Hayley's 'Metascore'

[Stephany]

Richard, we are gathering all the reviews of "Treasure/Celtic Treasure" from official sources (or at least, not from fans because we are too biased! ) so you probably already read most of them in the Treasure reviews thread.

[Stephany]

Review from Metro.co.uk[/url] originally posted by Richard

Albums of the week
Thursday, March 1, 2007

Hayley Westenra - Treasure: There's no denying that 19-year-old Hayley has a hauntingly beautiful voice, yet third album Treasure proves she can not only sing, but also create.

This uplifting and eclectic mix of poignant songs old and new, mostly with a celtic edge, is clearly - and proudly - influenced by her Irish heritage.

But as only a truly gifted musician can, she doesn't stop at merely showcasing her pitch-perfect tones and soaring range. The talented New Zealander also effortlessly imbues earthy feeling and genuine emotion across every single track.

And she never fails to add a fresh and modern twist to all she touches, seamlessly breathing old-style warmth and charm into bang up-to-date interpretations.

Rating: 5/5

(Review by Suzanna Bain)

[Stephany]

From Entertainment Manchester[/url].

Hayley Westenra - Treasure

Young Hayley Westenra is back with her third international-released album and is still in her teens. Nor does she show signs of following the Charlotte Church path to Heat magazine and Channel 4 talkshows. Indeed, she is almost wilfully proving herself to be less of a pop singer than ever on this new album, with Treasure still a classical crossover album that will sell in the millions and be sneered at by the purists, but it is an album that stops well short of trying to appeal to a pop audience. There's no big name collaborations with James Blunt or Justin Timberlake, there's no cover of a song by Arctic Monkeys or Kaiser Chiefs, instead there is just Westenra's voice, which is as strong and crystal clear as ever. There's also some great songs, including the immaculately-produced and performed Summer Rain, and Danny Boy, which may be a crushingly obvious choice but is lifted out of cliche by her vocals on the chorus. If there's a criticism to be had here it is that Westenra doesn't seem to be stretching herself, staying very much in her comfort zone musically, with only Santa Lucia really sounding like much of a departure for her in terms of tone or pace. It might sound hypocritical to laud her for sticking to her guns and not going even more mainstream whilst also criticising her for not displaying much variety, but that is the conundrum of classical crossover and that is the problem Westenra will have to start facing. For now though, her sheer quality shines through all of that.

Rating : 3/5

[Stephany]

From Barnes&Nobles :

Celtic Treasure
Reviews
Barnes & Noble

On the heels of her joint venture with Irish singing sensations Celtic Woman, which resulted in a CD and a concert DVD that was broadcast on PBS, young star Hayley Westenra digs deeper into music of her heritage on her third solo disc, Celtic Treasure. Although a New Zealander by birth, Westenra traces her ancestors back to the Irish motherland (she even knows the name of the boat they set sail on in 1851). And with her pure, youthful voice, she launches into such classic folk material as "Danny Boy," "Scarborough Fair," and "The Last Rose of Summer" -- songs she learned on the knees of her grandparents as a child. But Westenra also embraces the wider world of song here, extending to the American standard "Shenandoah," a choir-backed "Whispering Hope," and even versions of Madame Butterfly's "Un bel di" (One Fine Day) and the John Dowland (and Sting?) inspired "Melancholy Interlude." Westenra originals like "Summer Rain" and "Let Me Die" show that the singer also has an eye on the future: "New music has to be written, new songs created, otherwise we are robbing the future of a past," she sagely writes. Still, it's with the timeless simplicity of the classic English hymn "Abide with Me" that Westenra signs off on this delightful musical journey.

EJ Johnson

[Stephany]

Review from the March/April 2007 issue of HMV Choice, typed by Richard HERE.

Hayley Westenra

New Zealand's brilliant young soprano wows with favourites old and new

For a lot of us, Hayley Westenra is perhaps best recognised in a New Zealand rugby shirt - she's the one who beautifully sings the Kiwi national anthem before the All Blacks, slightly less beautifully, stomp all over whichever opposition is daft enough to stand in their way. But, as this album shows, there's a lot more to the 19-year-old Westenra than just pre-match renditions of E Ihoa Atua.

