AFTER an illustrious two-decade career, Mirusia Louwerse is preparing to celebrate a monumental milestone – her 40th birthday.
The Australian soprano, known for her powerful voice and captivating performances, will mark this special occasion by returning to her roots in Redlands for an unforgettable concert.
With a career that spans 12 albums and countless performances around the globe, Mirusia’s celebration tour is her way of honouring the journey that has brought her from the small town of Cleveland to stages worldwide.
“I’m 39 now, but March is my birthday, and I wanted to celebrate it with my local community,” Mirusia said.
“I have so much to give back to my local community.
“I grew up here, and when I think about my 40 years on this planet, Redlands plays a very big part in that.”
Mirusia’s musical evolution is a story of hard work, determination, and a stroke of good fortune in 2007 that brought her together with one of the most prominent classical musicians in the world, André Rieu.
Mirusia, known as the “Angel of Australia”, earned this nickname from the famous Dutch violist during her time touring with his orchestra.
Her stunning soprano voice and graceful stage presence quickly set her apart, propelling her into the international spotlight.
As a soloist with Rieu, she performed in major concerts around the world, captivating audiences with her powerful vocals. This experience was pivotal in shaping her career, helping her become one of the most celebrated sopranos on the global stage.
“My aunt sent him (Rieu) a message on his guestbook on his website and that led to me sending him my CD,” recalled Mirusia, whose name means “Bringing peace and joy to others”.
“Within a few hours of my aunt placing that message on his guestbook, he called me.
“It was a shock, honestly.
“To have him on the phone, calling and saying, ‘You want to tour the world with me?’ I was like, ‘What?’
“The rest, as they say, is history.”
The upcoming concert at the Redland Performing Arts Centre next month will be a celebration of her roots and a testament to how far she has come.
“What I am so proud of in this journey is the fact that I came from the Redlands, I’ve toured the world, and I’ve been lucky enough to make it as a success as a singer … but now I’ve come back to my roots,” she said.
The celebration tour gives Mirusia the chance to thank her loyal fans while offering them something special.
Her tour features a unique “best of” format where the audience plays an active role in choosing some of the songs she performs.
“I love it when the audience gets to have a say in what I do,” she said.
“To say to an audience, ‘What would you like next?’ is kind of exciting because it gives them a chance to say, ‘This is what we love, this is what we came for,’ and that’s really fun.”
Redlands fans can expect a rich mix of repertoire, from classical pieces to more popular tunes and Mirusia’s own original compositions.
People are always eager to hear her version of Schubert’s Ave Maria, which has become a social media sensation with about 77 million views on YouTube.
“We’ll have a couple of audience participation segments on the night, which will be really fun,” she said.
“It’s a best of, a celebration, and there’ll be a few new surprises too.
“I can’t not surprise my audience.”
Mirusia’s ability to seamlessly blend classical and popular music has been a hallmark of her career.
As a classical crossover artist, she is passionate about reaching every type of listener.
“What’s important with me is that it is a crossover. You’re going from one genre to the next, and that enables me to reach out to every single person in the audience,” she said.
Having grown up in the Redlands, Mirusia is committed to giving back and advocating for more opportunities for budding artists in the region.
When asked for her advice to aspiring artists, her answer is simple – putting in the hard work will give you results.
“Connections, networking, all of those sorts of things,” she said.
“It’s not just fun and games. There’s a structure to it, and I want to help other artists find their way.”
For Mirusia, the connection she creates with her audience is what makes her performances so special.
“Music is so important in our lives. It’s the soundtrack to our memories,” she said.
“As a musician, to witness music triggering a memory and seeing an audience member show emotion is incredible.
It’s a bond we share that is truly magical.”
Celebration – Mirusia is at the Redland Performing Arts Centre, Cleveland, on
Saturday, March 1, at 7.30pm. Tickets, including a VIP meet and greet, are available at rpac.com.au
