Marvelous MIRUSIA'S CD report
- She Walks in Beauty arr. B. Mibus
- Villa
- Think of Me
- Life is Like a Boat arr B. Mibus
- O Mio Babbino Caro (live)
- Love Changes Everything
- Romanza -- this is my personal favorite arr B. Mibus
- Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
- Kissing You...arr, by Ben Milbus (violin) & M Louwerse
- Time to Say Goodbye (live)
- You'll Never Walk Alone
- Cleveland Symphony Orchestra
- Phillip Taylor, Conductor
- Mr. & Mrs Louwerse; Mirusia's parents
- Alan Beard; Mirusia's business manager ---2 years ago Alan wrote after one of Mirusia's concerts, "Mirusia is an artist with more potential for international success than any I've seen in 30 years in the business. Why I think she is the best singer in Australia today: The reasons are pretty clear to me. Her voice is the strongest weapon I've ever seen, and she uses it to perfection. She is the whole package. Her voice has an edge (wrapped in a fine layer of air) and she manages to retain that edge even at the very top of her range. This is very rare, even in the best singers in the world today. She will record like an angel." Alan Beard
- Ben Mibus, violin
- David Mibus, piano
- David Quinn, sound engineer & Xylophone player
- Redlands - Sporting Club
- Sea Stradbroke
- Radf
- J & A Scholtes
P.O. Box 3169
Birkdale QLD 4159
Australia
Bill in Arizona
..........continued.... 11 June 2007 from Alan Beard
Having been asked to provide some ‘free’ entertainment for a local school fete, I called my friend, singing teacher, Patrick Robbins and asked if he had any young students who may be interested in performing. A few days later he called me back and said he did have a young girl keen to sing at the fete, and that her name was Mirusia. The year was 1998 and Mirusia was 12 years old. On the day of the fete, Mirusia arrived an hour early, beautifully dressed, and totally prepared for her performance.
These professional qualities have remained with her throughout her career. At the time, Mirusia was singing country music, and although her voice was lovely and her performance flawless, there was no hint of the extraordinary classical soprano voice which would emerge a few short years later. I didn’t see Mirusia again for a year or two, and when I did, again she sang beautifully, well enough for me to mark her name into a list I had compiled of young singers to keep an eye on. Around this time, I asked Mirusia to record a song for a children’s CD I was working on, and she was required to sing it in her soprano range.
That recording remains amongst my most prized possessions, as it was perhaps the first recording of a voice I believe destined to become the finest in the world. The extraordinary quality of her voice was evident even then but it was not until Mirusia had made the decision to study classical voice at the conservatorium that the full extent of her ability emerged for all to see and hear.
Mirusia took the conservatorium by storm, and was regarded as ‘the one most likely to succeed’ from day one. She worked hard, dedicated herself to her lessons and in the professional manner she had displayed at a very early age, she quickly rose to the top. She was offered the lead roles in practically every conservatorium production and won numerous prestigious awards along the way.
In 2006, in her last year at the conservatorium, Mirusia entered and became the youngest ever winner of Australia’s most important and prestigious ‘Dame Joan Sutherland Award’ for operatic singing. This nationally recognised award was perhaps the first major step towards the international recognition, which Mirusia is now receiving.
Mirusia also received a small grant from the local Regional Arts Development Fund and with some further funding support from local business here in the Redlands, she set about recording her debut album, "Mirusia, She Walks In Beauty".
Mirusia and I worked many long hours in the studio together to produce the album, which features orchestral support from the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. The limitations of the studio and budget constraints made it necessary for Mirusia to record most of her vocal parts in ‘one pass’ meaning that no overdubbing or repairs could be made to her vocal performance. Her dedication and professionalism during these many weeks we worked together produced in me a new and even greater respect for her. I’m sure that many were surprised when Mirusia took the baton to conduct the string quartets featured on several of the tracks on the album.
