Post by Dean McCarten on Oct 31, 2008 14:50:47 GMT
Singer so pleased to be in the Lake District
Last updated 09:16, Friday, 31 October 2008
NOBODY would have thought Hayley Westenra had just endured a six-hour drive to Barrow when she performed at the town’s Forum 28 arts centre.
The energetic classical singer belted out songs from her back catalogue and proved a huge hit with the hundreds watching.
During her four-hour stay, the 21-year-old got a taste of Barrow with a Chinese takeaway. As she tucked into her fast food, she explained her favourite parts of Cumbria.
The star couldn’t speak highly enough of her warm welcome from the Barrow people and the enthusiastic reaction she received from the audience during her performance. The singer, who was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, said: “We got here really late because of the bad weather so I haven’t spent as much time here as I would have liked. I love the Barrow people. I got such a warm welcome up here and the audience was so fantastic.
“My favourite song on my set is Pokarekare Ana. It was the first track on my first album Pure. It was that song that helped launch my career. I love Barrow. I hope to be back and spend a bit of time up here on holiday really. When you’re working, you don’t get to see anything. It is removed, it is a bit like New Zealand in that respect. It takes a long time to get here but once you are here, it is worth it.
Miss Westenra first turned her hand to busking at the age of 11 to earn some lunch money. The glamorous brunette regularly took to the streets to play her violin and to sing a song for passing crowds.
At 15, the singer recorded her first album, Pure. It reached number one in the classical charts and sold over two million copies worldwide. Miss Westenra says she enjoys recording but her passion lays in performance. “Being on stage is my favourite part of the job,” she said. “It is the adrenaline rush that you get from it. I love the contact with the audience. It can be nerve racking but once you get out there, it is great. I like recording. It is a fun thing to do but it isn’t like performing live. I always wanted to go into music when I was younger – it has always been a part of me.”
Miss Westenra was joined on stage by backing band, the Raven Quartet, in Wednesday’s performance at the Forum. Their violins, viola and guitar could not overshadow the quality of Miss Westenra’s silky singing skills. “It is important when you’re on tour to have a great group of people with you,” she said. “I’m very lucky that my back-up band are not just talented musicians but they are wonderful people.”
Forum 28 theatre manager Sandra Baines thanked Miss Westenra for her performance. She said: “She was brilliant. It is good for the town. It is not the size of a venue that counts, it is the quality of the artists. It raises the profile of Barrow when we have international stars. The audience all went away happy, that is the important thing.”
Last updated 09:16, Friday, 31 October 2008
NOBODY would have thought Hayley Westenra had just endured a six-hour drive to Barrow when she performed at the town’s Forum 28 arts centre.
The energetic classical singer belted out songs from her back catalogue and proved a huge hit with the hundreds watching.
During her four-hour stay, the 21-year-old got a taste of Barrow with a Chinese takeaway. As she tucked into her fast food, she explained her favourite parts of Cumbria.
The star couldn’t speak highly enough of her warm welcome from the Barrow people and the enthusiastic reaction she received from the audience during her performance. The singer, who was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, said: “We got here really late because of the bad weather so I haven’t spent as much time here as I would have liked. I love the Barrow people. I got such a warm welcome up here and the audience was so fantastic.
“My favourite song on my set is Pokarekare Ana. It was the first track on my first album Pure. It was that song that helped launch my career. I love Barrow. I hope to be back and spend a bit of time up here on holiday really. When you’re working, you don’t get to see anything. It is removed, it is a bit like New Zealand in that respect. It takes a long time to get here but once you are here, it is worth it.
Miss Westenra first turned her hand to busking at the age of 11 to earn some lunch money. The glamorous brunette regularly took to the streets to play her violin and to sing a song for passing crowds.
At 15, the singer recorded her first album, Pure. It reached number one in the classical charts and sold over two million copies worldwide. Miss Westenra says she enjoys recording but her passion lays in performance. “Being on stage is my favourite part of the job,” she said. “It is the adrenaline rush that you get from it. I love the contact with the audience. It can be nerve racking but once you get out there, it is great. I like recording. It is a fun thing to do but it isn’t like performing live. I always wanted to go into music when I was younger – it has always been a part of me.”
Miss Westenra was joined on stage by backing band, the Raven Quartet, in Wednesday’s performance at the Forum. Their violins, viola and guitar could not overshadow the quality of Miss Westenra’s silky singing skills. “It is important when you’re on tour to have a great group of people with you,” she said. “I’m very lucky that my back-up band are not just talented musicians but they are wonderful people.”
Forum 28 theatre manager Sandra Baines thanked Miss Westenra for her performance. She said: “She was brilliant. It is good for the town. It is not the size of a venue that counts, it is the quality of the artists. It raises the profile of Barrow when we have international stars. The audience all went away happy, that is the important thing.”
Yes, Hayley Please Come Back Soon
