Music Goes to People’s Heart

After years of tremendous success worldwide, world-renowned Dutch violinist and conductor André Rieu appears on the stage of the MVM Dome in the Hungarian capital again this November and will do so in October, 2026 as well. His signature repertoire combines timeless classics from opera, musicals and operettas, as well as beautiful film scores, popular tunes and, of course, romantic waltzes amalgamated into his show.

With over 40 million albums sold and more than 700,000 visitors annually at over 80 concerts worldwide, André Rieu is undoubtedly one of the most successful live acts of our time. His tours regularly take him to sold-out arenas from Chile to Abu Dhabi. Rieu travels with over a hundred people, including several chefs, a doctor and a fitness trainer. The Dutch superstar has over 22 million followers on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, as well as 2.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
In 2026, audiences can once again expect a romantic and diverse program. André Rieu’s unique concerts captivate not only with his enthralling music but also with his humorous stage presence. In addition, the elaborate costumes, magnificent stage decoration and impressive lighting effects fascinate people of all ages and backgrounds.

With his current album ‘The Sound of Heaven’, André Rieu sets new standards yet again, featuring pieces from Georg Friedrich Händel to Andrew Lloyd Webber, from Giacomo Puccini to ABBA, from Charles Gounod to John Williams – ‘The Sound of Heaven’ delights with melodies from musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music or West Side Story; film scores from Star Wars and Titanic, as well as classical pieces like ‘Benedictus’ by Charles Gounod and Karl Jenkins.

An enchanting feeling
André Rieu’s love of music comes from his childhood in a family background. As to how this affection began and why he chose playing the violin, he highlights to Diplomacy&Trade that “my father was a symphony orchestra conductor and it was my mother who chose an instrument for all their children. She thought that the violin would suit me best and she was right – there is no other instrument that is capable of translating my inner feelings so well! My affection began when my mother took me to one of my father’s concerts: I saw these violin bows moving all at the same time. I was thrilled and gobsmacked, it was like magic! The enchanting feeling grew even more when my father and his orchestra played a Johann Strauss waltz as an encore, after (let’s say) a Mahler or Bruckner symphony. And then, something extraordinary happened in the audience: the men and women next to me began to move their bodies a little bit to the left and to the right. Dumbfounded once again, I wondered if it had to do with the music: later on, I discovered the magical power of the waltz, the unique force of the ¾ rhythm.”

Delicious melodies
André Rieu is also known as the founder of the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra. Revealing the secret of success of this close to four-decade-old ensemble that also has Hungarian members, he emphasizes that “it’s the joy we all feel when we play these delicious, wonderful melodies. Let’s not forget that Johann Strauss used to be a genuine pop star in his own time. Had he lived nowadays, thousands of people would follow him on different social media sites, fan accounts would be created on Instagram! However, it is not only the joy but also the authentic fun we have every evening we perform, wherever it is on Earth: there isn’t a single fake moment, every smile and tear is absolutely real!” One Hungarian member he mentions as an example is Béla Mavrák from the Platin Tenors.

Music goes to one’s heart
The Dutch star musician’s signature repertoire combines timeless classics from opera, musicals and operettas, as well as beautiful film scores, popular tunes and romantic waltzes. Commenting on how he selects and amalgamates these melodies into his show, he simply says: with his heart. “Music is the art form that goes to one’s heart immediately. And when I’m touched by a certain melody – either a film score or an operatic aria – I’m pretty sure that my audience will be touched too. Besides that, both my wife Marjorie and my son Marc have an impressive knowledge of music. Marjorie and I choose repertoires for programs and albums since the very first concerts.”

A big family
A lot of people express appreciation to André Rieu as on his tour and in other activities, he provides jobs for so many people, dozens of families. As an example for that, he mentions his orchestra. “When I founded the Johann Strauss Orchestra back in the 1980s, it consisted of merely 12 young musicians. Nowadays, more than 60 men and women join me on stage and we have about 16 nationalities. Sometimes, future husbands and wives meet in my orchestra and then, I’m sure that it is because of the harmonious power of music: it unites people, it creates eternal friendships. We are a big family.”

Staying fit to perform
On this year’s concert tour, the Dutch star is accompanied by three chefs, a doctor and a fitness trainer as he wishes to ensure that he is – and stays – perfectly prepared, physically and mentally fit for such a multi-country series of concerts. “People sometimes forget that it is hard work to be AND stay in shape at the age I have (I’m pushing 75, and I’m planning to reach the age of 140…). I pay attention to my food, I do not drink alcohol anymore. It’s quite a strict schedule but only then it is possible to stay fit both in a physical and in a mental way. The majority of my orchestra is doing exercises too, by the way: they go to the gym in the hotels we sleep in, they organize Zumba lessons, et cetera,” he points out.

An evening filled with…
André Rieu returned to the Hungarian capital is this November. Regarding the sort of repertoire and show the Budapest audience can expect at that concert, he said before the event that “of course, I have a few musical surprises, but I won’t reveal them yet – otherwise, they wouldn’t be surprises! But you can be sure of an evening filled with delicious music, wonderful waltzes, marvelous melodies from operas and musicals… and so much more! I’ll bring the Platin Tenors with me, as well as Emma Kok and wonderful sopranos with international name and fame!”