Violinist Andre Rieu is putting the joy back into life

Now, however, he reckons the music could be even sweeter than ever!

Andre was gifted a fabulous chocolate violin when his current tour hit Mexico, and he jokes that he may leave his usual priceless violin at home.

“Ha ha, yes — it definitely has the ‘sweetest’ sound in the world!” laughs the Dutch genius.

“Sometimes, I get to see a bit of the cities we play in, but unfortunately not very often.

“Usually, we arrive the day of the concert, rehearse, chat a bit, have dinner and after the concert a bus will take us to the hotel.

“I don’t like being a tourist and do sightseeing, I like to meet with people.

“I enjoy being on stage. People of all ages and all kind of professions come, and that is fantastic.

“I always dreamed of making music that would reach all people and nationalities, regardless of their age.

“This year, in Maastricht, we had visitors from 76 different countries.

“When we played in Mexico in October, so many families brought their children and grandparents.”

Love from London, presenting my new album Roman Holiday pic.twitter.com/gjOGNQnbts

— André Rieu (@andrerieu) November 16, 2015

You haven’t truly experienced the joys of massed violins, violas, cellos and timpani until you’ve seen it in a typically-stunning Andre Rieu setting.

Andre, however, knows there are some musical critics out there who look down on it, and like his many fans, he knows they are wrong!

“I know the serious classic world very well,” he points out.

“My father was a symphonic conductor and music director of the Limburg Symphony Orchestra in which I played as a student.

“I played it all — Bartok, Mahler, Beethoven, Mozart — it was not for me.

“It’s fantastic music, but why is everyone so serious?

“All dressed in black? Girls looking like nuns, no smiles, no communication with the audience, nothing.

“I really felt alone in that world. So I created my own one.

“I know that there’s an elite that may not like what I’m doing.

“I just wish they’d come and see us live once — I think they’d understand then what my concerts are all about.

“Making people go home with a smile on their faces!”

Along the way, the 66-year-old — who speaks fluent Dutch, English, German, French and Italian — has enjoyed some sensational settings for his concerts.

What does he rate the best among them?

“The concerts in front of Schönbrunn Castle in Vienna and the Coronation concert for our King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima are certainly highlights in my career,” he admits.

“But the key is getting everyone involved. I try to do this right from the start by entering the stage through the audience.

“I try to involve them, make them sing, ask them questions.

“We have fun together. And I look people in the eyes. I see everything that’s going on in the audience. That is very important to me.”

Where would he love to play, how does he enjoy British gigs, and what does he think Beethoven would feel about his shows?

“I would love to give a concert on the moon,” he says, “and since Beethoven was deaf, he’d probably think: ‘Play louder!’

“The British audiences are the best in the world!

“That’s why we come each year in December, to celebrate a big party with all of you.”

Andre’s new album, Roman Holiday, is out now on Decca Records, and December tour dates are as follows: 3 — Belfast Odyssey Arena; 4 and 5 — Dublin Arena; 9 and 10 — Aberdeen GE Oil & Gas Arena; 11 — Newcastle Metro Arena; 12 — Glasgow SSE Hydro; 16 — Birmingham Genting Arena; 17 — Nottingham Capital FM Arena; 18 — Manchester Phones4U Arena; 19 — Liverpool Echo Arena; 21 — Sheffield Motorpoint Arena; 22 and 23 — London SSE Arena.