Well, Foxy was looking for something different to discuss a while ago and I don't think we have ever talked about an opera singer on OLO.

Firstly , I am an old bluegrass and country rock fan but I think Amira is the very best. Her voice blows me away and leaves me teary, and her range is incredible. There are a few young females around now that sing classics but in my opinion they do not match Amira. I know nothing about opera, but play her songs several times a day.

Amira won the 2013 Hollands Got Talent series at age 9 singing three classics. She is self taught by using youtube and no formal training. Her parents are amateur musicians. She now receives tuition, mostly aimed at her breathing.

Shortly after her win on HGT Andre Rieu invited her to perform at his concert. How good is she to be asked to perform her very first concert performance by Anddre Rieu in front of an audience of 15000. Amira got a standing ovation. Andre is no amateur at the local club.

Am I exaggerating or is Amira something really exceptional as I see her? I would like opinions from posters

I'll try putting up a couple of links to her songs but the thing wasn't working last time. If not you can just google Amira Willighagen to find her.

First audition on Hollands Got Talent 2013, sorry link not working!!
Amira Willighagen--live in concert-- Nella Fantasia

//Am I exaggerating or is Amira something really exceptional as I see her?//

Nobody cares, opera is shite.

Banjo,

I've heard her and she is terrific, one can only hope that her vocal cords hold up.

Is Mise,
I am given to understand that Amira has not and is not doing anything likely to damage her vocals, you will notice that she reaches the high notes without strain. The government in Holland has tight controls on child performers, so they are not exploited or overworked and that they must attend school and do homework if away. Her performances, etc. will be curtailed if her school work slips. Remember that they stopped the girl sailor, Laura Deckker, from sailing round the world for quite some time.
Toni Lavis
You are showing your ignorance. 30 million views have now seen Amiras performances on Hollands Got Talent of three years ago. More have viewed her concerts since. Close to 100 million one would think. Then add others like Jackie Evancho and Laura Bretan then tell me no one is interested. Many have quite a different view to you. Even when some do not like opera, they can recognize ability when they see it.

//You are showing your ignorance.//

And not just that, showing myself to be one of the common muck, who is not able to appreciate the higher arts due to my obvious lack of breeding and taste...

Oh well. I'd still rather listen to a singer singing a song I like, like this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mynzbmrtp9I

Or these guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Sw61oITuts

Now that's music.

I seem to be in a bit of a ballad mood. Anyway, nobody can scream as good as Dani Filth of Cradle of Filth fame (strong language warning):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x26LZrX_vuI

Not that I dislike female singers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xQeGU152gU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTKqJ1qot3I

Now that's talent. When whatsherface can write songs that good, then play piano and sing at the same time, she might be almost as good as Amanda Palmer.

Toni,
I recall way back before Johnny Cash that was sung by Burl Ives (I think)

But this is better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkdci55adqk

The rest of the post was rubbish made by some stupid uni art students from Melb uni. About useless as tits on a boar pig. No wonder the countries in a mess.

Toni,

Try, Ghost chickens in the sky--- Leroy Troy

//The rest of the post was rubbish made by some stupid uni art students from Melb uni.//

* The Decemberists are from Oregon (USA).
* Cradle of Filth are from Suffolk, England.
* Amanda Palmer is from New York, New York (USA).

And they're all a good deal more talented than whatsherface. You have poor taste.

Oh, and if you want to see good parody country music, you can't go past The Wurzels' immortal 'Combine Harvester', ooo aar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkdci55adqk

Although an honourable mention must go to The Nine Inch Richards for 'Closer to Hogs' (language warning):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pB7PzdLzSA

And here's the Nine Inch Nails original for comparison, mostly because it's such an awesome clip (language, nudity warning):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTFwQP86BRs

Sorry, dodgy link. Ladies and gentleman, I give you.... The Wurzels!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0zxE0SUG1c

Now this is what REAL talent looks like. Now I'll admit that is far from the best piping I've ever heard, but he's not awful. Pretty darn impressive, seeing as he's managed to combine two activities which are amazingly difficult just on their own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yo0MGR2kmA

Ukulele Batman probably shouldn't give up his day job, though.

