HWI
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Post by HWI on Jun 25, 2004 19:20:24 GMT
The following comes from stuff.co.nz
Bocelli to join Westenra for Christchurch show
26 June 2004
By AMANDA WARREN
Christchurch singing sensation Hayley Westenra has snared an exclusive hometown concert with internationally acclaimed tenor Andrea Bocelli.
The sole New Zealand concert, made possible by mutual admiration between Bocelli and Westenra, is scheduled for September 15 at the Christchurch Events Centre. Tickets go on sale on July 6.
Publicity spokeswoman Anna Lovejoy, for Universal Music New Zealand, said Bocelli, the blind 45-year-old Italian tenor, had heard Westenra sing and thought she had a beautiful voice.
When he heard her refer to him as one of her major influences, he decided they should sing together.
"It's a dream come true for Hayley," the spokeswoman said.
Bocelli has been labelled "the fourth tenor" (after Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo) by critics and spellbound audiences. He was born with the sight-impairing condition glaucoma, and became totally blind at the age of 12 after being hit in the head with a soccer ball.
His talent was discovered in 1992 and he has since released five albums, amassing sales of more than 50 million copies.
Westenra and Bocelli are signed to the same recording label, Decca.
The event is being billed as a "magical pairing between the voice of an angel and the fourth tenor".
The Christchurch concert will be the pair's only New Zealand performance, but they will appear together while on tour in Australia.
Bocelli is the latest to join the increasing list of famous personalities to be linked with Westenra.
She recently met United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan when she sang Pokarekare Ana at a memorial for Sir Peter Ustinov at the United Nations in New York.
In November last year she sang at a private function at Buckingham Palace for the Queen, United States President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Westenra's stellar career has been marked by the release of her first international album Pure, which was the biggest-selling New Zealand album of all time.
Pure debuted at No. 2 on the United States Billboard Classical Crossover chart and she was also named the 2004 Favourite Upcoming Artist at the American Society of Young Musicians Awards.
Westenra recently secured a $7 million five-album contract.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Jun 26, 2004 0:20:22 GMT
This is FANTASTIC news for Hayley and must be another step up in her career. Andrea Bocelli has had a tour planned in Australia for some time - and by all accounts he has been prepared to alter his schedule to accommodate Hayley! Important though the Christchurch concert may be personally for Hayley, in career terms, her appearance in Australia as a special guest on Andrea's tour is even more exciting. Hayley is already getting a lot of mentions on Andrea's fansites and forums and for Hayley to be associated with him, the world's biggest classical singer (selling 50 million albums worldwide), is a massive achievement. I am sure it will gain Hayley many more fans. One of the concerts in September is at the Sydney Superdome, the biggest indoor venue in Australia with seats for 20,000 people! This will be by far the biggest venue Hayley has ever performed at in an actual concert. Here are a couple of links to Andrea's Australian tour: Sydney Superdome, Sept 17th Bocelli's Australian Tour promotersand this is what they say about Hayley: "Bocelli will perform with the Sydney Symphony and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s, with Italian conductor Marcello Rota and soprano Maria Luigia Borsi. Special guest will be 17-year-old New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra."
