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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Andre Rieu

133 replies

MOIST · 13/02/2017 21:06

Is he actually real? Does he talk a fake language? Can he actually play the fiddle? Why do his women orchestra players wear such extraordinary frocks? What century is he in? What country?

OP posts:
KoalaDownUnder · 13/02/2017 21:26

he must be a reason for people to get sky tv.

Dear God. Grin

Melfish · 13/02/2017 21:27

His concert DVDs are v popular with the residents at DMs nursing home. Having watched one with them he seems to be quite entertaining (he does veer into gibberish) and the concerts appear to be packed with enthusiastic pensioners.

Original poster
MOIST · 13/02/2017 21:28

It all looks like a bit of a hoot. Lots of lovely smiley slightly odd audience and fabulous big fat gypsy dresses. What's not to lunar? And get a little mousy over?

OP posts:
KatyBerry · 13/02/2017 21:30

you're absolutely spot on - I think you're absolutely right that an entire month of back to back Rieu live does bring a certain demographic in to Sky. Even though they've bought the DVD, been to the cinema to watch the simulcast and then been to a concert

(his trombonist can balance the trombone upwards on his nose, like a performing sea lion with a ball)

TheMadGardener · 13/02/2017 21:34

My 80 year old mum LOVES him and has even been to Maastricht to see him in concert. Has all his CDS and DVDS. From reading this thread, she is clearly his target demographic! Grin

Original poster
MOIST · 13/02/2017 21:37

Katy. You were watching just now weren't you?

OP posts:
KatyBerry · 13/02/2017 21:46

hahaha no! I have seen him at the classical brits before though. It was quite the show

EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans · 13/02/2017 21:46

My 94 year old grandmother loves him too. I bought her a box set of his DVDs for Christmas and she was ecstatic.

MidniteScribbler · 13/02/2017 21:47

Good luck to him I say. He's found a demographic and it works for him and he's making lots of money doing what he enjoys. There's worse ways to spend your life.

AgentCooper · 13/02/2017 21:49

He annoys fuck out of me. That mad face he makes with the twiddly eyebrow movement as if he knows some secret.

EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans · 13/02/2017 21:49

True. He makes a lot of old ladies happy.

AlIsPoison · 13/02/2017 21:50

My dad loves him. He and Mum have been to Maastricht every year for TOO long to see him. Apparently the orchestra are one big happy family. Not my cuppa yea, despite Dad's best efforts...

twinklefoot · 13/02/2017 21:51

I agree, he totally baffles me too. I watched a concert the other week where snow was let down onto the audience and nearly suffocated half the audience!

I always imagine he walks around in tight y-fronts at home barking orders at staff.

SingingSands · 13/02/2017 21:53

My 83 year old neighbour LOVES him. She gave me one of his DVDs at Christmas!

She always puts his DVDs on when I pop round and I find myself getting strangely drawn into them.

He must be worth an absolute fortune.

Singyourheartout · 13/02/2017 21:53

I'm must be the only 20 year old that loves him! I think he make music enchanting and get ride of the starchyness of classical music. I love the dancers and the dresses, I think his rather lovely

FeralBeryl · 13/02/2017 21:54

Blush I went to see him at Christmas.
In my defence I took DM but although I was the youngest there by 30 years it was a really good night. He's big on audience participation, the musicians are a well oiled machine and there is a real family atmosphere.

PlayOnWurtz · 13/02/2017 21:54

He's awful! How anyone with even basic level understanding of music can like him baffles me

MrSlant · 13/02/2017 21:58

I love this thread, I'd never heard of him before. 5 minutes of him on YouTube and whilst it would make my teeth itch to be within 500m of one of his concerts the fact that they, and he, exist is somehow making the world a better place. How utterly, perfectly, bonkers.

deste · 13/02/2017 22:00

Ok I have to admit I paid a fortune twice to see him live and....... it was fantastic. My DH saw him on Sky Arts and raved about the programme so much that I bought him tickets for Christmas a few years ago. The show is spectacular and to be honest the music is secondary. He is a showman and his musicians seem to love him. I think the fact so many people pay so much to go and see him says it all.

MistyMinge · 13/02/2017 22:04

Ahhh my 89 year old Grandma thinks he's the bees knees.

londonmummy1966 · 13/02/2017 22:08

My mum once told me that he pays the women to buy nice frocks.

There's nothing nice about those frocks though - even Barbie would be embarrassed and I hate to think what would happen if someone dropped a match near one of them....

RedBugMug · 13/02/2017 22:10

I know someone who played with him in one of those glittery frocks it was quite popular amongst orchestral students. easy money.

justilou · 13/02/2017 22:10

He's astoundingly twee, isn't he? I suspect he appeals to those old dears who passed their time by reading Barbara Cartland novels - wishing for the "Olden Days" when a handsome, uniformed man would waltz them off the dance floor, pressing himself to their "heaving bosoms" (hence the toilet dolly frocks) and whisk them away from the stinky, uncommunicative git sitting opposite them, shouting through the tv at the referee. I loathe him.

TheNaze73 · 13/02/2017 22:11

Sky Arts may as well, change its name to the Andre Bloody Rieu channel.

magicstar1 · 13/02/2017 22:11

DH and I went to see him last year. Two bikers in leathers among all the old dears...It was good fun though