Andre Rieu vs. Andrea Bocelli.
Discussion
Now last night, for reasons I cannot divulge I accompanied for free a family member to the Cinema to watch a live screening of Andre Rieu live from Dublin. And most enjoyable it was in terms of showmanship, the crowds involvement and some stuff sounded like it should be quite high quality but overall it felt like "a show".
Now musically I am an absolute gutter snipe, Jesus and Mary Chain and their ilk were my introductions to music in the 1980s and then a slight mellowing to indie and chemical dance. I don't really listen to music now, I prefer Radio 4 in my sixth decade of deca-dance. I wouldn't know my crotch from a semi-quaver if one hit me in the Mezzo Forte.
I saw Andrea Bocelli in similar free last minute circumstances in Liverpool, live, about eight years ago (the cost of these two gigs tickets probably outweighs all those I went to in the Leadmill in Sheffield in the 1980s!!!!) but I remember coming away from that with the definite felling that what I had heard was pure top of the game quality.
So I'm stuck a bit no end of googling tells me the answer. Is Bocelli musically a league above Rieu whom was a showman (felt that Bocelli was AC/DC in the Razors Edge era and Rieu Oasis supporting Pulp- yes I did see that in the early 1990s!!!!) or it is just different environment or sound quality that has led me to that conclusion?
Oh, and anyone understand Opera? I just get distracted by the heaving bosoms. And that is just the male tenors

This is my opinion, and nothing else is either implied nor imparted.
Rieu is an accomplished violin player, and Bocelli a talented tenor. The former has, over the years, moulded himself into a conductor and both have - bless them - made classical music a little more mainstream. This is a good thing.
However, Rieu seems to have pigeonholed himself into Strauss waltzes when he could easily venture into other composers works to expand his repertoire. Bocelli is good, but IMVHO is easily eclipsed by current talents such as Jonas Kaufmann, Rolando Villazon, and our very own Ben Johnson.
Rieu is an accomplished violin player, and Bocelli a talented tenor. The former has, over the years, moulded himself into a conductor and both have - bless them - made classical music a little more mainstream. This is a good thing.
However, Rieu seems to have pigeonholed himself into Strauss waltzes when he could easily venture into other composers works to expand his repertoire. Bocelli is good, but IMVHO is easily eclipsed by current talents such as Jonas Kaufmann, Rolando Villazon, and our very own Ben Johnson.
cherryowen said:
This is my opinion, and nothing else is either implied nor imparted.
Rieu is an accomplished violin player, and Bocelli a talented tenor. The former has, over the years, moulded himself into a conductor and both have - bless them - made classical music a little more mainstream. This is a good thing.
However, Rieu seems to have pigeonholed himself into Strauss waltzes when he could easily venture into other composers works to expand his repertoire. Bocelli is good, but IMVHO is easily eclipsed by current talents such as Jonas Kaufmann, Rolando Villazon, and our very own Ben Johnson.
That is exactly the feeling I was getting from last night / memory of Bocelli. Rieu did the Irish Rover last night....but the crowd surprised him by their own (staged??? it was when he asked where people were from and a voice said Athenry and the crowd just went for it) rendition of the Fields of Athenry.Rieu is an accomplished violin player, and Bocelli a talented tenor. The former has, over the years, moulded himself into a conductor and both have - bless them - made classical music a little more mainstream. This is a good thing.
However, Rieu seems to have pigeonholed himself into Strauss waltzes when he could easily venture into other composers works to expand his repertoire. Bocelli is good, but IMVHO is easily eclipsed by current talents such as Jonas Kaufmann, Rolando Villazon, and our very own Ben Johnson.
Well they both have certainly made non rock music more accessible to me! Ta for the reply!
I was fortunate enough to go to classical live music concerts from a very young age as my parents were musical.. My mother a very good amateur singer which she continued into her later years.
This gave me a great appreciation for music, and despite becoming a guitarist in cover bands I still listen to classical music and attend concerts. Andrea Rieu is extremely popular of course and They do what they do very well… but I just find a lot of his versions and bit bland, sort of painting by numbers (maybe same could be said for my covers!), missing something for me. On the otherhand I go to something like for Royal philharmonic playing and it’s so much better. Difficult to explain really. Bocelli I can’t give a detailed opinion on, although of course outstanding.
This gave me a great appreciation for music, and despite becoming a guitarist in cover bands I still listen to classical music and attend concerts. Andrea Rieu is extremely popular of course and They do what they do very well… but I just find a lot of his versions and bit bland, sort of painting by numbers (maybe same could be said for my covers!), missing something for me. On the otherhand I go to something like for Royal philharmonic playing and it’s so much better. Difficult to explain really. Bocelli I can’t give a detailed opinion on, although of course outstanding.
languagetimothy said:
Andrea Rieu is extremely popular of course and They do what they do very well… but I just find a lot of his versions and bit bland, sort of painting by numbers (maybe same could be said for my covers!), missing something for me. On the otherhand I go to something like for Royal philharmonic playing and it’s so much better.

