Hayley's 'Metascore'

[Stephany]

This is too short to be a review but I thought I should mention it anyway. It's for "Treasure" by the way.

Hayley Westenra -- Treasure
31 May 2007
Waikato Times
© 2007 Fairfax New Zealand Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No introduction needed, here's the latest release from the young New Zealand songbird who's also a very nice person. Perfect for your granny.

(Courtesy of Universal Music)

Best wishes,
Stephany

[jons]

I think we need about seven more Odyssey reviews, Steph.

[Stephany]

Hi Jon,
Thanks for the reminder.
I just found another one for "Odyssey".
Best wishes,
Stephany

Classical Choice
26 March 2006
Sunday Mercury
(c) 2006 Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd

HAYLEY WESTENRA
Odyssey: Special Edition (Decca)

Of all the beautiful young people dominating the classical music charts at present, Hayley Westenra excites me most. There's innocence in her voice, the hallmark of her youth, and a gentleness that enhances rather than impinges on her music. This Special Edition CD features new tracks - including sumptuous versions of Scarborough Fair and The Water Is Wide - and has been released to co-incide with her latest tour, which takes in Birmingham next month. Listen out, too, for her duet with Andrea Bocelli, and the angelic Quanta Qualia. DB

[jons]

Thanks Stephany,

Its nine more reviews we need not seven sorry. I counted a couple of Treasure reviews by accident.

[Stephany]

Very well, Jon.
Here is another one to add to our "Odyssey" collection.
Stephany

ODYSSEY - Hayley Westenra
Rating : ***1/2
By Gregory Leow
14 September 2005
The New Paper
Copyright 2005, Singapore Press Holdings Limited


Westenra's 2003 debut, Pure, sold more than two million copies, making this release highly anticipated. Her voice has matured distinctly while still maintaining that high-timbred flighty quality.

Pure appealed to classical music fans who like a bit of pop, whereas Odyssey will appeal to pop fans who like odd classical styling here and there.

In fact, a genre should be created for artistes who are labelled classical or jazz but really end up doing easy-listening music. In that sense, I'd put Westenra in the same category as Norah Jones.

The tunes are all pleasant to listen to and tastefully-styled with folk, gospel and Celtic influences, while the classical tunes are light.

Overall, Odyssey is best described as easy-listening a la light '70s pop tunes by Karen Carpenter and Bread, but updated for the '90s.

[Stephany]

Yay! Another one.
Stephany

Odyssey - Hayley Westenra
(Universal) *****
3 September 2005
By Trena Marshall
Waikato Times
© 2005 Fairfax New Zealand Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Let's put aside the fact that Hayley Westenra doesn't have a boyfriend, which was of such concern to Susan Wood recently that she included the question in a TV interview. I believe Westenra will continue to have a successful and fulfilled life anyway, because she can sing. Her voice flows and soars. She holds one note at the end of the beautiful Bachianas Brasileiras No 5 Aria which is so crystal clear it could be a violin string. Westenra co-arranges tracks on this album and also co-wrote What You Never Know. It is very, very good. Throw in Andrea Bocelli, no less, for a duet, a superb Ave Maria, wonderful choral backing on several tracks and a Celtic flavour at times, and it's a must-buy. Westenra's first album, Pure, was made when she was 15. It has sold two million copies to date and passed many other landmarks. If I can fault Odyssey, it is that she sounds the 18 she is when she sings Both Sides Now -- but she can only come out the winner on that score. I pick this album will go the way of Pure.

[jons]

This one for Treasure is from: Tonight

Treasure - Hayley Westenra

Peaceful music to go with an angelic voice
June 6, 2007

By Daryl Paranada

Decca
Rating: ****

On Treasure, Hayley Westenra celebrates her musical roots with a collection that includes classic arias like One Fine Day (Un del bi from Puccini's Madama Butterfly) and Irish folk tunes like Danny Boy.

With her pure and soaring soprano, Westenra navigates through songs like a skilled veteran. The rich orchestration in songs like Shenandoah provides a nice backdrop for her delicate voice.

Westenra does misstep, however, midway through the disc, when songs blend in together. She breaks up the monotony with a beautiful acoustic piano version of the folk song, Sonny.

Westenra helped write four of the tunes on the disc . She shows promise in the pop-leaning Let Me Lie, which is perfect music for meditation with its ethnic flutes, but Summer Rain sounds like it was ripped straight from Enya's songbook.

In Abide With Me, the music fades and her gorgeous voice is the last instrument heard. At only 20, Treasure establishes Westenra as the next great classical songstress, in the vein of Sarah Brightman.

[Stephany]

One more for "Treasure", Jon.
From The Star Online

Treasure
Artist: HAYLEY WESTENRA
(Universal Music/Decca)
The Star Online
Reviewer: JT

Hayley Westenra is back with her third album and it’s no different from her previous efforts really.

Despite not breaking any new ground, I still found Treasure to be a great production.

So what if Westenra’s voice isn’t as powerful as that of fellow chanteuse Charlotte Church or Katherine Jenkins? Hers is one that will soothe the beast … the type that’s great for lullabies and meditation.

Songs on the album are a mixture of old and new. Some of them are penned by Westenra herself and I must say she isn’t a bad songwriter.

The first track on the album, Let Me Lie, is an ode to mother nature. Though beautiful and haunting, the melody tends to overpower her breathy delivery.

Her performance on other numbers, like Santa Lucia, is better. I remember this tune from a Tom and Jerry cartoon with Jerry singing it in a very squeaky, mousey way. Thank goodness Westenra does not emulate that and her rendition is excellent and pure!

She also includes some of her Irish grandmother’s favourite tunes such as Danny Boy and Shenandoah.

There may be arguments about the origins of Danny Boy but what’s certain is that Westenra does it very well. Shenandoah is another great one, and I suppose Irish passion is strong here.

But don’t expect this to be another of those great classical albums; this one is peaceful at its best.