As has become a fine festive tradition, during the 2023 Christmas season, Dutch violinist, conductor and ‘King of Waltz’ André Rieu will once again present a series of Christmas concerts in his hometown of Maastricht.
Accompanied by his own orchestra, the 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra, Rieu will as ever lead audiences through a truly festive musical experience, featuring performances of some much-loved Christmas standards in a bespoke winter wonderland.
André Rieu live Christmas concerts 2023
In what promises to be his ‘most lavish setting since his Schönbrunn tour’, the concerts are described as follows:
‘From the moment you enter the concert you will be completely immersed in an incomparable Christmas atmosphere of a true winter wonderland. Marvel at a magnificent palace decoration and Christmas landscape, complete with snow, two ice rinks, lovely winter scenes, romantic lighting, red carpet, countless lights, 150 beautiful chandeliers and over 50 Venetian candelabras.
‘Emerge in the spirit of the season while singing and dancing away to lovely Christmas carols, romantic waltzes and beautiful songs from all over the world like Jingle Bells, Ave Maria, Oh Holy Night, Hallelujah, Sleigh Ride and many more! Doors will open 2 hours before so that you can wander around a marvellous Christmas Market and enjoy delicious food and drinks before the concert.’
2023 events take place on 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17 December.
Tickets and travel packages can be booked at https://www.andrerieu.com/en/christmas-with-andre
Who are the Johann Strauss Orchestra?
Rieu founded the Johann Strauss Orchestra in 1987. Following six months of rehearsals, the ensemble gave its first concert on January 1, 1988. The orchestra began with only twelve members, but now there are 50, sometimes even 60 on very large stages.
André Rieu Christmas album
If you can’t make it to one of the concerts, Rieu and his orchestra have also committed some of their classic Christmas performances to disc. Their 2022 album Silver Bells includes a range of classic carols and popular songs including ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’, ‘Jingle Bell Rock’, The Coventry Carol, 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing', 'In the Bleak Midwinter' and, of course, ‘Silver Bells’.
Buy the album through Amazon
