Patrick Langston, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Sunday, April 19, 2009

It was a spring evening. We were at Scotiabank Place. So it must have been André Rieu time.

Sure enough, reassuring us that the world is still at least partly predictable, the violinist/conductor a.k.a. The Waltz King of Europe led his Johann Strauss Orchestra through their well-oiled paces Saturday night just as he has done in the arena every spring for the past four years.

Once again, the impeccably groomed Rieu and his merry band of tails and gown-wearing musicians entered down the arena's centre aisle, playing a rousing rendition of Seventy-Six Trombones as about 2,500 adoring fans cheered. As usual, he told us that "music is the most beautiful thing in the world." And, once again, Rieu was as good as his word -- depending on your definition of beautiful -- by giving us an evening of familiar and unabashedly sentimental waltzes, polkas and show tunes.

In other words, despite the addition of new routines like a dance by wooden shoe-clad ladies of the orchestra, Rieu's 30th anniversary tour isn't much different from every other tour he's brought here.

Which is probably understandable, given that the man's non-stop touring (a native of Holland, he's also known as The Flying Dutchman) makes Bob Dylan look like a lay-about. Introducing new wrinkles might rumple his slick presentation, not to mention upsetting his fans.

And Rieu, whose website states that his "dream is to make the whole of classical music accessible for everyone," isn't about to irritate folks. Except maybe testy reviewers.

So, Saturday night we had Franz Lehar's Gold and Silver Waltz and Johann Strauss' The Blue Danube. Three tenors and three sopranos performed Neopolitan songs, arias from operas and operettas, and Broadway numbers. And, as a special treat, Rieu played "one of the most beautiful love songs of our time": My Heart Will Go On, from the movie Titanic. The simulated starry, starry night behind the orchestra never looked better than when the violins were soaring and the kettle drums rumbling; you half-expected Céline herself to descend from the arena's rafters.

She didn't, but it was still a fine evening for Rieu fans. And we'll doubtless all gather again next spring.