André Rieu and Paul Heaton

Music has always been a part of my life. Since my wife died four years ago, it has become a main interest for me, mainly classical music, but I enjoy other kinds of music. Music can be good or bad in whatever genre.

In the last few days, I went to a superb concert at our local community centre by a cellist and pianist playing Beethoven, Debussy and Brahms. It was spellbinding. A few days later I went to a bluegrass gig by a talented Cornish band. They were brilliant especially the five-finger banjo playing. Having recently discovered Paul Heaton, I have booked to go to one of his gigs in a big venue. I discovered André Rieu two years ago. Last year I went to his concert in Birmingham.

I like Paul’s and André’s music. I wonder what might happen if they met and discussed music. They are chalk and cheese: André light orchestral music and arias: Paul tuneful pop music but with lyrics on difficult subjects like marriage breakup, alcohol abuse, one-night stands, politics etc. André style is formal dress: ladies in long evening gowns, with full hair and make-up, taking us back to the glamour of Vienna. The Beautiful South have been described as “looking like people standing at a bus stop”, maybe in the rain in Hull or Manchester.

But there are similarities between these musicians. André formed his orchestra in 1989 at about the same time as Paul formed the Beautiful South, having disbanded the Housemartins. Following the breakup of the Beautiful South in 2007, Paul has pursued a successful solo career, and with Jacqui Abbot for a while.
Paul and André have kept going for almost four decades and neither has plans for retirement any time soon.

They are both perfectionists and the driving force behind their ensembles. Nothing goes out unless it is just right. Paul composes or co-composes his songs. André does some composing and is a brilliant arranger of classical music for his large venues. Both love preforming to an audience: André, a natural showman, likes to engage with his audience; Paul just likes to get on with the music but appreciates the feedback, especially when the crowd join in with the songs.

They both have a talent for finding excellent female vocalists. One of André’s current sopranos is the brilliant Anna Majchrak: Paul’s co-vocalist is currently a young Scottish folk and country singer/song writer, Rianne Downey, who has turned out to be a superb musical partner for Paul.
If André and Paul were to meet, perhaps Anna and Rianne could join them and sing a duet. That would be worth a listen.

There is a strange Holland connection between André and Paul, not just the song “Rotterdam (or Anywhere)”. André is proud of his hometown of Maastricht: Paul regularly takes cycling trips in northern Holland during which he writes lyrics for his songs.

The main similarity between the two is that they both perform “good music” in their own styles. This accounts for their great success over the decades. Long may it continue.

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