Andre Rieu - The Best of Live [DVD]

as usual a really entertaining DVD if this is your first DVD of Andre Rieu it will get you wanting more of his concerts.

I'm a German amazon.de & co.uk- customer, who visited several of ANDRE RIEU's concerts in Germany and in Europe. I bought his CD-albums and several of his DVDs when I listened to several of his concerts! I bought quite a lot of his CD albums and many DVDs, because I wanted to keep his breathtakingly amazing concerts in my mind. Andre Rieu is a phenomenon!

His concerts are fully booked, and the tickets are sold out in short time after announcement. He is able to motivate thousands of people to sing with, to dance in the aisles.

His musicians in the orchestra are dressed in 'Rokkoko' or 'Barock' fashion style, all the artists sing and perform in Rokkoko or Barock fashion styles.

Some of the secret of his phenomenal success are the following -

Secret #1: he offers music almost everyone knows. Songs almost everyone knows are called "Gassenhauer" in German language.

Secret #2 is that he motivates the people to sing with, and he motivates the people to stand up and sit down. He brings movement into the public. Some people of the audience even dance in the small aisles.

Secret #3 - the members of his orchestra are not only dressed in tuxedo and black skirt with white shirts, they are dressed in Rokkoko fashion style.

Secret #4 - there are many funny jokes in his performances. His performances are not so pure formal as people know this from performances of "Staatsopera" in Vienna or .... etc. He makes the people in the audience laugh!

Secret #5 - it is the mixture, the sum of 'secrets' #1 to #4, that the audience gives him standing ovations.

If You're in the audience of one of his performances, You will say: "This is such a wonderful performance, I wish, this evening will never end!" And the people in the audience cry for "Zugabe" (one song more please). Andre Rieu doesn't only perform all over Germany, he travels with his orchestra all over Europe and even worldwide - North America, Far East.

This is what people in the audience say about Andre Rieu's performances:

..."The extended encores are especially enjoyable, where the orchestra diverts from classical music to popular songs from around the globe, and has the crowd literally dancing in the aisles. "

...Andre Rieu's interaction with the audience and comical antics are what "make" his concerts so special. ...."

..."The excitement generated by the audience is contagious"

..."Andre Rieu is always warm, enthusiastic, and full of good-humor"

...."The set of songs is perhaps the most lively and varied. There are waltzes, beautiful symphonic songs, ethnic pieces, and jazz numbers. "

..."When his music isn't making me get up and dance with my long-suffering partner around the room, I'm sitting there blubbing at music like "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic. He is truly amazing and a joy to watch. The costumes of the ladies in his orchestra are beautiful and everyone is full of fun at the same time. Watching the faces of the people in his audience, and their reactions to what is in front of them, is great. Go on and treat yourself - you'll never tire of listening and watching anything by this man. ..."
...."Of course Andre and his orchestra are tremendous. Carmen Monarcha in 'O mio babbino caro' and Carla in 'Song of Olympia' are sensational - Carmen so cute yet convincing and Carla petite and impressive - both with such beautiful voices. I loved the touch of humour during Espana Cani and the Chianti Song. As an opera lover I enjoyed the pieces from Opera Potpourri and Merry Widow, and the Irish audience lavished in their singalong to these tunes. Of course I never tire listening to the waltzes and marches and I must admit I simply loved Andre and the Dubliner John battling it out on their violins - most entertaining. I just love the way Andre Rieu and his JSO make music. I really enjoy his DVDs because they emit that good feeling factor and The Last Rose is no exception! ..."

..."On a beautiful Melbourne evening in November 2008, an audience of nearly 40,000 witnessed the show of a lifetime. Andre Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra, together with the Imperial Ballet of Vienna, Elmayer Debutantes, Stars on Ice and the Australian Federal Police Pipe and Drum Band and friends brought Vienna to Australia. Against the spectacular backdrop of the Schonbrunn Palace reproduced complete with fountains and a golden ballroom, Andre, his musicians and his entourage entertained the audience with gems from the Austrian capital as well as a host of popular melodies from his 'second home', Australia. ..."

