André Rieu's Soprano Mirusia Has Much To Celebrate

Mirusia Louwerse Has Much To Celebrate

Linda Muller December 18, 2008
SOPRANO Mirusia Louwerse has already had her Christmas celebration. She and her family, who live in Birkdale, enjoyed the usual festive fare on December 12 on the eve of her return to Holland as part of violin virtuoso André Rieu's performing family.

In true Dutch tradition, she also celebrated Sinter Klaas on December 5, a double celebration of Christmas and the success of two shows at Suncorp Stadium. The performances were extra special for Mirusia as the first in the André Rieu cast "back home".
"I have never been so happy during a tour. Performing back home in Australia completed the circle for me," she said. In the audience were a smattering of Queensland Conservatorium and school friends as well as family and residents from the Prins Willem Dutch village at Birkdale, with whom Mirusia maintains a close association.

"We performed first in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Sydney so this gave my butterflies a chance to settle before coming home," Mirusia said. "It is nice to perform in front of people who give you their absolute support. I wasn't nervous, just excited. "It was a privilege to perform as a way of saying thankyou for the support. It really means a lot.
"I have tried to catch up with as many as I can while I am home," she said.
Mirusia returns to perform with the cast in the Jose Carreras Gala Concert in Leipzig, Germany, with tours planned in 2009 in Japan, America, Germany and Italy. She will return to Australia for a concert with André Reiu in October.
"I may have wanted to perform at home, but it has also been Andre's lifelong dream to perform here. He wanted to perform in the furthest place he could and he has discovered that by doing this, it has not been difficult at all. He will be back," she said.

Mirusia said Andre had "lots of surprises up his sleeve" for the show.
"He looks after all of us like a surrogate dad or uncle. What you see on stage is what you get," she said. Mirusia said she intended to stay as long as she could with the company. "I am having a blast." Photos ©Al Girard