2023 21:24

No, because I'm not 80 years old!

LunaLoveFood · 11/09/2023 21:29

I watch him lots on sky arts. I've just hunted for tickets to a UK concert and am disappointed that I've missed the UK leg of his tour this year.
I'm sat watching him now and I've just signed up for his newsletter so will hopefully hear about the next time he's in the UK before tickets sell out.

ColdMeg · 11/09/2023 21:30

I've seen him live. I took my grandmother to see him for Christmas one year.

I have to say it was a wonderful evening (and I'm an ex-raver, so not exactly his target audience). He's a real showman and it is very entertaining. There's a really happy vibe at his concerts. My grandmother loved it.

I'd go again, tbh. It's such a feel-good experience. Everyone was happy and smiling at each other. The atmosphere is really magical. And he plays all the pieces people know and love.

My grandmother has severe dementia now and no longer knows who I am. The Andre Rieu concert is one of the last times we went out together when she knew who she was and who I was. I'm so glad I had that opportunity with her.

I think what Andre Rieu does is really important. I know some sniff at the populism, but he gives a lot of people a lot of joy. And I think that's really special.

BotterMon · 11/09/2023 21:31

Oh god my FIL (RIP) watched him non-stop and went to concerts in Holland and Belgium.

DH always puts him on if he's channel hopping and sees he's on just to piss me off.

ssd · 11/09/2023 21:32

I love his shows and id love to see on, somewhere in Europe

Farmageddon · 11/09/2023 21:33

CMOTDibbler · 11/09/2023 21:19

My dad adored Andre Rieu and had every DVD, watching at least one every day. Not my sort of thing, but a lot of showmanship and knowing what his audience like.

Same - my dad loves him, and I've spent many a bored evening watching it along with him because he has dementia and music is something he can still enjoy.

But my god Andre Rieu is annoying, totally loves himself - and the women having to wear frilly dresses, it's all so old fashioned. Apparently he often picks their outfits 😟

Singleandproud · 11/09/2023 21:35

I was looking at tickets for his Christmas show yesterday, they aren't even that expensive it's just the travel and hotel that crank the price up.

gravitytester · 11/09/2023 21:37

My Aunt and Uncle went to many- they love it. Uncle passed away in 2020, so DM went with Aunt- again Aunt loved it, DM fell asleep 🤣

AnSionnachGlic · 11/09/2023 21:43

I saw him in Dublin few months ago. He was brilliant and had the whole crowd going. Myself and dh ( both early 50's) felt like young ones as most were more mature! The atmosphere was amazing ....I got so carried away I sent a clip to dd. She replied " a sea of white heads" 🤣....and she was correct! ( hadn't noticed until I checked back on my message!!). It wouldn't have been my dh's cup of tea but he really enjoyed it too.....we even waltzed in the aisles to ' Blue Danube' 🤫😊

Riverlee · 11/09/2023 21:43

Watched it on Sky Arts a while back. Although everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, and people adore them (and I kinda got what the attraction was), something about it seemed a bit odd to me.

I think I find André R a bit egoistical, performing in front of the orchestra. All the women are dressed in brightly coloured outfits and seen to fawn over him.

ChocolateCandle · 11/09/2023 21:48

@Coldmeg
I took my mother to see him and agree with this. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it!

MrsAvocet · 11/09/2023 21:51

My parents in law went a few years ago and enjoyed it. MIL is a huge fan and FIL got tickets as a birthday present though I don't think he'd have chosen to go otherwise. It was ridiculously expensive - I think their seats were something like £200 each and weren't anything like the best seats which really shocked me. I've seen some great orchestras and well know soloists in world class concert halls and never spent more than £50 for a seat, usually less. I acknowledge he is very good at what he does and is quite a showman but it's not to my taste at all and I wouldn't spend £2 to see him to be honest, never mind £200. But my MIL certainly had a good time and I don't begrudge her that. She probably wouldn't enjoy the concerts I like.

FettleOfKish · 11/09/2023 21:55

Went to see him in Maastricht a few years ago. It was a work thing so not my choice necessarily. I LOVED it.

I danced, I cried. Amazing experience.

The relationship with the orchestra seemed (so far as I could see) to be lighthearted and fun. Lots of laughter and a couple of what were obviously in-jokes between them. I believe they're well looked after; I read that during covid he was prepared to sell his violins to keep them all paid if it came to it.

tara66 · 11/09/2023 21:56

Hate his show.

FettleOfKish · 11/09/2023 21:56

Ps.. to the OP, I was stone cold sober when I danced and cried, but the atmosphere just carried me along.

Lottapianos · 11/09/2023 21:59

My parents adore him, they're in their 70s. Have seen him live several times and raved about him

'But my god Andre Rieu is annoying, totally loves himself - and the women having to wear frilly dresses, it's all so old fashioned'

I agree with all of this and find it all a bit grim. He is wildly popular, there's no denying that. I just don't get it

Bagofcrisps · 11/09/2023 21:59

I went to see him in Maastricht. It was fantastic

TheOGCCL · 11/09/2023 22:02

I’ve seen him live in Copenhagen (indoors) and in his home town of Maastricht (outside in the town square). He knows how to put on a show and the audience loves it. I used to think he was a bit arrogant but he brings a lot of joy to a lot of people. In Copenhagen, you could buy scarves with his face on.

I’m younger than the average audience member by some way, at Maastricht there was a wheelchair park and someone on a stretcher watching.