Andre Rieu

With wavy locks haloing his head like a lion's mane and a white ascot rakishly pinned around his neck with a golden medallion, André Rieu could play a 19th century composer in any period movie. If cast, however, he would have to learn to fake the stern demeanor. Ever since Rieu began listening to classical music as a boy, he chafed at the somber attitude of the concert hall, so at odds with the joyful sounds in the air. Now armed with a 1732 Stradivarius violin and leading the ebullient Johann Strauss Orchestra, Rieu brings that joy to audiences around the world. Emphasizing humor and warmth, his unconventional programs fill auditoriums with the bright colors of balloons and the sound of solos performed on a rubber chicken.

One of Billboard's top 10 grossing touring acts in both 2011 and 2012, Rieu and his orchestra perform exuberant waltzes along with such eclectic aural fare as folk songs, spirituals, and musical theater numbers. The current tour features work from his most recent release, And the Waltz Goes On, which won the 2012 Classic BRIT Award for best album. The eponymous waltz, penned by none other than actor Sir Anthony Hopkins, tickles ears with a playfully sedate opening punctuated by oboe trills before the piano accelerates the three-step melody into a sweeping, full-orchestra tutti.