Here, she's on top form in a celtic-cum-folky selection that includes much loved favourites like Danny Boy and Shenandoah, plus new songs, some of which, such as the sublime Let Me Lie, were co-written by the singer herself. Westenra is no warbler, instead she sings with a pure but refined voice that utterly entices in this music - you can almost breathe in that fresh New Zealand air in atmospheric songs such as Summer Rain and E Pari Ra. It's all wonderfully ambient - and there's not a prop forward in sight.

Jon Sterling

[Stephany]

From MSN Music :

Hayley Westenra: "Treasure"

Since Charlotte Church swapped her heavenly vocals for a TV career, there's been a new Voice of an Angel on the international stage.

Enter Hayley Westenra, the fastest-selling classical artist in the world, whose debut Pure sold millions before she was even 17, and who has sang to many Queens, Kings and Presidents.

Now 19, Hayley's back to entertaining ordinary folk and has applied her beautiful vocals to her Celtic roots, producing 15 tracks that bridge classical, folk and popular music. She's also developed a talent for classical songwriting: her four original songs are equally outstanding, especially Let Me Lie (a peaceful version of your standard teenage 'leave me alone' rant), Le Notte del Silenzio, featuring Humphrey Beryney and Enya-esque Summer Rain.

Of the covers, upbeat Irish folk song Summer Fly sits nicely alongside string-infused One Fine Day from opera Madame Butterfly, popular hymn Abide With Me and another Irish tune, Sonny. There's also reworkings of traditional American, Maori (indigenous New Zealanders) and Italian folk songs.

But the most popular track will undoubtedly be Irish anthem Danny Boy - inspired by Hayley's Nanna. Her emotional rendition will trigger many a moist eye among listeners.

[Stephany]

From The Los Angeles Daily News[/url].

HAYLEY WESTENRA: "Celtic Treasure"
By Sandra Barrera, Staff Writer
Rating : 3/4

Westenra's clean, ethereal voice opens her latest effort, a musical treasure-trove of mostly traditional gems from Ireland and America, with a song that the 19-year-old New Zealander co-wrote. The newly composed "Let Me Lie" is a sparse but beautifully rendered love song. Like her interpretations here of "Scarborough Fair," "Shenandoah" and "Danny Boy," the multimillion-selling singer who has performed for royalty and heads of state worldwide is at her best when her gorgeous soprano is allowed to take flight. And fly it does. From "One Fine Day" and "Abide With Me" to even the oddball "Summer Fly," with its Western guitar, fiery fiddle and galloping beat, Westenra is bound to prove yet again she's worth her weight in platinum.

[Stephany]

From New Zealand's radio Viva; Hayley was named "Album of the week" but it's not online anymore. The original page was here.

ALBUM OF THE WEEK!! 'Treasure' by Hayley Westenra

Just to rejig your memory, HAYLEY’S first international album “PURE” went 12 times platinum, that’s 180,000 units, it spent an incredible 18 weeks at #1, it became NZ’s biggest selling record of all time. It topped the Classical charts in the UK where it went triple platinum, not to mention Australia and Japan, where it’s the best selling classical record in the Country’s history…the follow up “ODYSSEY continued that platinum success.

Now 19, independent and based in London, “TREASURE” is HAYLEY’S fifth album, her second international release in which she covers the traditional songs of Ireland from where her family moved to NZ in 1850. It features her interpretations of opera arias that have passed into popular culture; it’s an eclectic mix of songs but ones that have stood the test of time, “Danny Boy” and “Scarborough Fair” good examples.

“Summer Fly” has become the family favourite and identified as the album single”, “Let me lie” and “Summer Rain” are a couple of songs that Hayley has had a hand in co-writing herself and shows her determination to develop as a great songwriter and an uber talent.

