Amira Willighagen ~ Live in Concert ~ Nella Fantasia

Amira Willighagen
Moreletapark Auditorium, Pretoria, South Africa, November 11-13, 2016
Afrikaans is Groot concert

After her performance in Pretoria in July 2016, Amira Willighagen (then 12 years old) was invited back to South Africa to perform this one song again at the Afrikaans is Groot concert four months later in November. The producers had only planned for 9 performances, but when it was advertised that Amira would be on the program, the demand was such that they had to increase the number of performances to 11.

In an arrangement written especially for Amira, the performance begins with the majestic Ennio Morricone composition 'River' from the soundtrack to the movie 'The Mission'. This is then followed by Amira's rendition of 'Nella Fantasia' which is based on the haunting melody known as 'Gabriel's Oboe' written by the same composer for the same movie.

Trivia:

Amira's parents had to bring a tutor to South Africa in order to get the necessary time away from her school in The Netherlands.

The show's producers, Coleske Artists, were making a DVD of the concert and filmed both nights. On one night Amira wore the bracelet but not on the other, when the two recordings were edited together it was not noticed.

In 2013 Amira moved permanently to South Africa. Today she has dual citizenship. She attends college at the University of Pretoria, where she is studying music. She also runs her nonprofit Gelukskinders helping disadvantaged children and performs in local concerts.

Discovered in season 6 of Holland's Got Talent at the age of 9, Amira Willighagen has emerged as the most popular lyric soprano in the world today.