Despite all the constraints and limitations, the album is a wonderful introduction to this most amazing young woman, and will surely become a collectors’ item in years to come. Mirusia has been blessed with a most unique voice. She can sing any style in any range. She is equally at home performing a country ballad, jazz standard or a soaring classical aria. Her voice remains strong and warm throughout her entire range. Mirusia has consistently performed at a standard way beyond her years and the venues in which she was performing.
I well remember telling anyone who would listen that Mirusia would become the finest singer Australia has ever produced, and that the venues would eventually grow into her performance. It’s nice to be right!
Alan Beard
Mr Bill, it's ironic that you bring this up as I was looking at the site to buy her cd, but all i saw was by check or money order. Is there no way set up to use a credit card? And in MHO, Mirusia could sing anything and make it sound great and YES! She has STAR QUALITY!
No credit cards, you need to send a personal check.
okie-dokie, I will be doing that then...I see that as one of my "must haves"
Good news! Just after I posted this topic I learned that Alan Beard will be sending some photos & a detailed report on everything that led up to the CD's production.
His report has just been added to the topic as of 11 June 2007
Photos will be added shortly
to be continued........
We in Australia love Mirusia her looks
her beautiful voice but a lot of the
time it takes overseas to make people
aware of their talent and beauty Moira
Thank you Bill. I am ordering her CD tomorrow. I love the songs that Mirusia has picked on this CD, especially the one she sang in Miami and Reading - "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again". When you hear this live it is awesome. I have not heard her sing the others except "O Mio Bambino Caro" and that is so beautiful to begin with . Thanks again. Hugs
Everyone might be interested to know that Henriette, Mirusia's mom, will be the one that receives & fills your order if you want to buy the CD, so any personal notes will definitely be read by someone who cares
Thanks Bill for all that information...you are part detective right? So many details.
I will order her cd, naturally...she has an incredible voice and I love hearing her sing. I believe that as a singer she has a quality about her voice and I can understand why she is so popular and will become more popular. I always thought that Andre has a fantastic ear for the music, it's quite interesting watching him as he is conducting the orchestra and listening to things that I never knew existed. I'm sure that when he heard Mirusia, he knew that she was one of the great ones.
IF only I could have had just a fraction of their talents...oh well.
I've heard Mirusia sing "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again", a small portion of "O Mio Bambino Caro", "You'll Never Walk Alone" "She Walks Alone" and "Think Of Me", and she sings them all so beautifully.
I hope you get your autograph at the Phoenix concert Bill!
I have heard Mirusia sing, many, many times and each time I hear her I get so emotional. I love listening to her live and on CD. Mirusia has sang, in at least 10 of the fundraising concerts I have organized for chaplaincy, here in the bayside of Brisbane. The last one was the day before she flew out to join Andre Rieu overseas. 450 people were clapping and clamouring for more and gave her a standing ovation. People are constantly asking when the DVD of Andre Rieu with Mirusia singing in it will be available. I watch Andre's DVD's daily and I am waiting to see her in one in the very near future. I am fortunate enough to be on a holiday with relatives, who live in Phoenix, on the 8th of December. We are all excited at the prospect of being at that Concert. I want to give Mirusia a big hug. Madeleine from Australia.
Hi Madeleine,
Hopefully we'll be able to meet before, during, or after the concert, here in Phoenix on 8 Dec. thanks for decloaking & saying something to everyone......Andre & others do know about this website.....hopefully, they are enjoying what others are saying about them
Bill in Arizona
Great report Bill - I will certainly be ordering Mirusia's CD. I love all those songs particularly the ones from "Phantom of the Opera" which we will see for the third time in August.
dear friends, I too would like to have her cd, Expect a M/O in Aussie dollars would be the way to go, Can someone put a note on the blog for everyone's benefit as to how to order etc, There may have been something in the May G.B,
so I hope someone has the answers. Strange how all are sopranos but each
has her own unique sound, as do the platin tenors. Tis the miracle of life
that shows our individuality, Love Marianne
go back up to the topic, near the end is a link to order her CD. Send either a personal check or money order in U.S. dollars.
