I applaud andre rieu........

[ericwood992]

My Submission:

Andre Rieu with his fabulous orchestra and soloists have done more to bring good music into the lives of ordinary people in the past 15 years than any other musicians, with a completely different approach to presentation and entertainment.

His concerts deliver much more than music alone. They are a complete entertainment experience, especially the outdoor concerts in which he excels.

The Maastricht, Heidelberg and Tuscany Concerts are simply magnificent DVDs and should be watched throughout to be appreciated.

An extract from Romantic Paradise in Tuscany:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxevg712Xec

 

[Corno Dolce]

I too applaud Andre Rieu for his efforts - Yes, I have been castigated by my "purist" friends for liking such "trashy music" - I am still a purist at heart but I also understand that Rieu is communicating to a wide audience and therefore he deserves support from all the classical musicians the world over...

 

[wljmrbill]

I too enjoy his performances and demeanor with the audience. He has some great arrangements that even the purist should appreciate if they get off their high pedestal and come back to earth... I also enjoy the: The Tenors( Canadian former group), Il Divo, Yanni to name a few.

 

[ericwood992]

Thank you Corno Dolce and Bill. I'm glad that I'm not the only member of this forum to enjoy him. I think that familiarity with the European cafe culture, the architecture and an appreciation of the culture of Europe helps in responding positively to the ambience that Andre creates around his performances; and I do love the music he plays..............AND the fun!!.
For those who have shied away from his concerts, it is definitely NOT all Strauss waltzes!!

I expected this to be a controversial thread when I initiated it, but it seems that not many members have any views on the subject. Hey, ho!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCrfhZmWJoU

 

[JHC]

My time is too limited to waste...

 

[marval]

I also enjoy him, he has done a lot to bring music to a wider audience. Purists should be glad that a love of music is being spread.

 

[ericwood992]

Thank you Margaret, I completely agree! Haven't got time to reply to Colin.............!

 

[JHC]

Thank you Margaret, I completely agree! Haven't got time to reply to Colin.............!

I mean waste time listening to Rieu not replying to thread. I don't think people are going to move away from pop after hearing him and get into Mahler, Beethoven, Shostakovich etc If children are to have a chance of appreciating classical they either have to hear it at school or in the home IMO of course.

 

[Dorsetmike]

Thing is, is he just "flavour of the month" pushed by some record company or other axe grinder. I tend to get a bit suspicious when an artist/conductor/composer gets 4 discs in the top twenty each week for a few months, I suspect a lot of hype has been generated and the masses have done their usual WOW! reaction. I don't claim to be a purist by any stretch of the imagination but I prefer baroque, and other early music (as well as jazz) Beethoven, Mozart, Strauss, Schumann and the rest of the "romantics" have been done to death and hold very little interest for me. There may be the occasional work that catches my ear, but chances are it won't feature in the Classic FM top 300 or weekly top 30/40 shows. (and before you ask, Bach wrote over a thousand works, I've not heard anywhere near all of them yet)

I like to hear works that don't get much, if any, air time, it comes fresher and more interesting that the thousandth rendition of the 1812, or Beethoven's Moonlight served up by the latest "discovery".

How many here would recognise any of John Stanley's Trio sonatas, or keyboard concertos, for most, apart from organists, about the only Stanley work they know is the done to death "trumpet Voluntary

Here first as it probably should sound in terms of registration, and including the full work, you rarely hear the first movement, and even more rare the third.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKAWLad1uqs

and here "murdered"? by Diane Bish - overkill?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl3eZk9J3xQ

 

[JHC]

It's the same with all the so called Tenors. I won't mention names.

 

[Dorsetmike]

It's the same with all the so called Tenors. I won't mention names.

and there are more than 3 in my opinion, think Mario Lanza was probably the most prominent of the early ones, thank the lord for off switches and mute buttons! Same applies for me to young divas, e.g. Charlotte church, Hailey Westenrah (spelling?) et al, very nice in small doses, but not the continuous repetition that they get while in vogue.

