Holland’s 9-Year-Old Diva Sings the “Ave Maria”

Nine-year-old Amira Willighagen became an Internet sensation in October 2013, when her rendition of Puccini’s “O Mio Babbino Caro” (“O My Beloved Father”) captivated the audience at a live broadcast of “Holland’s Got Talent.”

The little girl from Nijmegen decided to sing after her brother took violin lessons.  She told the judges, “My brother Vincent plays violin, and I also wanted to do something… So I thought, I’m going to sing… and then I heard opera songs, which I found very beautiful and that’s when I started singing.”

Especially surprising was that Amira has never taken a voice lesson.  She learned to sing by watching YouTube tutorials.

The young soprano has moved forward to the finals in this season’s “Holland’s Got Talent.”  On December 21, 2013, she won hearts at the semifinals with her rendition of the “Ave Maria”.  Here it is, for your listening pleasure.