For the past two years Andre Rieu has been
Universal Music New Zealand's top selling artist.

The violin-toting Dutch musician is credited with bringing back the waltz, and his last concert in Australia attracted a sell-out crowd of 38,000.  As comfortable cross-legged as he is on stage, Rieu is clearing loving being back in Australia - his self-professed home away from home.  Irrepressibly passionate about his music, antipodean audiences it seems just cannot get enough of Rieu.  His brand of accessible populist classics has certainly hit the right note.

At his show in Melbourne last year, he shipped in a castle, complete with ice-rink and fountain, a 120-strong orchestra, a couple of choirs and opera singers, a host of skaters and dancers, and a horse-drawn carriage. He had a good many of the audience waltzing in the aisles and promises he'll have Kiwi audiences doing the same in October. Rieu is very loyal to his Aussie fanbase and visits regularly, and not just to soak up the harbour views.

He played live for them on Sunrise Australia this morning and has even guest-starred on Neighbours.  "Neighbours is a national treasure," he says. "I felt very honoured. I am glad I am violinist not an actor."

So would he consider an appearance on Shortland Street when he heads to Auckland in October?  "I could be a patient," he laughs. "I think I'll be a patient."

While the castle won't be making the trip to Auckland, Rieu's full orchestra will be and he's already had a taste of his Kiwi fans.