Thanks Bill, just now ordered the cd,will get money in mail asap.A most unusual coincidence is that when I first saw her face, the poem, She Walks In Beauty, came to my mind, and so here now we have her cd with that title.Another poem also comes to mind "miles to go before she sleeps". I believe this young lady is well on her way, and that angel setting that Andre has for her is so appropriate.When I saw that I thought well, that is what an angel SHOULD look like! We all wish her the greatest success, and we thank Andre & all who have bought her to our attention.
Hi everyone,
We first met Mirusia aged sweet 16 when she was singing at a 911 fund raising function in Cleveland AUSTRALIA!
Our friendship has grown closer with her and her family over the years since. We have attended many concerts to hear her beautiful voice, including a performace at the Sydney Opera House. Like Madeline, we too get quite emotional when we hear her magnificent voice.
We were most privileged in February this year when Mirusia honoured us by singing at our wedding, both during the ceremony and at the reception, accompanied by David Mibus, who also featured as her pianist on her CD.
We play her CD daily, as we miss her so much.
Like many thousands of Australians, we are anxiously waiting for an Andre Rieu concert featuring Mirusia here in her home country.
We know she will go a long way in her singing career. She deserves to get the ovations she has been getting in the USA and Canada.
Miss you Mirusia - Shirley and Bert
Hi Everyone,
While we are sharing stories about Mirusia, I would like to tell you my little story. I Once performed in a musical by Alan Beard and hus wife Kim Durant called "Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace". On the first day of rehersal, I was the odd one out. I didn't know any of the other cast members, I had only met Alan... Once (That is another wierd story) I saw that everyone else know eachother, and then there she was. Mirusia. She was the first one to make me feel welcome, we formed a fantastic friendship. We still keep in touch and every time she is home we catch up. We Miss her so much. If you ever get the chance to meet Mirusia, you will find out that she is the most genuinely nice and caring person you will ever meet. And tell her I said Hi.
Hi Pete, What a lovely story. I have just a few days past peeked into an Entertainment site and there was Alan Beard and others on it. I was impressed at the number of plays, musicals and entertainment vehicles listed.
It is so refreshing to me to find people who are driven to be performers and keep themselves down to earth. (too often the opposite makes the news). I hope we can all show the world that indeed nice people can be successful and talented too. Your story shows us that is possible.
Please drop us a post anytime and let us know what you are up to as well.
Dear Mr. Bill, I love Mirusia's voice so much. I have been to all the Concert's and Opera's she performed in and also to her own Shows. I even flew to Sydney to see her at the Opera House. I will see her again on the 30th of June in the QPAC Theatre and can't wait. Hearing her sing makes me happy and I get goosebumbs and tears in my eyes. My parents are her biggest supporters, she sang at their golden wedding anniversary and my Dad's 80th birthday party. They also sponsored her CD so now they can listen to her eventhough she is overseas. I am happy she sings with Andre Rieu, we all love his music and I am planning to go to one of his concerts. I wish Mirusia was my sister, I miss her and like to give her a big hug. From her biggest fan, Judy Scholtes from Brisbane.
Hello Judy: That was a wonderful gift for your Dad's birthday and parent's Golden Anniversary. Please tell us about the show at the QPAC Theatre and how everyone was. It will be interesting to all the fans.
I too am happy Mirusia sings with Andre Rieu. I am certain it is scary to a parent when their young adult child goes off around the world. So many things out there today. But being with Andre Rieu, I feel is a terrific start with someone who will keep an eye on safety and the well being of those on tour with him. Andre has really built a family feeling with his orchestra and he is a class act all the way.
~Sally~
Dear Judy,
We are all in debt to your parents for coming up with some money, out of friendship, so that I and others would have an opportunity to hear a very talented young lady named Mirusia. Thank your parents for me, for sponsoring the CD.
I have no doubt, in the future, your money, & faith went a long way torward furthering Mirusia's career, and the best is still ahead for her.
