Andre Rieu In Minneapolis
Every art form should have an ambassador, one who acts as a warm, inviting presence, making you feel at home and appreciated. For classical music, that ambassador is Andre Rieu, the Dutch violinist who eschews the sometimes-stuffy pretensions of his chosen genre in favor of a light-hearted evening of waltzes, show tunes and operatic arias.
On Saturday night, Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra brought their itinerant Viennese New Year's Eve party to Minneapolis' Target Center. And what about 3,500 folks in attendance experienced was a group that's keeping things interesting for themselves and their audiences by injecting more physical comedy into their act than ever before.
Whereas Rieu's earliest visits to the Twin Cities found him projecting an earnestness that wasn't always the best fit for his repertoire, he now seems to embrace the role of entertainer with more enthusiasm. And entertain he and his group did, presenting Strauss with shtick. This was a concert more about laughter and celebration than uncovering the complexities or depth of the music.
And that's OK. Rieu long has been an heir to the light-classics throne once inhabited by longtime Boston Pops leader Arthur Fiedler. And one could posit that his PBS specials fill the void left when that group's broadcasts went off the air. There's always been a good portion of the population fond of classical music but wishing it didn't feel so exclusive and forbidding. Well, Rieu to the rescue.
On Saturday night, he and his 50-plus musicians jumped between the Viennese waltzes and polkas that launched them, familiar songs from Broadway and Hollywood and snatches of opera. On the latter account, the highlight was an aria from Engelbert Humperdinck's "Tales of Hoffman," sung to the stratosphere by soprano Carla Maffioletti.
Rather than sprinkle comic relief into a serious framework, Rieu and company offer a reverse image. There's occasional intensity, but frivolity is their focus. There were plenty of gags to go around Saturday, such as two men in a bull suit chasing a red-clad woman around the main floor of the arena, or the men of the orchestra taking a beer break with a polka soundtrack. And their leader seems to take himself considerably less seriously than he used to, setting his visitors at ease, as a good ambassador should.
By Rob Hubbard
Special to the Pioneer Press
Thank goodness he didn’t mention Andre’s long hair or the critics which generally seem to get a quote, but have no talent of their own.
I would say, I think Andre’s focus is music. Humor and Showmanship are just another thing he excels at, so others tend to notice it, and speak of it as they rarely see them in combination with Music. Yet I appreciate Mr. Hubbard’s honesty in how he saw the concert and am glad he enjoyed the evening. 
Webmommie
Categories: Articles-Interviews, 1 CONCERTS
Tags: Andre Rieu CONCERTS
ON FRIDAY NIGHT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ONCE AGAIN SEE ANDRE RIEU IN MILWAUKEE!
HE GIVES SO MUCH TO HIS AUDIENCE, FOR A
FEW SHORT HOURS WE CAN FORGET THE "REAL
WORLD", AND ENTER A WORLD FILLED WITH
BEAUTIFUL MUSIC ! NO MATTER HOW OFTEN I
SEE HIM, I LEAVE FEELING VERY UPLIFTED,
AND HE IS THE VERY BEST WITH HIS JSO
ORCHESTRA! I AM VERY THANKFUL TO BE ABLE
TO EXPERIENCE ALL HE GIVES HIS AUDIENCE.
I HOPE HE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO
COME TO THE UNITED STATES.
Thank you Marilyn. I am so glad you enjoyed the concert. Hope you will see many more. Enjoyed your nice comments. Hugs
Marilyn WE would love to hear more.
I went to Milwaukee 3 years ago. Went to the concert with Fan Trudy who was 94 years young. We had a grand time. Milwaukee is a great city. I fell in love with it!
Very nice comments by Ron Hubbard. I appreciate his positive views.
It's nice when everyone can enjoy a concert by André and the JSO in the effective, musical, happy way that it is meant.
I saw Andre Rieu and JSO for the first time in Minneapolis this year. The warmth that Andre & JSO project is contagious and I sensed that in all the folks around me. Everyone at the Target Center was there to enjoy the evening, and they all did, audience and performers alike. There should be more of this type of entertainment out there - the world would be a better place.
Betty, I certainly agree about the "world being a better place" with the music of Andre Rieu. As the reporter said, it was a concert of "laughter and celebration", and that is just what people need in these times. I'm so glad you got your chance to enjoy a concert with Andre and his orchestra.
Betty you are so right, if only everyone would use music instead of guns and hate, the world would be a much better place. I cannot wait for the day that happens. We may have to wait for the next life but it will come. In the meantime we try to do all we can, in our own way, to make this a better world with music and love. Hugs to you
HI Betty, you are certainly correct about Andre bringing a quality of entertainment this world needs.
I call that other junk, the overly loud, crude, mean spirited stuff... Irratainment.
Welcome to AndreRieuFans.com BLOG. I hope we see you here more often.
Sally, today will you be per concert André Rieu and JSO in a Oakland. Or tomorrow in a Sacramento? Salutes you Sally, André an other in early JSO and Fans not only in a USA-California. In spirit i will with you and listen to their beauty music. Love Terezie P.