Violinist Andre Rieu: It is important audiences hope for the future

Dutch violinist and conductor Andre Rieu is hoping to inspire listeners around the world to keep fighting for the return of live music.

Andre Rieu at the 2012 Classic Brit Awards at the Royal Albert Hall (Ian West/PA)

The so-called King Of The Waltz said it was important people did not give up hope amid the coronavirus pandemic, while audiences remain unable to gather in his native Netherlands and much of the UK.

Rieu, 71, founded the Johann Strauss Orchestra in 1987, and it has since grown to become the largest privately-owned orchestra in the world, but it has been unable to play for much of 2020.