I sure hope our paths will cross some day
Bill in Arizona
southpawbe-phxazandreconcert@yahoo.com
P.S. For everyones benefit, please bookmark this topic so you can easily come back to it when it is no longer in the top 10 topics. Here is another little trick for quickly finding this topic; look on the right side of the main blog page, look for Category & Archives, look below that & click on CD DVD......that will bring up this topic plus all other topics that related to other CD's or DVD. Here is where you can have at your fingertips all the reports of all of Andre's DVD's.
If you want to find all topics that related to just Mirusia, look on the right side near the bottom for QUICKSEARCH & simply type in the search term Mirusia
And for all of you that have recently sent in an order for her CD, please come back to this topic & give us the benefit of your thoughts & comments after listening to her CD.....everyone will be eagerly anticipating your review/comments, which is another reason you'll want to BOOKMARK this topic....so you can easily find & come back to this topic
I have been Mirusia's biggest fan right from the first time I heard her sing, back in mid-2004, when she sang the National Anthem for the Prime Minister. Since then, I have been blessed to get to know her better, her personality is as beautiful and angelic as her voice. I purchased her cd at her cd launch last year and listen to it just about non-stop.
Mirusia, congratulations on this world tour with Andre Rieu, you are a wonder of the modern world! It is so wonderful to see you succeed, it comes as no surprise to any of us who have heard you sing.
I'm really looking forward to seeing you when you come to Melbourne or when I'm up in Brisbane!
Yours,
Shane.
Hi Shane,
Thank your for adding your thoughtful & informative comments to this topic. No one has said anything about Mirusia singing before parliment & the Prime Minister.
Can you email me the name of the Prime Minister, I'd like to try to contact him & ask him to say something to this topic.
Bill in Arizona
southpawbc-phxazandreconcert@yahoo.com
Hello Shane: I can imagine Mirusia's clear voice singing your National Anthem. It must have been wonderful.
I think it is fantastic to see our young adults succeed in such a positive way.
Kindest Regards, Sally
It was interesting reading Alan Beard's comments about Mirusia. I am looking forward to recieving her cd.Being a lover also of some jazz singers, I would love for her to do a jazz cd.My favorites here have been Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. And it's hard for me to imagine Mirusia singing country, but I have no doubt she can handle that equally well. She seems to be a multi-talented young lady.She could go far with just that face alone!
Hello Dear Fans & Friends. Watch out homepage on AndreRieuFans.com this weekend for an updated look. We've got new pages to share. And we will be updating Mirusia's page. Here is a sneek preview:
"There be none of Beauty's daughters
With a magic like thee;
And like music on the waters
Is thy sweet voice to me":
Lord Byron
The awe-inspiring sound of highland bagpipes and the twirl of tartan will fill QPAC’s Concert Hall on Saturday June 30 as Scotland the Brave takes to the stage for a performance that is sure to evoke poignant images of William Wallace’s brave battle for Scottish Independence. Alba gu bra! Scotland Forever!
The acclaimed musical, an ode to Scotland and a celebration of traditional Scottish music, song and dance, has wowed the kilts off packed concert halls all over the world, including three hugely successful seasons at the Sydney Opera House a season in Toronto, Canada (or words to the effect of), and now its Brisbane’s turn.
Featuring over 100 performers on stage including The Queensland Orchestra, choir, pipe-band and drum corps, highland dancers, fiddler and Brisbane-born internationally acclaimed soloist Mirusia Louwerse (currently touring as guest soprano with Andre Rieu), Scotland the Brave shines under the musical direction of leading Australian composer, the Brisbane-based Sean O’Boyle
“I hope that Brisbane audiences will open their hearts, minds and ears to an unforgettable experience of Scottish music making,” said O’Boyle. “We aim to take audiences on a journey of tradition and nostalgia into the misty hills and heather of a far away place where ghostly pipes lament from afar and rousing tunes sweep us to a time of Rabbie Burns, William Wallace, and a cry for freedom.”
