Irish audiences can get into the festive spirit this weekend as Dutch musical maestro André Rieu invites you to celebrate a White Christmas with his special Christmas concert.
Screenings on cinemas across the country on December 2 and 3, Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra will immerse you in the festive season with Christmas classics, winter Waltz's and plenty of fun
What can audiences expect at your White Christmas event, screening in cinemas on December 2 and 3?
A unique concert that's filled with delicious festive Christmas melodies. A few years ago I started this new tradition of Maastricht Christmas concerts, I really hope there will be many more to come. This year’s cinema screening includes favourites like Jingle Bells, Ave Maria, The Little Drummer Boy, Adeste Fidelis, Sleighride, as well as gospel songs and romantic waltzes.
What is your favourite carol?
There are a lot of beautiful carols, but Silent Night stands above all the others: the melody is so romantic and at the same time melancholic, souring, wonderful. It captures all the emotions a carol has to contain.
Read more:
Andre Rieu: Music is my therapy – a waltz a day keeps the doctor away
What makes Christmas so special for you?
It's the time that we all spend with our own loved ones. I'm with my own small family: my wife, our sons with their wives and our gorgeous grandchildren. We give presents to each other, have a lovely dinner and enjoy a Christmas movie. The whole year, I'm with my big family (my orchestra).
What present would you love to receive this year?
The certainty that I'm able to perform for many people in the whole world - that's what makes me a happy and proud man.
Who does the cooking at Christmas?
Sometimes it's me and sometimes my sons and their families. My boys used to do it when they were toddlers. Their first dish was hot water with a couple of tomatoes in it. Isn't that cute? Their skills have improved!
Can you tell us about your new album, Jewels of Romance?
An album filled with melodies that have touched my heart such as The Moody Blues’ Nights In White Satin, Simon & Garfunkel’s Sound of Silence, Cat Stevens’ Morning Has Broken, Bryan Adams’ Everything I Do and Billy Joel’s Lullabye. It also includes a DVD with romantic highlights from concerts all over the world, including young Emma Kok’s version of Voilà in Maastricht 2023, which went viral on the internet. I will bring her to Ireland next year in May.
André Rieu's White Christmas is only in cinemas December 2 and 3. André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra bring their UK & Ireland tour to Belfast's SSE Arena on May 10, 2024 and Dublin's 3Arena on May 11, 2024.
