The music of Judith Durham will live on with Cleveland soprano Mirusia continuing to perform the songs of the iconic Seekers while on tour.
Mirusia said she was contacted by her manager Robert Rigby 15 minutes after Judith Durham died on August and let out a 'gasp' as he relayed the news.
"I can't take it in. It was such a shock. I only spoke to her before she died and saw her in Melbourne before Covid. I knew she was suffering with ill health, but you never think it's going to happen. It seemed to me to be out of the blue," she said.
Mirusia performed with Judith Durham and the members of the Seekers in 2011, doing 18 shows.
"It was a seminal moment for me, performing with Judith," she said.
"I was eight when Dad bought the 25th anniversary album of the Seekers and he called me over to listen to her voice. He said that one day I might be able to sing like her and there I was in our lounge room at Victoria Point singing along, complete with applause at the end because this was a live album. I never really thought that one day I would know her and perform alongside her," she said.
In 2019, Mirusia performed again in Mirusia and the Original Seekers, this time as the female voice of the group and with the permission of Judith Durham.
"You can never be her. You just can't. But I was honoured to sing her songs and I did so with the utmost respect. Her sister Beverley even came to the show."
The tour was cut short by Covid and Mirusia said her new tour Songbird would now continue, this time with a special tribute to Judith Durham. The tour will run until mid October.
"Judith and her music is a part of my life and my career. In this tour, I will definitely honour her," she said.
She said she was pleased to hear that all members of the Seekers were able to speak to Judith before her death.
"That was very special to them. They are a great group to work with - so different and so talented."
Mirusia is best known as a member of the Andre Rieu company.
