Album

Holland's self-proclaimed new Waltz King, André Rieu, has experienced tremendous success in both Europe and, unusually for a European crossover artist, the U.S., where his festive performances have become staples of the PBS television network's annual fundraising programming. The result has been a flood of Rieu discs that may confuse the new buyer simply interested in a fair sampling of what Rieu does and what has made him so popular. His recent concerts from his home base of Maastricht have evolved into extravaganzas featuring U.S. gospel singers and the like, with his one-time salon orchestra taking on symphonic dimensions. On the other hand, the market is awash in more or less random reissues of early Rieu discs of highly variable quality. This release from the major Philips label solves the new listener's problem. It is heavy on the Strauss waltzes that still make up the backbone of his repertoire, beefed up in their arrangements with space carved out for Rieu's own violin. Favorites are left more or less intact, while highlights of lesser-known pieces are combined into medleys. The inclusion of the Second Waltz from Shostakovich's Suite No. 2 for Jazz Orchestra is welcome; strange as it may seem for this rather acerbic waltz, it was one of the pieces with which Rieu launched the new vogue for waltzes in northwestern Europe. And there's just a moderate dose of the favorite classical tunes that Rieu weaves expertly into his programs—it is here, in the likes of the "Meditation" from Massenet's Thaïs, that his violin really comes to the fore. This is a compilation of Rieu recordings from the 1990s, and for his hardcore fans it probably doesn't contain anything new. If you've just stumbled on His Longhairness during your local PBS pledge drive, however, this is a good disc to pick.

© James Manheim, All Music Guide

CD 1
Rieu / Jo André / Huijts Composer Strauss Party Work André Rieu Violin
1	Strauss Party	4:20			$0.99
Dmitri Shostakovich Composer Jazz Suite No.2 Work André Rieu Violin
2	6.Waltz 2	3:41			$0.99
Giacomo Puccini Composer Gianni Schicchi (opera)...9.O mio babbino caro Work André Rieu Violin
3	9.O mio babbino caro (arr.violin and orchestra)	3:38			$0.99
Antonio Vivaldi Composer L'inverno (Winter) in F-, RV297, Op.8, No.4 Work André Rieu Violin
4	2.Largo	2:07			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald (Tales from the Vienna Woods), Op.325 Work André Rieu Violin
5	Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald (Tales from the Vienna Woods), Op.325	8:34			$1.49
Johann Strauss II Composer Unter Donner und Blitz (Thunder and Lightning), polka schnell, Op.324 Work André Rieu Violin
6	Unter Donner und Blitz (Thunder and Lightning), polka schnell, Op.324	2:34			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer Kaiser-Walzer (Emperor Waltz), Op.437 Work André Rieu Violin
7	Kaiser-Walzer (Emperor Waltz), Op.437	8:24			$1.49
Emile Waldteufel Composer Les Patineurs Valse ('Skater's Waltz'), Op.183 Work André Rieu Violin
8	Les Patineurs Valse ('Skater's Waltz'), Op.183	5:46			$0.99
André Rieu Composer Strauss and Co., medley for violin and pops orchestra Work André Rieu Violin
9	Strauss and Co., medley for violin and pops orchestra	5:00			$0.99
Irish Traditional Composer Londonderry Air (Danny Boy), folk song Work André Rieu Violin
10	Londonderry Air (Danny Boy), folk song	2:41			$0.99
Jules Massenet Composer Thaïs (opera)...Act 2 Work André Rieu Violin
11	7.Méditation	5:15			$0.99
Johann Strauss II Composer An der schönen, blauen Donau (Blue Danube Waltz), Op.314 Work André Rieu Violin
12	An der schönen, blauen Donau (Blue Danube Waltz), Op.314	7:54			$1.49