Violinist and Conductor Andre Rieu and Orchestra
Provided Musical and Visual Treat.

Even though the man on stage is the No. 1 classical artist in the world, it felt more like a rock concert at the Wachovia Arena Friday night. (May 15, 2009)

World-renowned violinist and conductor Andre Rieu brought his Johann Strauss Orchestra to Wilkes-Barre Township Friday, playing his high-energy and highly-entertaining blend of classical music, marches and show tunes.

The performance had everything – dancing girls, three talented divas, three extraordinary tenors, a nearly 50-piece orchestra that played more than 78 instruments and a generous helping of world-famous songs.

About the only things missing were the guitar solos, smoke machines and laser show.

Rieu, the 59-year-old maestro from the Netherlands, was an expert showman from the moment he led his musicians down the aisle to the tune of “Seventy-Six Trombones” to the final notes of an exquisite version of Brahms’ “Lullaby.”

Like other “PBS phenomena,” such as Daniel O’Donnell and Celtic Woman, Rieu has found fame and fortune by following phenomenally-successful television specials with phenomenally-successful concert tours. Last year alone, more than 700,000 people went to see and hear Rieu.

But don’t think his appeal ends with concert-goers and public-television watchers. He also dominates the Billboard magazine classical charts.

His “Greatest Hits” collection is currently No. 8 on the Top Classical Albums listing, while “Live in Vienna” sits at No. 12. Three other albums finished in the Top 25 for all of 2008, with “Radio City Music Hall: Live in New York” finishing No. 3 for the year. Rieu reigned in 2008 as the No. 1 classical artist according to Billboard, having charted eight different albums throughout the year.

He certainly fills a niche, one that few – if any – others could. Much like Liberace did more than 50 years ago, Rieu makes classical music more friendly for the masses by dressing it up with the showmanship of a Las Vegas style performer.

That showmanship was on full display Friday as Rieu, elegantly attired in a dark tuxedo with tails, performed selections from his more than 30-year career on a stage lined with red and white flowers.

His musicians were also elegantly attired, the men in black tuxedos with white ties and tails and the women in pastel-colored floor-length gowns.

The orchestra alternated between frivolity and serious music all evening, evidenced by their beer-swigging oom-pah version of “Musik, Musik” one minute and a marvelous aria from Puccini’s “Tosca” (complete with three tenors) the next.

Rieu, expertly playing his Stradivarius violin built in 1667, lived up to his nickname “King of Waltz” with a glorious version of Strauss’ “Blue Danube,” which caused more than a few couples to get up and dance in the aisles.

“We are slowly coming to the end of the concert,” he said before living up to his other nickname, “King of Encores.”

The encore section of the evening’s performance lasted more than 20 minutes as the eager crowd continuously called out for “one more” and Rieu and his cohorts were happy to oblige.

After at least four “one more” songs, the highly-entertaining evening finally came to a close with a lovely “Lullaby.”

BRAD PATTON For The Times Leader