The venue in the video below, especially festive for the tenth anniversary of his Vrijthof Square concerts in Maastricht, was transformed into a Venetian-style setting. The square featured a Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge, a fabulous Italian fountain, and a colorful Venetian masquerade. The concerts, held on July 11 and 12, 2014, were recorded for the CD & DVD “Love in Venice” (2014). The highlighted excerpt from the DVD featured André Rieu on violin accompanied by the young soprano Amira Willighagen singing “O Mio Babbino Caro” by Giacomo Puccini (with the libretto by Giovacchino Forzano).
You didn’t read wrong. André Rieu took the stage and invited a talented 10-year-old singer named Amira to join him. In front of a crowd of thousands, Amira confidently walked out, gracefully curtsied, and began her mesmerizing performance of “O Mio Babbino Caro.” Her angelic voice resonated through the air, captivating the audience who were left in awe of her incredible talent. It was truly a remarkable sight to witness a young Dutch-speaking girl effortlessly singing the complex Italian lyrics of one of the world’s most emotional operatic arias.
When this extraordinary performance was shared on YouTube, it quickly gained immense attention. As of early 2024, it has received over 86 million views and garnered thousands of compliments in the comment session.
One viewer wrote, “I can’t even pretend to express the emotions I felt listening to this beautiful young lady . Her voice is so effortless and controlled it’s hard to believe that she is only ten years old.” A 55-year-old man commented, “This made me cry. Big sobs. This child must be protected. Her voice is so clear.”