....=After waiting for 18 months to see Andre perform live in Australia his first concerts were in Melbourne. Wanting to attend his first concert I ended up going to three as his additional concerts were always in advance.
Over 90,000 people attended those 3 concerts. As tickets sold very fast in each city fans were flying interstate - sometimes on 3 hour plus flights - just to see him. Also New Zealanders were taking the 3 hour flights as well.
This concert had a record crowd for Andre Rieu and everyone had a ball. People were talking about his concerts each day after one; at work, on public transport, while shopping etc. He made an amazing impact.
Everyone loved our Aussie singers: Gary Bennett of 'The Platin Tenors' and of course his soloist Mirusia Lowerouse. The DVD doesn't show the full extent of the microphone incident. When we watched the replay of the concert - it had been televised live - Suzan Erens had been singing for 45 seconds and not the few shown here. If you want to see how audiences interact with Andre this is the DVD to get.
He has just finished his second tour Down Under and for Christmas has just released 'Live in Sydney' which features Dame Edna Everage and Alan Jones. I bought it for friends who are Dame Edna fans as there is 20 minutes of her on that DVD. Also, available on Aussie DVD or music sites is Andre's Australian Adventures the documentary companion to Live in Australia.
Sit back, join in and have lots of fun. FANTASTIC!!! ..."

....."Watch Andre Rieu play his violin and his Johann Strauss orchestra. Play songs old and new classics. Some of the songs are Austrilian oranted. With guests include The Platin Tenors perform Nessun dorma, Chianti song. Other guests include Mirusia Louwerse perform Concerto pour une voix and Wishing you were somehow here again. (from Phantom of the opera). The D.V.D includes the usual songs by Andre Rieu and Johann Strauss orchestra with songs On a beautiful blue danube, Bolero, Radetzky march, Strauss and co, And The European pipe pipe band play pipes in Amazing Grace. With Andre Rieu. Watch ballet dancers perform songs with Andre Rieu and his orchestra. And watch ballet dancers on ice skates perform songs with Andre Rieu and his orchestra. Andre Rieu and his Johnann Strauss orchestra and his guests all perform in a set castle with an ice rink and ballet. With an audience of 40.000 and looked like they enjoyed the peerformance. With tears of joy and laughter. ....."

...."ANDRE RIEU - LIVE AT MAASTRICHT - but a few words after watching the performance on Sky Arts on Saturday 21st August 2010 - the show was the best music performance I (we, my wife and I ) have seen for many many years - We are not normally that interested in the type of music played but we decided to watch the program as we have seen a little of Andre Reiu in the past - we are so glad that we did - it was SUPERB - we are now fans of AD and although we recorded the show we are certainly going to purchase the DVD and probably a few more of Andre Rieu. Nice Fella!! ...."

...."As there isn't one, I will provide a Product Description:
You are most cordially invited to a wedding celebration concert with André Rieu in one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world, the famous Semper Opera in Dresden. The staging is truly sumptuous with the dancers performing on a raised ballroom above the orchestra. The gowns of the sopranos are the most lavish imaginable.

As well as the charming bride and bridegroom of this joyous occasion, there are 40 more fabulous pairs of dancers from the famous Vienna Debutantes of the Elmayer Dance School in Vienna. Together with the beautiful sopranos Mirusia Louwerse and Carmen Monarcha, the handsome Dutch tenor Morschi Franz, the bombastic Platinum Tenors, the Johann Strauss Orchestra and the inspirational direction of André Rieu. English subtitles available for the linking introductions. There are the comic moments, the encores and the lively finale we have come to expect from Andre and the JLO.

André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra have performed throughout Europe, in North America, Japan and Australia. They have won a number of awards including two World Music Awards and have recordings that have gone Gold and Platinum in many countries around the world. André Rieu plays a 1667 Stradivarius. His repertoire includes a wide range of classical music as well as popular and folk music plus music from famous motion picture sound tracks and theatre musicals. His lively and colourful orchestral presentations have attracted worldwide audiences to classical music. ..."
..."Relax and enjoy this concert. Andre Rieu once again demonstrates his showmanship.His enjoyment of music and his enthusiasm delightfully infects the audience who are with him 100%. His presentation and arrangements are pure magic and his orchestra obviously enjoy the performances and the opportunity to take an active part in the performance beyond delivering the music. Forget the seriousness and dare I say it the snobbery of many classicists, this opens up serious (and sometimes not so serious) music to all. Read more ›