André Rieu at the Videotron Center: King of the Waltz and Master of Entertainment

He is said to be the king of the waltz, but before more than 11,000 people gathered at the Videotron Center on Thursday evening, Dutch conductor and violinist André Rieu recalled that he was also a master of the art of entertaining an audience.

To achieve this, he has three trump cards up his sleeve: his extensive re-reading of classical, gospel, opera and pop arias, from Ravel and Verdi to Elvis Presley and Little Richard, his charismatic personality and his trademark sense of humour.

We have an eloquent demonstration of this a few minutes into the ceremony.

Johann Strauss’s orchestra had just made its triumphant entrance to the sound of the military march Entrance of the gladiatorscrossing the entire floor of the Videotron Center to reach the stage, when André Rieu noticed two spectators hurriedly going to their seats.

“It’s too late,” he told them. We are from Netherlands and we are on time. »

Dynamic Gospel Choir

The tone is set. Humorous for the 73-year-old artist, who learned with such pleasure how to pronounce the expression goosebumps French, which he used for the rest of the evening, was the common thread of this large-scale concert that brought together nearly a hundred performers on a semicircular stage.

Despite the large number of musicians and their complete mastery, it was the voices that made the difference. In this regard, the integration of a gospel choir should be welcomed. In a section consisting of I will follow you, Amen And Oh happy dayits singers amazed with their powerful and flexible vocal cords as well as their infectious dynamism.

I also mention the theatrical sopranos Anna Majchrzak and Michaela Oesti, respectively charged with the interpretation i belong to me And based on Caro’s name, by Verdi. Surprisingly, they excited the audience as well.

Liveliness and sadness

QMI Photography Agency, Pascal Huot

We can’t imagine a Metallica concert without it Puppet masterAndré Rieu’s performances come with their share of classics from the classical repertoire.

placed at the beginning of the road, Volare And Funicola Funicola Bring liveliness to the party on the move the flower And Highland Cathedralthe latter rocked by a group of bagpipes, played the melancholy card wonderfully.

A turn to Strauss, Rio’s idol, was clearly on the agenda, and as the master of ceremonies brought out his famous Stradivarius, several couples in the audience were able to waltz to the tunes. Blue Danube River Before flawless and great, Boleroby Ravel.

André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra, Thursday, in Quebec.

QMI Photography Agency, Pascal Huot

As a reminder, Andre Rieu has successfully used the same trick with different moods. Therefore, after a Libyamo A cup was handed over in hand in a solemn, ceremonial manner Can’t help falling in love Borrowed from the King and amazing grace brought everyone back to the path of raw emotion.

• After Quebec, André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra will stop at Montreal’s Bell Center on Friday evening.