Rieu is a kilty pleasure as crowd hails maestro

He’s been called the “maestro for the masses’ and the accolade is befitting, judging by the hundreds of André Rieu fans persisting through gridlocked traffic to get into P&J Live in Aberdeen.

An accident involving an ambulance saw many attendees arrive midway through the first half – prompting the Dutch violinist to offer chairs from his orchestra to those no doubt desperately praying for anonymity.

However, the already seated were treated to “an impressive Nessun Dorma” and “an avalanche of snow from the rafters”.

If you’d accidentally expected anything of the stiff upper-lipped variety though, you’d have been disappointed. For this was a non-stop and masterful banquet of fun and colour. It did the thing that only live music from an orchestra can do – pull at the heart strings, even more impressively than the Disney-princess-looking harpist on stage.

Indeed, if the criticism that he turns “unsuspecting waltzes and polkas into saccharine fodder” was welcomed elsewhere, it certainly wasn’t in Aberdeen.

No, for the Granite City crowd, a blast of Delilah and Bette Midler’s The Rose in the first half was just as welcome as Puccini’s O Mio Babbino Caro and Verdi’s Libiamo in the second.

Similarly one of the biggest cheers of the night came after Phantom of the Opera’s Think of Me but with no less enthusiasm for Hava Nagila.

The maestro himself, maintaining his trademark raised eyebrow and perfectly presented tails, endeared himself between segments speaking of the history of the music chosen, and to the audience’s delight, the reason he chose it.

“With my heart,” he wistfully said, entrancing those not yet already captivated by the vast and

immersive concave LED backdrop, and an orchestra and choir reminiscent of a glistening line-up of colourful Quality Street.

And from the heart of the Maastricht musician came performances by the Berlin Comedian Harmonists – a recreation of their predecessors whose recordbreaking sales and performances were cut short by war. Their Vernonica and The Way With Every Sailor wowed.

The main event of every Rieu “gig” is the moment when those with the inclination to do so take to the aisles to waltz. In larger concerts the cast also showcase their ballgowns and morning suits but in a more intimate setting like P&J Live the privilege is all ours.

A mix of children, couples, the spritely and the shoogly found themselves swaying and twirling to the Blue Danube. More emotion followed as the first few bars of “Wise Men Say Only

Fools Rush In... ” kicked in, and yet more when the sopranos began You’ll Never Walk Alone and We’ll Meet Again.

The best of the night was saved until last. As balloons fell from the ceiling and a matching backdrop hypnotised, eagle-eyed guests spotted that the maestro went missing.

Even the slightly delayed start didn’t stop him keeping his promise to our entertainment editor Scott Begbie. Scott asked three years ago what it would take to get him into a kilt.

Recalling the story of the “very nice interview” he breezed on to stage adorned in tartan, before concluding the performance with Tutti Fruiti, Happy Days Are Here Again and Adieu.

The night ended in raptures, amid champagne popping from the orchestra, and an adoring audience demanding more.

No, not even a hint of a saccharine after-taste here. Just pure unadulterated, much needed joy.

SHOWMAN: Andre Rieu produced a stunningly colourful evening’s entertainment at P&J Live. Pictures by Chris Sumner.

Andre lives up to his promise to wear a kilt at the show.