Post by stephch on Sept 13, 2005 15:25:16 GMT
IC Liverpool/Daily Post
Teenage conqueror from New Zealand Sep 13 2005
By Philip Key, Daily Post
SHE is just 18 but has conquered much of the music world, singing to queens, presidents and prime ministers and performing in many of the great concert venues including the Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall.
Yesterday, Hayley Westenra was in Liverpool to survey her latest target, the city's Philharmonic Hall.
She is appearing there on November 8 with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
Westenra is that current music phenomenon, the crossover artist, a singer who can please both the classical and pop fans.
Her last record Pure, recorded when she was just 15, topped the classical charts and moved over to the regular listings, selling nearly a million in this country alone.
In her native New Zealand it was the best-selling album ever, staying at number one for 18 weeks.
In Liverpool, where she was also appearing last night at the Hope Street Hotel in a private performance for Magic FM, Westenra visited the Philharmonic Hall dressed informally in jeans, boots, skimpy top and jacket, just like any teenager.
"For my concerts I tend to wear frocks," she laughs.
"I particularly like the British designer Jenny Packham who has designed one outfit specially for me. Usually I go along and select what she has in stock."
She has been working on a new album, Odyssey, due for release at the end of this month which is likely to do just as well as Pure.
Having heard a preview, I can report that it is another mixture of classics and pop, from O Mio Babbino Caro to Both Sides Now. What links it is Westenra's beautiful, clear, soaring voice.
"There will be a single from it, What You Never Know, which I wrote myself," she declares with obvious delight.
"I choose all my own music and when I sing with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic they will be playing my own arrangements."
It might seem daunting for an 18-year-old, but the Christchurch-born singer has been performing since childhood. She was told she had perfect pitch when appearing in a school play as a six-year-old and by the age of 11 had appeared in 40 amateur stage musicals.
Encouraged by her parents, she busked locally with her sister and brother Sophie and Isaac and entered a recording studio for the first time at the age of 12.
It was hard work which has kept her feet firmly on the ground - there have been no tabloid scandals - and those who know her say she remains a charming, unspoiled girl. That's easy, she says. "I am excited by everything that's going on but it's only a couple of years ago that I was still going into school every day."
Now living in London - "temporarily," she says - this was her first visit to Liverpool for a singing gig while her Philharmonic date will be a very special one-off.
* Hayley Westenra is at the Philharmonic Hall, 8pm on November 8.
Teenage conqueror from New Zealand Sep 13 2005
By Philip Key, Daily Post
SHE is just 18 but has conquered much of the music world, singing to queens, presidents and prime ministers and performing in many of the great concert venues including the Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall.
Yesterday, Hayley Westenra was in Liverpool to survey her latest target, the city's Philharmonic Hall.
She is appearing there on November 8 with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
Westenra is that current music phenomenon, the crossover artist, a singer who can please both the classical and pop fans.
Her last record Pure, recorded when she was just 15, topped the classical charts and moved over to the regular listings, selling nearly a million in this country alone.
In her native New Zealand it was the best-selling album ever, staying at number one for 18 weeks.
In Liverpool, where she was also appearing last night at the Hope Street Hotel in a private performance for Magic FM, Westenra visited the Philharmonic Hall dressed informally in jeans, boots, skimpy top and jacket, just like any teenager.
"For my concerts I tend to wear frocks," she laughs.
"I particularly like the British designer Jenny Packham who has designed one outfit specially for me. Usually I go along and select what she has in stock."
She has been working on a new album, Odyssey, due for release at the end of this month which is likely to do just as well as Pure.
Having heard a preview, I can report that it is another mixture of classics and pop, from O Mio Babbino Caro to Both Sides Now. What links it is Westenra's beautiful, clear, soaring voice.
"There will be a single from it, What You Never Know, which I wrote myself," she declares with obvious delight.
"I choose all my own music and when I sing with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic they will be playing my own arrangements."
It might seem daunting for an 18-year-old, but the Christchurch-born singer has been performing since childhood. She was told she had perfect pitch when appearing in a school play as a six-year-old and by the age of 11 had appeared in 40 amateur stage musicals.
Encouraged by her parents, she busked locally with her sister and brother Sophie and Isaac and entered a recording studio for the first time at the age of 12.
It was hard work which has kept her feet firmly on the ground - there have been no tabloid scandals - and those who know her say she remains a charming, unspoiled girl. That's easy, she says. "I am excited by everything that's going on but it's only a couple of years ago that I was still going into school every day."
Now living in London - "temporarily," she says - this was her first visit to Liverpool for a singing gig while her Philharmonic date will be a very special one-off.
* Hayley Westenra is at the Philharmonic Hall, 8pm on November 8.
neat 'fix', Richard!
