Amira and the Opera

Amira Willighagen is only a sophomore in High School. She has never studied in a formal conservatory. However, she has sung with many established opera singers who have.

Above she is rehearsing with Sunnyboy Dladla, a South African tenor who has sung in many famous opera houses in Europe and Africa and is a member of the ensemble of the Deutsche Oper Berlin. They are rehearsing 'La Donna e Mobile' from Verdi's Rigoletto.

Below she performs with Fabio Armiliato, a well known Italian opera singer.

In a duet with Fabio Armiliato in Naples, Italy

She has performed the Flower Duet with Cecilia Rangwanasha, a freelance opera singer that works at the Royal Opera House in London.



And performed with Dutch opera singer Ben Heijnen.



While the training Amira may undergo in the future is yet unknown, she has so far been tutored by several famous instructors and coaches, including masterclasses with Andre Rieu, Henny Diemer, and Dutch opera singer Miranda van Kralingen. The last of these is the subject of this documentary.

Masterclass with Conductor Andre Rieu in 2013

Four Masterclasses with Vocal Coach Henny Diemer in 2015

Other teachers and coaches Amira has studied with include Maike Van der Wiel, Marijke Hoksbergen, Corlea Botha, and her current teacher Suzette Wilkens.

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Professional opera singers Amira has sung duets with include:

Cecilia Rangwanasha
Fabio Armiliato
Sunnyboy Dladla
Ben Heijnen
Gissur Páll Gissurarson
Jannie Moolman

Other famous singers she has performed with include:

Paul Potts - English tenor
Patrizio Buanne - Italian crooner
Corlea Botha - South African soprano
Siki Jo-An
Tim Akkerman - Dutch singer song-writer
Ruhan du Toit - South African singer
Helmut Lotti - Belgian singer-songwriter.
Andre Schwarz
Nicola Vigna - Italian singer and pianist

Solo instrumentalists she has sung with include:

Martin Mans - Dutch organist
Gerrit Willighagen - Dutch organist (Amira's father)
Vincent van Hessen - Belgian classical guitarist and street performer