André Rieu, Dutch violinist, composer, and conductor

André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu (born 1 October 1949) is a Dutch violinist and conductor best known for creating the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra.

He and his orchestra have turned classical and waltz music into a worldwide concert touring act, as successful as some of the biggest global pop and rock music acts. He resides in his native Maastricht.By December 2008, Rieu had achieved his 100th platinum accreditation in Australia and by May 2011, Rieu had sold over $50 million dollars worth of wholesale shipments of his CDs and DVDs in Australia and was the highest selling music artist in the Australian market between 2006 and 2011.