“Ave Maria” is a gorgeous sacred song.
That’s because it’s a heavenly ode to the Virgin Mary.
But you might be surprised to learn that the song was originally called something entirely different.
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According to Wikipedia, the song was composed by Franz Schubert in 1825 as a part of his Op. 52. It was a part of seven songs from Walter Scott’s poem The Lady in of the Lake.
Back then the song was called “Ellen’s Third Song.”
Ave Maria is the Latin name for the prayer Hail Mary, which is used in the beginning of Ellen’s song. Over the years it was performed and recorded by many singers under the title “Ave Maria.”
There is just something magical about this song. It makes you feel something.
That something is called a lot of things, love, beauty, light, the Holy Spirit.
Take your pick of names, but you know it when you feel it. You’ll see what we mean by watching the incredible version by André Rieu and Mirusia who has been dubbed the “Angel of Australia.”
You can see the people in the crowd being visibly moved to tears during the song.
That version of the song was originally published in 1853 by as “Méditation sur le Premier Prélude de Piano de S. Bach.”
It’s composed of a piece by Gounod that Bach superimposed over a changed version of the Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV 846, from Book I of Bach’s “The Well-Tempered Clavier.” Amira, who is now 16, is a Dutch soprano singer and the winner of the sixth season of Holland’s Got Talent in 2013.
She was just 9-years-old when she won the competition.
And it’s no wonder.
Amira’s operatic voice is quite impressive.
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Amira speaks both Dutch and Afrikaans on account of her being born to a Dutch father and South African mother, according to Wikipedia.
Growing up, Amira was surrounded by classical music and fell in love with the aria “Nessun Dorma” at the age of 7. Since her brother and parents were musicians, Amira decided to take up singing.
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She learned how to sing opera arias by watching tutorials on YouTube.
Amira’s mom was shocked when she first her how well her daughter could sing.
Amira started to perform publically in 2012. She landed an audition on Holland’s Got Talent two years after that singing “O Mio Babbino Caro,” from Puccini’s opera Gianni Schicchi.
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The judges were totally blown away and her performances on the show, which got more than 40 million views on YouTube.
“You’re a star who belongs on stage!” judge Dan Karaty told her.
For her final performance on the show, Amira sang “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini’s opera Turandot. She won the competition with 50 percent of the popular vote.
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Amira shot to superstardom after winning Holland’s Got Talent.
This year she is streaming an online Christmas concert where she’ll be joined by her friends.
An African Christmas Concert With Amira and Friends will be a one hour concert available for streaming around Christmastime. A net from the proceeds of the concert is going to Amira’s charity Stichting Gelukskinders which serves underprivileged children.
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Amira hopes to help children live happy lives so that they can grow up to be happy adults.
And if her 2015 Christmas concert is any indication, this year’s show should be great.
More than 14.8 million watched her rendition of “Ave Maria” during her 2015 Christmas concert. You can watch that performance below.
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