Sean O’Boyle is a leading musical light in Australia. His compositions have been performed by all the major Australian symphony orchestras, the Dallas-Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. In 2002, his compositions were performed live for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. O’Boyle also composed the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Olympic theme for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, and has written and produced music for more than 60 CDs recorded in collaboration with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He has twice received the ABC Golden Manuscript Award.
Even his birthplace lands him perfectly for this role – he was born only five minutes from the Scottish border, before moving to Australia and Brisbane as a child.
“No one can dispute the moving sound of great highland bagpipes. Originally an instrument of shepherds in the Middle East, the bagpipes evoke images of fearless Highland Regiments accompanied into battle by their pipers. In Scotland the Brave, solo piper Andrew Fuller demonstrates his mastery of this instantly recognisable Scottish creation. Accompanied by the famed Queensland Orchestra, the depth and richness of sound is astonishingly moving.”
Even those without a drop of Scot in them won’t be able to resist the appeal of the stirring Scots Wha Hae, the poignant Auld Lang Syne by Scottish national poet Robert Burns and of course Bonnie Bonne Banks of Loch Lomond.
Hi Sally, pleased to read your bit about "Scotland the Brave" It was beautiful timing last year as the very next day right alongside the concert hall we held our Tartan Day celebration honouring July 1 the day the ban on the wearing of and playing all things Scottish was repealed.
)))) A Happy Hogmanay to you Sally and all the fans of Andre.
The Saturday show was great and then on the Sunday we had massed bands, Scottish stalls and a lot more from 9AM to 4PM. We do this on the 1st Sunday in July every year here in Brisbane.
Our National Anthem "Advance Australia Fair" was mentioned being sung by Mirusia. It was written by a Scot Peter Dodds McCormick in 1878 and first performed on St Andrew's Day Nov 30 1878 so this year just 3 days before Andre performs in Brisbane will be 130 years since its first performance in Australia. The name of our city is also Scottish after Sir Thomas Brisbane. Our alternate National Anthem "Waltzing Matilda" was written by A.B. Paterson a son of Scottish migrants and Advance Australia Fair was made most famous by our greatest male singer Peter Dawson also the son of Scottish migrants.
You can't beat the Scots. Even Andre needs the bagpipe now and then. The only musical instrument declared a weapon of war.
from Darcy Maddock Vicepresident of Australian Scottish Community Qld. Inc.
Darcy, I am Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Danish, French & Indian (Native American). Had a grandmother than came from Scotland. I'd sure love to visit the country. It's on my wish list for 'one of these days' !
Thank you for telling us about Sir Thomas Brisbane. I had no idea. I appreciate the learning. My goodness .. the Scots have made a positive mark on Australia. That's wonderful.
Hi Everyone: As soon as I can get to it this weekend, watch for a new Mirusia page, with new photos and information. I will have it up linked from the Home Page.
When are you going to give us your critique of her CD, Sally? I know you have her CD
And we'll all be eagerly anticipating reviews from Shirley, Jeanine Ann, Marlene, Norma, & Marianne, after you each receive your CD's.
Well Mr Bill,my critique may have to wait awhile. First off, I did mail my order in on the 9th, got it back today for insuffient postage, forgot it might take extra postage, so, put it in another envelope, readdressed it, took it to the PO and they tell me i have to write where it's going, I say well, it's Australia, see the QLD? he says, well some of our employees might not know where that is, soooo, I wrote Australia on the envelope too. geeez! I may get the cd sometime this year!! It's my fault tho', just never thought of the amount of postage, which was 90 cents. But good grief! Who doesn't know that QLD means Queensland & that be in Australia!!!!
I didn't know QLD was an abbreviation of Queensland, until several says after I mailed my envelope & check. I'm certain the word "Australia", was included in address I included in this topic.............hmmmmm, what is it about 'following instructions' that we all forget about
Bill, I followed the instructions on Mirusia's website, wrote the address as it was shown.
rotflmao! I'm going to have to send Mirusia an email & tell her she needs to add the word Australia to the addy she shows on her own website
I just double checked to make sure I had the word Australia in this topic & sure enough it was there.
