The acclaimed Dutch violinist, composer and conductor, Andre Rieu, will visit South Africa for the first time in April.

Andre Rieu has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide during a career that has spanned 30 years.

Earlier this year, Billboard reported that he had achieved the title of Best Selling Male Touring Artist of 2009, coming in just under the likes of Tina Turner, Britney Spears and Madonna.

Sales of his live concert DVDs have topped 50 000 units in South Africa in the past two months alone.

Andre Rieu was born into a family of musicians in 1949 in Maastricht, in the Netherlands. He began studying the violin at the age of five and soon thereafter developed a fascination with the orchestra.

In 1987, he created the Johann Strauss Orchestra, originally comprised of 12 members but which has since flourished to between 40 and 50 musicians. The orchestra's formation coincided with an international revival of the waltz in Europe and as a result, Rieu has been dubbed the King of Waltz.

The musician's aims are to make classical music accessible to everyone and to achieve the rather difficult task of getting people to dance at what are usually considered sit-down-only events.

Andre Rieu is known for his dramatic stage performances and cross-over rock-star demeanour because of his classical training and association with the revival of the waltz.

At present, Andre plays a Stradivarius violin.

Andre Rieu's tour: April 24 and 25 at Sun City, April 28 and 29 in Durban and May 1 to 5 in Cape Town. Info: www.andrerieu.com. Tickets: from tomorrow at Computicket: 083 915 8000.