The World of Andre Rieu [Box Set]

Dutch violinist and orchestra leader André Rieu has become a staggering success on both sides of the Atlantic with his recordings and concert extravaganzas, widely disseminated in the U.S. through their ongoing use in the fundraisers of the Public Broadcasting System television network. That success has prompted a vigorous industry in the reissue of almost any performance with Rieu's name on it, including recordings from early in his career, when he made a name for himself by reviving the Viennese waltz, and even albums in which Rieu was merely a participant and not the leader. Those wanting a Rieu box set can be assured that this one contains the music for which he has become famous. The set simply packages a group of Rieu releases from between 2003 and 2008, with their original artwork and contents. All were recorded for the Denon label, whose engineers have proven adept at recording Rieu on location. Whether you like Rieu's brand of crossover classical music or not, he deserves credit for coming up with a formula that hits the spot for many listeners and yet is flexible enough to be renewed through variation. Typically Rieu holds forth in a scenic European location, often recording outdoors. The core of his repertory remains the waltzes and polkas of the Strauss family, and there are almost always one or more on hand. To these are added famous classical themes from various eras, popular songs that are American or international in style, and pieces pertaining to the location or theme of the particular performance involved. Among the most interesting of these is the album The Homecoming, recorded in Rieu's home base of Maastricht; it includes pieces that Rieu and his audience know well but that are unknown to other listeners, and it gives an idea of the popular roots of Rieu's appeal: he is, in part, a small-town Dutch musician writ large. At any rate, you could collect these CDs one by one, but you wouldn't get anything additional by doing so. For a basic Rieu starter set, this will deliver nicely.