Moral to this story; don't trust Aussie's to give you a complete address.....only trust Americans to included complete mailing addresses
Well Bill, I went to check it out myself and guess what? It IS there now!But I swear it wasn't there when I ordered!!!!! Maybe they'll pelt both of us! Anyway, I know I will love the cd anyway and I'll order more when they become available.
Hello Everyone. Worked late, home late, and will have the photo page up tomorrow.
Also, the next up will be Inge's photos and the story with Trudy.
I rather imagine a very happy family reunion is taking place in Brisbane amongst the Louwerse clan.
Dan & I were thrilled to receive our autographed cd today. Not only that but an autographed picture as well. We have just finished listening to this cd and I can tell you, we were NOT disappointed! Every song is beautiful, but if I had to pick a favorite, well two really, it would be the VILIA and TIME TO SAY GOODBYE. I have never heard either of these sung so beautifully. Mirusia is "our" GOLDEN GIRL WITH THE GOLDEN VOICE. I have this crystal bell that has the most delicate,clear ring. That is what Mirusia's voice reminds me of.She is a prism of beauty and light. We are ready for her next cd, whatever it may be. Thank you so much to all who bought her to our attention. Mr & Mrs Louwerse, "you have a lovely daughter".
I'm hoping to get my CD autographed in December. Aren't you the lucky one?
Her next CD is Songs of Inspiration & is available on her website. I should clarify, Mirusia participates on this CD, she isn't part of every song.
I already have Songs of Inspiration! The CD is just as enjoyable to listen to as her demo CD She Walks in Beauty.
Bill, we plan to order that one too. I goota tell you, we just listened to her cd again this morning with our surround sound. Incredible! This little girl from"down under" will soon be the "girl on top"! She'll be singing "I'm Sittin' On Top Of The World"!
Here is a link to a photo show of Mirusia, compliments of Bob! If you have any photos of Mirusia that you'd like added to this photo show, please email them to bob..
rruark@cfl.rr.com
Have you recently taken a peek at Mirusia's blog? She has rearranged "my friends" & guess who are the most prominent.....would you believe, Carmen, Carla, & Suzan?
Oh that reminds me Bill, I almost to tell you that Mirusia's CD is just so beautiful. She sings like an Angel. My favorite song of her's is "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" and "Think Of Me". These are from my favorite Broadway Show "Phantom". Another beauty is "O Mio Bambino Caro" and "Vilia". I was glad she also picked another Andrew Lloyd Weber song (besides the Phantom) "Love Changes Everything".
I don't know how she can top this but I am sure she will! Hugs to all
Has anyone checked out Mirusia's website recently? Scroll down the page till you come to her friends. Her very first friend is someone named Henriette, which coincidentally happens to be her mother. Now, go here if you want to see some photos of Mirusia's mom & dad
Hi Sally, I have Scottish (Fraser & Thompson), Irish (Devitt), Welsh (Maddock) and English (Ensor and Pitt)as well as a French ancestor who came to Britain in the 1600s (Grenier. When you look at the Administration of the British Empire of the1700 and 1800s most of them had Scottish names. Even your Declaration of Independence is base on the Declaration of Arbroath and look at all the Scots that signed your treasure and i think there were more than a couple at The Alamo? My cds from Germany just arrived in the post. Two cds of Andre Rieu & Salon Orchester Maastricht Singing and Dancing Party Album. I am listening to the first track as I type this. Great. Going by the sound I don't think he had his Strad when this was recorded. Just in case someone wants one
LaserLight Digital 32 519 Stereo
2004-Ein Produkt der Delta Music GmbH, D-50226 Frechen bought off ebay from Musikbox-CD-Shop. Bye for now Darcy Maddock
Just in case someone is interested