Avé Maria (Gounod) Live recording BBC - La Esterella

La Esterella was born on May 7th 1919 as Esther Lambrechts in Antwerp (belgium). She was the youngest child of the family. At the age of 12, she went to the domestic science school where she learned to be a seamstress and how to make haute couture dresses. She took her degree, whereafter she took up a job as seamstress. But in 1940 War broke out and she lost her job because there wer no more clients. now she didn't make any money to buy the fabrics she needed to make herself a new dress. her mother said: "You have a nice voice, there's a talent show next weekend, maybe you could win." Eventually she became second and won 150 belgian francs (= €3,70) and she could pass on to the finals. A week later, she sang again and won the finals: her prize was 500 belgian francs (= €12.40). A talent scout in the audience, Charlie schleimovitsch, who secretly loved her and became her husband and manager, sent her to a singing course. She progressed well at the course, where her singing teacher discovered that she had an amazing voice range of 4 octaves : from conteralto tot dramatic soprano. She was able to sing a wide variety of song ranging from Zarah Leander to classical arias. She rose to fame due to her unique voice, and performed everywhere in Europe: Belgium, Germany, France, Holland, the UK, Italy, Sweden, Norway and many other countries. She even had contracts ready to be signed in the USA. But disaster struck and her husband and manager Charlie died in 1962. She was so saddened by his loss that she quit singing. But in 1982, at the age of 60, the belgian radio persuaded her to perform one last time. Esterella brougt an magnific interpretation of "Ol' man river". Her concert was such a succes that she started performing again. It turned out to be a great comeback. She had her last publical performance at september 2010. She died on april 12th, 2011 in the 'Stuivenberg' hospital in Antwerp, at the age of 91 years.