WORLD-RENOWNED soprano Mirusia Louwerse has gathered many fans around the world from five years touring with violinist and conductor Andre Rieu, but she counts Ormiston’s Carmelite community among her most devoted admirers.
Mirusia, formerly of Birkdale, on Brisbane’s southside, said the Carmelites at one stage had a photograph of her by the community Bible as a reminder of the day she came to sing Ave Maria in their chapel.
The monastery’s prioress Sr Cecilia Veillon will never forget the experience.
“Mirusia’s voice is a great gift from God,” she said.
“She had the voice of an angel.
“We were so thrilled to have her visit us.
“When she sang Ave Maria so beautifully and prayerfully, many of us had tears in our eyes.”
Nearly 4.5 million hits on Mir-usia’s YouTube version of the Franz Schubert classic show the rest of the world is similarly moved.
Mirusia, who recently returned to Brisbane to build a solo career in Australia, said she was looking forward to catching up with the Carmelites again.
“It was so special when I sang for them last time,” she said.
“They are big fans of myself and Andre Rieu and had a lot of our DVDs and CDs in their community’s collection.
“I visited the monastery after being invited by one of the Sisters.
“I’ll never forget how quiet they all seemed at first.
“But they quickly became so loving and friendly.”
While sad to leave the wonderful world of Andre Rieu and his spectacular and internationally acclaimed live performances, Mirusia said “it was time for the next stage of my career”.
The 27-year-old lyric soprano is about to embark on her Home Tour 2012.
She’ll begin her tour on July 5 at the Redland Performing Arts Centre.
The tour will also take in Brisbane’s Powerhouse on July 7 before she heads down for performances at Melbourne’s Regal Ballroom and the Sydney Opera House Studio.
