Dutch world-class violist Andre Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu, dubbed the "King of Waltz" by the media, will be making his debut performance in Bangkok on Friday.
The one-off live concert, held at Royal Paragon Hall, will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Lek and Prapai Viriyaphant, the husband and wife who imported the first Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Thailand. Lek was also an outstanding figure in Thai business, as well as the founder of Ancient City park, in Samut Prakan. Fittingly, Rieu will be performing exclusively for customers of Thonburi Phanich Group, which Lek ran in the post-war period, though it is hoped his next concert in Bangkok will be open to a wider audience.
The audience is in for a treat, with Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra promising to mesmerise and dazzle with compositions from the past and present that guarantee a night to remember.
The multi-talented violinist, conductor and showman set up the Johann Strauss Orchestra in 1987 with just 12 musicians. Today that number has quadrupled, and with it the unification of some of the best budding and seasoned talents in music.
The following year, he released the From Holland With Love album in the Netherlands, triggering what no one could possible conceive: a waltz wave in the tiny nation. He admits this CD was the launchpad for his success. One of the pieces it contains is the Second Waltz, a composition he describes as "a beautiful, very melancholy waltz", and which propelled him toward the fame he enjoys today.
In the mid 90s, he released The Vienna I Love and In Concert to the European market. By doing so he made his mark not just in Europe but globally, giving the likes of Madonna a run for their money.
Together with his orchestra, Rieu has managed to turn classical and waltz into globally popular modes of performance, attracting thousands of fans of all ages. In short, he has managed to become as successful as some of the world's biggest pop and rock music acts.
With hundreds of thousands of fans across the globe, the music icon's concerts are considered among the top ten touring acts in the world, selling over 40 million albums worldwide.
His success has brought fame as well as honour. In 2008, Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra clinched the prestigious golden Medal of Honour from his hometown Maastricht's Mayor Gerd Leers. He also won the Classic Brit Award in 2012 and the Album of the Year from Classic BRIT Awards in 2013. Needless to say, he has dominated the Billboard's Hot Tours chart. Other prestigious awards he's earned include the Order of the Netherlands Lion, and France's Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
Clients of Thonburi Phanich Group can call 02-622-3000 (Ext 111, 222, 333) to book seats.