Think I'll start a new thread on works that deserve more exposure, save hi-jacking this one! One problem may be that Youtube even doesn't carry a lot of the good stuff, so may have to rely on 59 second samples.

 

[JHC]

and there are more than 3 in my opinion, think Mario Lanza was probably the most prominent of the early ones.

I was not referring to Domingo, Carreras and Pavarotti they were Tenors who had proved themselves in opera but all the others that jumped on the band wagon.
I think all threads diverge and cover other avenues personally I don't mind that.

 

[Dorsetmike]

I was not referring to Domingo, Carreras and Pavarotti they were Tenors who had proved themselves in opera but all the others that jumped on the band wagon.

Three of the reasons I don't listen to most opera, squawking screeching and yelling tenors, addd to that females with excessively wobbly tonsils ( e.g.Cecilia Bartolli) and you have a noise I would run a mile (even at my age) to avoid, ghastly racket. This is my best Tenor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_1Ry44K-MM

 

[JHC]

Yes Mike he is very good, his 'Au fond du temple saint' with Merrill, a classic.
So you don't like opera how about Gluck and his 'Orfeo ed Euridice'
Now if schools to day let children hear music of this caliber we may be able to swell our ranks a bit without the likes of pop tenors, sopranos and Mr Rieu.

 

[Corno Dolce]

I mean waste time listening to Rieu not replying to thread. I don't think people are going to move away from pop after hearing him and get into Mahler, Beethoven, Shostakovich etc If children are to have a chance of appreciating classical they either have to hear it at school or in the home IMO of course.

Br. Colin,

I perceive great truth in what you say about those who listen to Rieu and then because of him, listen to other works by other composers. The one does not presuppose the others.

 

[wljmrbill]

I must disagree on this point guys. I have known and had students who became interesting in the classics after hearing: Yanni, Rieu, Mantovani, IlDivo , Boston Pops, etc.etc. as they use/play many classical themes in their arrangements and expose many to the beginning of exploring the vast musical field.IMHO

 

[JHC]

What were they studying with you Bill? I assume by your posts that you are an Organist but I may have this wrong.

 

[wljmrbill]

Yes you are right. I taught piano, organ and voice.. and alot of seminar type sessions. Did some choral and orchestra conducting to boot. Being the head-organist/choirmaster I had many opportunities presented to me at various ages and levels..so a varied field for me.

 

[ericwood992]

I was hoping for a little controversy on this subject, but I detect scorn in one or two of the negative posts here, which is a pity. Andre Rieu has been a professional musician for many years now, and he is without any doubt one of the most popular in the world with his Johann Strauss Orchestra concerts. I personally am confident that he has not just encouraged children to listen to and appreciate good music, but also many, many adults as well. I think that his popularity as a musician and performer speaks for itself, and though he may not be to everyone's taste, he deserves a certain respect for the joy he has brought to millions of lives through his music. This joy is absolutely obvious on the faces of the thousands in his audiences when watching any of his many DVDs.
As I say, I applaud him..............!

 

[JHC]

I was hoping for a little controversy on this subject, but I detect scorn in one or two of the negative posts here, which is a pity.
As I say, I applaud him..............!

Eric I do applaud him but not for the reason that you give he is a very successful entrepreneur who has found a very lucrative niche in the music business and is making a lot of money and to quote from Wiki “The orchestra is well known for performing classical works with a distinctly unorthodox frivolity, joking with the audience and performing all sorts of antics” he is dumbing down to make it more acceptable to a large audience that normally would not have the slightest interest (the BBC have also done this with their Proms) but to suggest that these people will convert to classical music is a wild stretch of the imagination,

Yes you are right. I taught piano, organ and voice.. and alot of seminar type sessions. Did some choral and orchestra conducting to boot. Being the head-organist/choirmaster I had many opportunities presented to me at various ages and levels..so a varied field for me.

A truly commendable achievement Bill I applaud you