Magical Mother’s Day with Mirusia

ACCLAIMED soprano Mirusia is bringing her Mother’s Day tribute to the Tweed on May 10.

Dubbed ‘The Angel of Australia’ by classical superstar violinist Andrew Rieu, her stellar career emerged from a modest story.

A role created for her in a high school musical at 14, a run of talent quests, and an invitation to sing at a local restaurant, all precipitated a chain of life-changing events.

“The restaurant owner handed me a music book and said, ‘darling, learn it all and come back to me on Saturday night’, and so I did,” she said.

“I mean, I was 14, and it was 50 bucks a night.

“I started singing Dionne Warwick songs and then got requests for Memory from Cats or something from Phantom.

“It suited my voice better and I started to explore Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim, Andrea Bocelli, and Sarah Brightman.

“The more classical I went, the better it sounded. It just suited my instrument.”

After graduating from Queensland Conservatorium at 21, Mirusia made history as the youngest-ever recipient of the Dame Joan Sutherland Opera Award.

Being discovered by Rieu was transformational.

“It was the wildest thing I could ever imagine,” she said.

“I was talking with a girlfriend the day before – I’d done a four-year degree in opera and no idea what to do next.

“Then I got this call from a guy saying he was Andre Rieu.

“He had heard some things on my website but wanted to listen to me in person and asked if I’d come to his studio in Maastricht (The Netherlands) the next day.

“At first, I thought it was a joke. But I literally got on a plane, and that was it. My career took off.”

Unbeknownst to the young singer, her aunt had messaged Rieu on his website guest book about her talented niece in Australia, and the violinist had followed through.

The Brisbane girl related to the star in a classic Aussie egalitarian way.

“I approached Andre as I would anyone, and I don’t think anyone spoke to him that way – they were ‘yes sir, no sir,’ and a bit terrified,” she said.

“I’d just say, ‘Right, what are we doing – let’s go for dinner’, and he’s, ‘Ah… okay, sure, my wife and I will pick you up’.

“No one had really treated him just like a friend or colleague.”

The musical meeting of minds resulted in dozens of albums, and Mirusia toured the world for over a decade as Rieu’s star soprano with the Johann Strauss Orchestra.

As a soloist, Mirusia has released 12 albums, with her latest, Classique, debuting at #1 on the Classical and Classical-Crossover charts.

In Polish, Mirusia means ‘bringing happiness to others’, and the singer is deeply connected to her audience’s joy.

“We’re spookily connected sometimes,” she said.

“It’s almost like chatting in a living room, but I’m singing, and it’s just very personal.”

For tickets, visit twintowns.com.au/events/mirusia