I have to admit that Andre Rieu was not a familiar name or concept to me before I went to the ICC on Tuesday night, and as the great man walked in down the aisle followed by his Johann Strauss Orchestra, who were celebrating their twenty fifth anniversary on the evening of the Durban show, I was amazed. Even the rather staid crowd in Durban jumped to their feet to welcome him and the parade of musians, men in tuxedos, the ladies in a rainbow of ball gowns, mounted the stage and the production began. Andre flirted with his soprano, a Russian trio played the theme tune of Dr Zhivago, the music was world class and the Soweto Choir sang along with his sopranos. I loved it, cried in the arias, clapped till my hands ached. It may be kitsch, but it is world class kitsch and it’s a must see. Let you hair down, something the crowd at the ICC battled with, I was the only one on my feet for a lot of the show. Durban dance like no one is watching, that is what Andre is all about.
