Hayley at Henley Festival 2008

[Dave]

Jul 21, 2008 12:30:48 GMT milewalker said:

Jul 21, 2008 4:59:41 GMT Stephany said:

Hi all,

There's an article reviewing Hayley's performance in the Henley Standard.

Stephany

Hayley's credentials may be impeccible, but any "reviewer" who begins talking about Hayley with the words "opera star" clearly knows less about music than my cat. If it wasnt for the fact that nice words in print are always a good thing, I would say thi wasnt worth the electrons it was exciting on my monitor.

Jon

Hi Jon,

The reviewer clearly doesn't understand what an opera singer is, however, that doesn't mean his opinion about a singing performance isn't valuable. Clearly, he isn't an opera critic and he may not even have broad musical tastes (or he would have known) but more important for me is his overall opinion "her performance on the main stage was stunning". That's what the casual readers of the local paper will notice and that's who Hayley needs and I am sure wants to attract.

Thank goodness it wasn't a true opera critic writing the report, we all know what most of them would have written because as we have been 'informed' previously, Hayley isn't even in their World!

Cheers, Dave

[roger]

Whilst I agree with both Jon and Dave, the part that irritated me was this:

Built in the Katherine Jenkins ‘pop-opera’ mould...

That implies that Hayley is somehow trying to capitalize on the Katherine's success. As I am sure many long-term members will know, Hayley launched her international career at a time when very few people outside a 50 mile radius of Neath had ever heard of Katherine. Indeed, Katherine only became know in the UK when she toured as Hayley's guest in the Pure tour. Also, Pure had already become the fastest selling debut classical album in UK chart history seven months before Katherine's debut album was released. My concern is that, anyone who doesn't know better will now assume that Hayley is only just started out and is trying to emulate Katherine.

No doubt the comment was intended as a compliment to Hayley but it came from someone who clearly knew nothing about her. I just wish they would check a few basic facts before saying anything.

Roger

[milewalker]

Hi Dave,

Dave, I take your point regarding the effect the review might possibly have on a casual fan, and also the downside of possibly finding a reviewer who has an ax to grind. Having said this.....

I know I am probably a minority of one on this position - but I would personally much rather read constructive criticism from an honest and knowledgeable reviewer than empty praise from someone so completely and obviously unknowledgable. This is the way I expect and hope that others would treat me as well.

Jon - contributing to topic drift since 1999

[thomas]

Hi!

Built in the Katherine Jenkins ‘pop-opera’ mould — young, pretty, nice voice —

That is indeed a very brief discription of Hayley and, like Roger said, it sounds as if Hayley would copy Katherine.
I'm happy that she doesn't. Katherine's voice is far too much opera for me. Hayley appears a lot more pure and natural.

But the problem is how do people think about this who don't know Hayley enough?
I hope they like them both, Katherine and Hayley, so that this comparision might turn out good for both of them. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Thomas

[martindn]

Hi All,

Thanks for the reviews and photos. Yes, we all know that this comparison stuff between Hayley and Katherine is mostly rubbish. They are very different, and both are wonderful singers.
To me, Katherine is gentle, soft and relaxing, with a beauty like the hills of her native South Wales. Hayley on the other hand is spectacular, passionate, intense and exhilarating. Katherine soothes the spirit, Hayley lifts it.
I like them both, but at present I will see Hayley four times this year, and Katherine only once. And yes, the first time I saw both f them was a few minutes apart on the Pure tour. What a fantastic concert that was!

Martin

[Richard]

Hello everybody!

I've just found an interview with Callum Chamberlain who sang with Hayley at the Henley Festival.

www.henley-festival.co.uk/press/pr_2008_19.pdf

Henley Festival interview with 10 year-old Callum Chamberlain
May 2008

At a special gala night for this year’s Henley Festival, Saturday 12th July, a (very) young rising star gets a chance to sing with the acclaimed young New Zealand singer Hayley Westenra, who, at the age of 21, has herself already clocked up more platinum discs than most singers achieve in a lifetime. So how did this collaboration come about?

We spoke to 10 year old Callum Chamberlain earlier this month and began by asking about his musical background.

Q: You go to Moulsford Preparatory School in Wallingford. Was this where you started singing?

A: Yes, my music teacher, Mr Bissel listens to all of the boys to see if we are good enough to be in the school choir. I was 7 when he told my mum that I had a good voice. I made it into the school choir and started to sing a lot. I also sing in the Sacred Heart Church Choir with Anne Evans who has also helped me.
I auditioned for the National Youth Choir two years ago and got accepted for the choir.

Q: Your older sister, Georgia sings and plays the piano. Are your mum and dad also musical?

A: No, my dad thinks he is a very good singer. BUT HE’S NOT!!!!!!!!!!

Q: What is it about singing that you enjoy?

A: I like to hit big notes and sing as many different pieces as I can. I sing all the time at home but so do my sister and dad. The problem is we all sing different songs at the same time which gets a bit annoying for my mum!

Q: What other things do you like doing?

A: I also like playing cricket and tennis at school. I play the piano but I wish it was easier to learn.
Moving on to Callum’s appearance at the Henley Festival, we then asked about the moment his father wrote to Stewart Collins, the Artistic Director of the Henley Festival.

Q: Your dad wrote to Stewart when you heard that Hayley Westenra was performing at the Festival this year. Did you know he was going to do this?

A: Not at first but then he told me after Stewart Collins had agreed to meet me. When he read that Hayley Westenra was coming to the festival he knew she would come also for a rehearsal earlier and hoped that I could sing in that with her as a really special treat.

Q: Your dad asked if you could sing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Pie Jesu in a rehearsal with Hayley. Have you ever sung this before?

A: Yes, It is a piece that is suited to a female voice and a boy in duet, and is also one of my favourites.

Q: What did you think when you discovered that Stewart was offering you a chance to sing with Hayley at the Festival itself, not just in a rehearsal?

A: I was absolutely astonished. Stewart asked me how I would feel singing in front of over 3,500 people. I didn’t even realise what he meant until he told me that he felt I was good enough to sing with Hayley in her performance.

Q: What do your friends think about you performing at the Festival?

A: They were really happy for me. The teachers were really very pleased and I think my music teacher Mr Bissell is coming on the night to listen. He has really helped a lot in my music.

Q: Hayley is coming down to Henley on 30th June to do some charity work with the Festival. I understand you’ll be rehearsing with her for the first time on that day?

A: Yes, and I am really looking forward to meeting her.

Q: And you’ll be performing with her on the evening of Saturday 12th July at the Festival?

A: Yes I am really excited.

Q: Your 11th birthday is on 8th July, between the rehearsal and the Festival. What are you hoping to get for your birthday?

A: I hope for an iphone, so I can load all my music onto it.

Q: Does this chance the Festival has given you also feel like a birthday present?

A: Absolutely it’s the best present that I could ever imagine.

Q: What do you want to do with your singing in the future?

A: I’d like to become a famous classical singer. I just need my voice to break and still be good.

See this thread for a brief video clip and more information. Here's a screenshot of Callum rehearsing with Hayley:



Richard

[Richard]

Callum Chamberlain was a finalist in BBC Radio 2's Young Chorister of the Year competition at St. Paul's Cathedral in October 2009.

www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=31905

Richard