Andre Rieu waltzing into town on first China tour

Dutch violinist and conductor Andre Rieu will launch his first China tour with his waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra later this year.

The 69-year-old violinist has sold more than 32 million CDs and DVDs around the world and has released over 500 platinum records.

Rieu founded his orchestra, the Johann Strauss Orchestra, in 1987 with no more than a dozen young musicians. Now the orchestra has 60 musicians.

Chinese sopranos Ling Shao and Li Jing joined Rieu's world tour in 2017, singing the Chinese song Shanghaitan (The Bund of Shanghai).

Rieu was amazed when he first heard the song during rehearsals. And during a summer concert in Rieu's hometown of Maastricht, the sopranos received one of the biggest standing ovations Rieu had ever experienced.

"I learn something different and new every time I hear this song, and it has encouraged me to work more with Chinese musicians in the future," says Rieu.

Rieu and his orchestra have performed throughout Europe, the Americas, Japan and Australia, in advance of his first tour of China.