A question of music...

This is a topic which has come up in conversation various times over the last 2 years or so since the illustrious and virtuosic Andre Rieu wooed hundreds of thousands of Australian fans during his 2007 tour. My first reaction was that of incredulous repulsion. My second reaction was that of mild awe as I realized how quickly and effectively he was charming his way into the hearts of countless grandmothers and taxi drivers alike. For about a month, every time I got into a cab with my violin, the driver would INEVITABLY make a comment about Andre Rieu. And the number of times I got asked whether he really was the best violinist in the world... Last year I won a scholarship to go to the UK to study from some of the world's greatest violin teachers in London, and the executors of the estate (the scholarship was a bequest) asked if I endeavoured to be the next Andre Rieu. I couldn't believe it. These people were giving me $15,000 to go to some of the most prestigious music schools in Europe, and they were asking me if I wanted to be the next Andre Reiu. Unbelievable.

And then I asked myself why. Why is this smiling Austrian so popular? He is sold as a violinist. Every picture we see of him is with a violin, but his popularity, surely, is not a result of his skill on the instrument. There are too many good musicians around for him to be taken any note of as a serious violinist. The truth is... that he is, in fact, a wolf in sheep's clothing. He is a hardheaded businessman posing as a dreamy artist, and has found a perfect market to sell himself to, capitalising on his blonde hair and angelic looks. I realised that sounds a bit weird... but that's the look he's going for right? I mean...

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Please. 

The thing I ask myself is... is it forgivable to cheapen yourself if you're making millions doing it? If prostitution was still illegal, would the king of the waltz still be in business? Maybe it's not so bad after all. Maybe he actually really does love the music he's playing... then again, you'd love anything that brought in that much money right? Maybe it's just an honest living.

On the other hand, what is the purpose of music? He does make a lot of people happy... perhaps that's all there is to it, and we should in fact applaud him for bringing music back to its most simple, joyous state. How could you not be happy with these album covers?

 What frustrates me most about this topic is the fact that we could actually give him the benefit of the doubt. Andre Rieu MAY do what he does with absolute conviction, which would make him just as much an artist as any of us. Maybe more so, because so many people misunderstand him. This is IF he was actually performing with artistic integrity. Which he may. But I can't seem to force myself to believe it.

Somehow, behind the angelic facade and million dollar smile, there is something... fake. One can't get away from the fact that, try as we might to believe that he is an honest musician, we'll always think of him as a mercanistic businessman. Once a violinist who traded his soul for the hearts of old women and their fortunes, bequeathed to him through instalments of $32.95... or whatever he sells his merchandise for.

I have no final verdict.