The “world’s most successful violinist” will return to Australia in 2016 for the first time in three years.

He’s the undisputed master of the Viennese waltz. His arena spectaculars attract over 600,000 concert goers every year, making his performances more popular than AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen or Coldplay. He has sold more albums than almost any other classical artist, with 400 Platinum records to his name. He’s also close personal friends with Anthony Hopkins. Love him or loathe him, André Rieu is a global phenomenon, and he’s headed to Australia next year.

The international violinist first played to Australian audiences in 2008, and has since begun calling the country his “second home”, although his upcoming 2016 tour will be his first appearance Down Under in three years. Some consider his arena performances to be among the best evenings of classical music around, whilst others feel his grand extravaganzas to be unnecessarily gaudy and musically trite. Regardless of where you might fall on that spectrum his showmanship and magnetic charisma have made him one of the most influential figures in classical music today. Billed as the “Dutch King of Waltz”, Rieu (from a financial perspective at least) is the most successful violinist in history, having sold a total of 40 million CDs and DVDs. The global success of his classical arena shows, which largely feature the music of Johann Strauss, have made him worth an estimated $40 million.

Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra will return to Australia and New Zealand in late 2016 with a brand new arena scale production. “I am so much looking forward to finally coming back to Australia,” he says. “I remember well the first time I performed in Australia, it felt like people were waiting for a long time and they gave us such a warm welcome. I have never experienced that anywhere else and I can’t wait to see you all again in 2016”.

Tickets go on sale on 3 December 2015 through ticketek.com.au (Australia), and ticketek.co.nz (Christchurch) and ticketmaster.co.nz (Auckland).

André Rieu’s 2016 Arena Tour Dates:

19 October 2016 Brisbane Entertainment Centre

21 October 2016 Newcastle Entertainment Centre

22 October 2016 Allphones Arena, Sydney 

25 October 2016 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne 

27 October 2016 Adelaide Entertainment Centre

29 October 2016 Horncastle Arena, Christchurch NZ

1 November 2016 Vector Arena, Auckland NZ
3 November 2016 Perth Arena