ANDRÉ Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra are coming back to cinemas around the world next year with a concert film recorded at Dublin's 3Arena.
Fans are invited to enjoy André Rieu in Dublin on the big screen for two days only on January 7 and 8: expect romantic melodies, popular classics, party tunes and, of course, the Dutch maestro's beloved waltzes.
One of the most successful violinists and conductors in music, Rieu has now been performing around the world with his Johann Strauss Orchestra for 35 years.
He performs for a live audience of over half a million people each year and has recently begun bringing his spectacular shows to the big screen for even more to enjoy: his last cinema show, Happy Days Are Here Again, topped the Irish box office earlier this year.
It has been over 20 years since the famous fiddler first recorded a concert in Dublin.
"New Year's is always such a special time, looking forward to the future, coming together with friends and family and toasting the year ahead," enthuses Rieu of the new concert film.
"This will be a wonderful concert for everyone to kick off 2023 with a waltz or two. My fabulous Johann Strauss orchestra and I look forward to seeing you in the cinemas and sharing this special time with one another."
To celebrate his imminent return to cinemas in the New Year, we quizzed the Dutch star about all things festive.
:: Is Christmas your favourite time of year?
I'm very fond of Christmas; throughout the whole year I'm on the road with my 'Big Family' – all my orchestra members, who are very dear to me. Christmas is the time of the year everybody wants to spend with their own 'Small Family': in this particular case, it's my wife Marjorie, our sons Marc and Pierre with their wives and, last but not least, our five grandchildren.
While Maastricht is covered with snow, grandpa André is cooking for all of them: the rest enjoy each other's company.
:: What do you enjoy the most at this time of year?
Being together with my loved ones, unpacking Christmas gifts and relaxing. But first of all, I have a couple of Christmas concerts in Maastricht to look forward to: the beginning of a new home town tradition, I hope.
:: When bringing in the New Year do you and your family follow any particular traditions?
We're enjoying a dinner together, taking a nice stroll in a wintery Maastricht or watching a nice movie together, like Home Alone or Mary Poppins. When the boys were still toddlers, we used to watch the sketch Dinner for One, which Marc and Pierre imitated the day after – that was so cute and even more hilarious than the original one on TV.
:: Will this be the first time that an Irish concert will be shown in cinemas worldwide?
Yes it will be. We are performing live in Dublin every year – next time in April 2023 – but this will be the first concert in cinemas worldwide.
:: What's different about Irish audiences ?
They're the most humorous audience in the whole world, I've never met a people with such a wonderful sense of humour. I remember telling the tragic story of Madame Butterfly, who fell in love with an American sea captain and was very unhappy when he didn't show up any more. But the Irish audience couldn't stop laughing out loud about the story I told them, and at the end I had to laugh, too. They simply didn't believe me or my tragic storytelling.
:: Any New Year wishes for 2023?
To stay healthy, to discover new places for concerts and to make as many people as possible happy with the music my orchestra and I will play.
:: André Rieu in Dublin will be screened at over 500 cinemas throughout Ireland and Britain on January 7 and 8. Tickets are on sale now, visit andreincinemas.com for full details.
