ANDRÉ RIEU PLAYS AT THE OVO HYDRO ON 5TH APRIL 2025

★★★★★ (5/5)

**ANDRÉ RIEU PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S OVO HYDRO**
**PHOTOCREDIT: CALUM BUCHAN**

The return of André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra to the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, to the rousing sound of Entry of the Gladiators, was met by standing applause from an audience just waiting to be transported to a bygone era; the swish of exquisite ballgowns, men with tuxedos and tails, and the infectious waltzes of Johann Strauss are all part of the André Rieu experience. A master of the waltz and bringer of light classical music to a wider range of music lovers, Rieu never misses an opportunity to charm the audience and to remind everyone that music brings people together.

The lively, upbeat waltz of Blaze Away moved quickly into the classic Maria Mari sung by The Platin Tenors, followed by Chianti Lied. With sixteen nationalities in Rieu’s Orchestra, along with the ever-changing panoramic backdrop of colourful scenery and traditional music, Rieu brings the world to his stage. The Platin Tenors went on to sing an emotionally stirring version of the lovely Italian song, Torna a Sorriento. As Rieu told an amusing anecdote about Johann Strauss finding inspiration to compose the polka Feuerfest from a visit to a blacksmith, no sooner had an 800 kilos anvil been wheeled onto the stage. This version of Feuerfest and the playing of the anvil resulted in a mock fight between two ‘iron men’ musicians, stripping down to vest tops to Shirley Bassey’s Big Spender, and quarrelling over the hammering down of a French horn; such is the camaraderie and playful spirit of the Orchestra.

EMMA KOK PERFORMING WITH ANDRÉ RIEU AT GLASGOW’S OVO HYDRO
PHOTOCREDIT: CALUM BUCHAN

Emma Kok, the Dutch singer who won The Voice Kids in 2021 and has been touring with André Rieu for over a year, delivered a beautiful rendition of Let it Go from the film Frozen and once again stunned the audience with her singing of Voilà, previously sung by Barbara Pravi. Two separate appearances by Michel Tirabosco were another highlight of the evening. His playing of the pan pipes produces such a pure and natural sound. The audience was simply taken with his performance of Across the Stars and, Sirtaki, the popular Greek dance song, but then the music became more upbeat with Sportpalast Walzer with the whole arena joining in; clapping, whistling and feet a tapping, and singing in unison with hands linked to Auld Lang Syne.

Rieu told the story of the young Japanese Geisha awaiting the return of her loved one from overseas, leading to the magnificent aria, Un bel di, Vedremo from Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini and sung beautifully by Soprano, Micaela Oueste. His reminder that music will always be with you during difficult moments in life, was also brought to mindby the heartfelt singing of You Raise Me Up by Soprano, Anna Majchrzak and You’ll Never Walk Alone by both theSopranos and Platin Tenors.

The pace quickened with the Radetzky March and a mass of balloons showering down on the unsuspecting audience. The waltz, Die Csárdásfürstin, with the Platin Tenors and Sopranos, brought that touch of merriment, while the playing of An der Schönen Blauen Donau (The Blue Danube) had many couples suddenly get up and dance; mothers and daughters alike, all prompted by that uplifting and romantic nostalgia associated with this waltz worldwide. The Tenors and Sopranos returned for Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata’s drinking song Libiamo ne’ Lieti Calici; an eagerly anticipated aspect of many of Rieu’s concerts.

LOS DEL RIO AND ANDRÉ RIEU PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S OVO HYDRO

ANDRÉ RIEU AND SPECIAL GUESTS… LOS DEL RIO PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S OVO HYDRO
PHOTOCREDIT: CALUM BUCHAN

As the concert drew to a close, the beat got faster as the Orchestra played Tutti Frutti, with the audience getting up to dance, and then a much welcomed appearance by Antonio Romero Monge and Rafael Ruiz Perdigones of Los del Rio, performing Macarena and La Bamba. The crowd continued to join in with the Sopranos and Tenors singing Adieu Mein Kleiner Gardeoffizier, but all too soon it was time to say farewell and no better way to do it than singing Dame Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again. With 2025 being the year of Johann Strauss’ 200th birthday, it just shows that music is timeless and still holds the same appeal and as Andre Rieu reminded everyone “Music is the most precious treasure we have in life. Now there is only one thing I am going to do and that is to wish you all the best and wish you all in your lives a lot of music.”