Rieu is now a one-trick-pony and has been for a number of years, playing stuff I'm really not keen on such as The Radzesky March ad nauseum. I'd pay to attend a recital of - say - Mahler's 5th or Beethoven's 6th played by the LPO conducted by Andrew Davis.
Much as I love a waltz, I've never regarded Andre Rieu as a real conductor and there's no real soul to the music he produces. He's a popular entertainer in the same vein as Bruce Forsyth was. Light entertainment for people who like a "nice" cuppa tea.
Andrea Bocelli is the real thing. Perhaps not at the top of the game or even the top of his game, but a real musical force who's managed to transcend his genre.
Just my opinion of course, but I'd pay to see Andrea Bocelli and I'd pay not to see Andre Rieu. Not much, mind, before anyone tries to take advantage!
Andrea Bocelli is the real thing. Perhaps not at the top of the game or even the top of his game, but a real musical force who's managed to transcend his genre.
Just my opinion of course, but I'd pay to see Andrea Bocelli and I'd pay not to see Andre Rieu. Not much, mind, before anyone tries to take advantage!
Rieu's concerts are very popular, you have to be pretty quick to land tickets. Or I find out about them too late. They look like a good night out, though.
Andy Buckle has a hell of a voice, but I couldn't go and just listen to him. It's like Ball and Boe, aaah orrr haaa all bloody night.
Andy Buckle has a hell of a voice, but I couldn't go and just listen to him. It's like Ball and Boe, aaah orrr haaa all bloody night.
cherryowen said:
languagetimothy said:
Andrea Rieu is extremely popular of course and They do what they do very well… but I just find a lot of his versions and bit bland, sort of painting by numbers (maybe same could be said for my covers!), missing something for me. On the otherhand I go to something like for Royal philharmonic playing and it’s so much better.

Rieu is now a one-trick-pony and has been for a number of years, playing stuff I'm really not keen on such as The Radzesky March ad nauseum. I'd pay to attend a recital of - say - Mahler's 5th or Beethoven's 6th played by the LPO conducted by Andrew Davis.
That tells me everything I need to know about him.
It's like Bobby Crush with a violin
LunarOne said:
Much as I love a waltz, I've never regarded Andre Rieu as a real conductor and there's no real soul to the music he produces. He's a popular entertainer in the same vein as Bruce Forsyth was. Light entertainment for people who like a "nice" cuppa tea.
Andrea Bocelli is the real thing. Perhaps not at the top of the game or even the top of his game, but a real musical force who's managed to transcend his genre.
Just my opinion of course, but I'd pay to see Andrea Bocelli and I'd pay not to see Andre Rieu. Not much, mind, before anyone tries to take advantage!
Agreed, sums it up nicely for me.Andrea Bocelli is the real thing. Perhaps not at the top of the game or even the top of his game, but a real musical force who's managed to transcend his genre.
Just my opinion of course, but I'd pay to see Andrea Bocelli and I'd pay not to see Andre Rieu. Not much, mind, before anyone tries to take advantage!
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