Tony Lavis you are not half as clever as you think you are and not at all funny. Remember the sage advice that if you have nothing nice to say then say nothing.

//Tony Lavis you are not half as clever as you think you are and not at all funny.//

Followed by:

//Remember the sage advice that if you have nothing nice to say then say nothing.//

The mind boggles.

I apologise if my comments about Ukulele Batman upset you. Is he a friend of yours or something? I do think he's funny... just not a great musician.

Dear Banjo,

Thank You for giving us a change of topic on this
forum. I have to confess I was not familiar with
Amira Willighagen. However she appears to be quite
extraordinary. She won the sixth season of
"Holland's Got Talent" in 2013 at the tender age of 9.
Making her just 13 today.
And I believe that her rendition of Gounod's "Ave Maria"
is simply breath-taking as is her interpretation of
Puccini's "Nessun Dorma" from the Opera "Turandot".

It's made me want to try to get hold of her recordings.
The fact that Andre Rieu invited her to perform with
him is a great compliment. He has so many wonderful
singers on his shows. I watched him yesterday afternoon -
on SBS - at 2pm. It was a 25th Anniversary Concert and
again - very entertaining.

Music has a wonderful effect on people. I work part-time
as a volunteer in my mother's nursing home - in the
dementia-wing. I have donated quite a few DVDs of Andre
Rieu's concerts to the home. The staff play them for
the residents, always with positive results. It's
marvellous what music therapy can do for people.
People who normally don't react - but do to music.

Hello Foxy,
I thought of you when putting up the thread, I reckoned you would adore Amira's voice. If you play her Nella Fantasia after her performance with Andre Rieu, the transformation is incredible in just 3 years. At 12 she is a talented, confident young woman. The Africans do a really good job of their stage productions and recordings.

I play Amira's songs several times daily, as well as the Slim Dusty's and other country and bluegrass. Her rendition of O Sole Mio with Patricio Baurne has been rated as the best ever.

Trust we can continue to enjoy her brilliant voice and everyone will have their favorites. Lucky us!

Dear Banjo,

Thank You for letting us know about Amira.

I will definitely be buying her recordings.

She sounds awesome!

Hey Banjo,
I got curious...
Who is this 'Amira Willighagen' I thought.
So I went and took a look.

I'm not really big on Opera, I'm not sure I could handle it being played all day long, it probably go crazy.
But everyone has their own different tastes in music.
- And I'll agree she certainly is very talented.
Thanks for sharing.

AC,
Opera is not my scene either, but Amira is something else. I am no expert but if you ever watched Torvil and Dean or Katerina Witt skating, that is the class I put Amira in for her voice. I have no doubt we are witnessing the development of one of the best opera performers ever. I hope others also googled some of her videos.

Foxy,
Australia is the only continent Amira has yet to visit. When that happens it means a flight to Sydney or Melbourne for me and a overnight stay just to attend her concert. Hell it is worth it as you cannot find perfection every day. Even after listening to her recordings of her live performances many, many, times I still get teary. I think Amira is currently in Africa recording so maybe there will be another release this year. Hard to believe this young lady is just 13 and has performed for only 4 years. what will another 10 years bring?

Foxy,
I must say your admiration for Andre Rieu is well founded. After watching 'Andre Rieu and Amira--O Mio Babbino Caro' many times I have to conclude that Andre is a clever man and good luck to him.

Holland Got Talent will be recognized for discovering Amira but Andre will get the accolades for providing Amira with her first major concert venue and supporting her in that. Amira rewarded him with a perfect performance at the concert. It was most astute of Andre to phone from his Australian tour to secure Amira's engagement for that concert. Her performance now has 11.5 million views and continues to grow.

My best wishes to both and I hope to see Amira perform at more Andre Rieu concerts in future. Trust you have obtained and enjoy Amira's recordings.