André Rieu — Romantic Paradise, Cortona 2003

Recorded in 2003 in Cortona, a hilltop village in Tuscany, this “Romantic Paradise” concert features Dutch violinist and conductor André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra. A global star of popular classical music, Rieu built his reputation on spectacular concerts blending Viennese waltzes, opera arias, film music and great standards, performed with pomp and a showman’s flair. In the romantic setting of the Tuscan countryside, the orchestra rolls out a program designed to charm the widest possible audience, between virtuosity, sumptuous staging and rapport with the crowd. A flagship figure in the democratization of the classical repertoire, André Rieu fills stadiums and arenas the world over thanks to this accessible, generous formula. This multi-piece live capture, released on his official channel, restores the warm, festive atmosphere of his great open-air concerts. A filmed live concert ideal for discovering classical music in its most crowd-pleasing form, carried by one of its most famous ambassadors.