During the past year some of us watched HAYLEY perform so brilliantly for The Queen, Prince Charles, President Bush, Tony Blair, Helen Clark and a large contingent of dignitaries and ex kiwi serviceman at the unveiling of the NZ Memorial in London, just in the last week HAYLEY was again invited to perform for President Bush, this time at The White House no less, but besides that her proudest duty is to sing the national anthem for her beloved All Blacks, and the good news is she’s confirmed to sing at this years Rugby World cup finals.

Not one to rest on her laurels HAYLEY is now the youngest ever Ambassador to UNICEF, she’s become heavily involved in Women’s environmental issues, and is always in demand with her extensive film and TV work which has even included an on screen movie role.

With the launch of “TREASURE” in the “Big Apple” this week, HAYLEY WESTENRA now has her feet firmly on the international stage, she’s one gem we can all feel proud and highly deserving of her 4 and a half stars for this weeks ‘ALBUM OF THE WEEK’ here on VIVA!

[Stephany]

Jon, we have 24 reviews so far. How many more do you need?! I'm sure we can find others but I don't know how long it will take. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[postscript]

In post 32 Entertainment Manchester there is an unexplainable contradiction

For now though, her sheer quality shines through all of that.

Rating : 3/5

Why a 3/5 against a 5/5./ for what seems at the very least a 4/5 quality review?

Peter S.

[postscript]

In The Los Angelos Daily News yet another extraordinary contradiction within the text. As its so short I'll quote the whole.

HAYLEY WESTENRA: "Celtic Treasure"
By Sandra Barrera, Staff Writer
Rating : 3/4

Westenra's clean, ethereal voice opens her latest effort, a musical treasure-trove of mostly traditional gems from Ireland and America, with a song that the 19-year-old New Zealander co-wrote. The newly composed "Let Me Lie" is a sparse but beautifully rendered love song. Like her interpretations here of "Scarborough Fair," "Shenandoah" and "Danny Boy," the multimillion-selling singer who has performed for royalty and heads of state worldwide is at her best when her gorgeous soprano is allowed to take flight. And fly it does. From "One Fine Day" and "Abide With Me" to even the oddball "Summer Fly," with its Western guitar, fiery fiddle and galloping beat, Westenra is bound to prove yet again she's worth her weight in platinum.

That's a 4/4 report given a 3/4 rating, why?
Peter S.

[postscript]

NZ's radio Viva I won't berudge half a star lost. Some people, on principle, don't award full marks unless everyone else out of 5 would have awarded 6! A superb and wonderful review. What a shame it would be so transitory if it weren't in our files here!
Peter S.

[jons]

Hi Steph,

About thirty would so it. Ideally 100 so you could calculate a percentage more easily, but thats going over the top a bit.

Peter, when using scores a 7 out of 10 used to be considered average and not a good score (it still is on occasion), but this is simply not true. 7 means distinctive, 5 is average. An average score is always the middle number: 3 if its out of 5. In this case 3/4 should represent above average. 4/4 is perfect. In my opinion Treasure is perfect. Celtic Treasure is not because of some very important songs that are missing.

The best thing about a review is to read it and ignore the score.

[postscript]

Interesting your point on Celtic Treasure, Jon. I too felt disappointed simply by the fact it was in a lesser quality case and only had 13 tracks--of which I already knew. I have not yet had a chance to play it to feel the 'rightness' of the track selection and their balance and sequence with one another.

Peter S.

[jons]

Hi Peter,

While I was happy I did not have to import Treasure from somewhere else, because for once the UK version is the best, I believe people in the US etc who are listening to Celtic Treasure are not getting the full experience. Scarbough Fair is terrific maybe but how could they leave out songs like 'Bist Du Bei Mir' and 'The Heart Worships' etc. Ok, to be fair Celtic Treasure is perfect if you judge it on its own. All of the songs are great, but to miss out on the magic of the missing songs makes me sorry for the people who can't get to hear them. I don't believe Celtic Treasure is the full experience. If I had lived in the US I would of had to of imported it.