Wow![/Color] |
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HWI
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Post by HWI on Jun 26, 2004 10:25:56 GMT
Further news on the Andrea Bocelli tour. The tour title is "Once in a Lifetime" and the dates given at the tour promoter's website are: *11th September - Melbourne - Rod Laver Arena with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra www.ticketek.com or phone 132849 15th September - Christchurch - Westpac Centre (I don't know if this is the same venue as the Christchurch Events centre - perhaps someone could tell us) with the Auckland Philharmonia www.ticketek.com or phone 03 377 8899 17th September - Sydney - SuperDome with the Sydney Symphony www.ticketek.com or phone 02 926 4800 20th September - Brisbane - Entertainment Centre with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra www.ticketek.com or phone 131931 *22nd September - Adelaide - Entertainment Centre with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra www.bass.net.au or phone 131246 24th September - WACA with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra www.ticketmaster7.com or phone 136100 *Hayley will NOT be appearing in the concerts of September 11th and 22nd.Keith. |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Jun 26, 2004 15:20:55 GMT
Further news on the Andrea Bocelli tour. The tour title is "Once in a Lifetime" and the dates given at the tour promoter's website are: 15th September - Christchurch - Westpac Centre (I don't know if this is the same venue as the Christchurch Events centre - perhaps someone could tell us) with the Auckland Philharmonia I think the stuff.co.nz report got mixed up with the Wellington Events Centre (4,600 capacity) but the Christchurch Westpac Centre is twice as big - so it seems logical for Andrea Bocelli to perform there. I notice from the forums on Andrea's Official site that the original press release on 16th June made no mention of Hayley, so she seems to be a late addition to the tour. And now, his official site has pulled all details of his Oz/NZ tour from their website (page not found). I presume this is to add the revised details (Hayley) but obviously, other things could change, too. Hopefully, the Promoters website has got it right and they are a bit quicker to update than his official site. It would be nice to see something about this on Hayley's official site! By the way, I notice that Andrea Bocelli has a concert at Wembley Arena in London on November 7th. This is the month Hayley will be taking her GCSEs in London. Hmmm... Pure  coincidence, I am sure... |
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HWI
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Post by HWI on Jun 29, 2004 10:29:20 GMT
Well, this is getting a little more confusing. Hayley's manager told me that she will not be appearing in the concerts of 11th and 22nd. From information I have received from the promoters of Andrea's tour, it appears she will not be doing the 24th either. We shall see what we shall see.  Keith. |
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Post by iceman on Jul 4, 2004 14:45:18 GMT
I live in Brisbane and missed out on Hayley's March tour of Australia in which she sang in Sydney and Melbourne. Now it's my turn to see Hayley perform live in concert on the 20th of September, and I'm buying the best seats to make sure I can see her up-close! As an added bonus I get to see some guy called Bocelli - I hear he sings well. So fortune has smiled upon me and I'm going to get two shows for the price of one!! I'll post a review for you guys after the concert if that's okay.  |
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HWI
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Post by HWI on Jul 4, 2004 14:55:37 GMT
You'll post a review after the concert if that's okay? If you don't we'll sulk. What you could do, if you would, is email your review and any photos you get direct to me on: keiths_s@ntlworld.comThat way, we will make sure that your material is featured on Hayley Westenra International. Keith. |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Sept 14, 2004 22:59:59 GMT
Hayley lands her dream duet
"Young Christchurch singer Hayley Westenra tonight will fulfil a childhood dream when she appears with Italian star Andrea Bocelli at the Westpac Centre. Seventeen-year-old Westenra will sing a duet with her longtime hero in front of her hometown crowd...
Westenra travelled straight to Christchurch after performing at a pre-recorded Christmas concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. On arrival in Christchurch, she admitted she was ready to go to bed. Unfortunately for Westenra's parents, Gerald and Jill, the young singer will leave again tomorrow to perform with Bocelli in Australia." Full article: stuff.co.nz or even better, HWI So now we know why Hayley couldn't attend last Saturday's Bocelli concert in Melbourne... she would have needed the Space Shuttle to get back in time to prerecord last Sunday's two Songs of Praise in London! What a mad mad week for Hayley, London Recording studios last week, R.A.H on Sunday, Christchurch with Bocelli two and a half days later (with 30 hours on the plane in between) then off to Australia the next day for more touring with Bocelli.  It sent my head spinning just writing that and it's no wonder she's reported to have been under the weather recently (let's hope she managed a good nights sleep last night and recovers quickly from jet lag). I have to say that I do hope Hayley's management know what they are doing - she has an unbelieveably demanding schedule across the World this Autumn and I think we all need to keep our fingers and toes crossed for her. Mine are - and it's very hard to type like that i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif
Good luck to Hayley in the Antipodes!
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Joe
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Post by Joe on Sept 15, 2004 2:57:06 GMT
This week is certainly a mad one for Hayley! It will no doubt be a very memorable week for her as well. I do hope she's managed some rest in there somewhere.
I know her duet w/ Bocelli will be brilliant! Another great milestone for Hayley.
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Post by Belinda on Sept 17, 2004 3:41:42 GMT
In the picture in the Christchurch Press of Hayley and Andrea she looks very Happy doesn't she. Not bad Frontpage news two days in a row and also abit about Hayley and Yulia in last Saturdays paper. Lets hope Hayley will be having a well earned break this Christmas with time to relax at the beach, If she's home.  |
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HWI
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Post by HWI on Sept 17, 2004 10:46:13 GMT
Hi Belinda,
It's great to hear from you. Hayley looks really happy in the photos. I am delighted she got to sing a duet with him, it looks like another ambition achieved.
I, too, hope that she has a really good break over Christmas. She has had a gruelling schedule and has more than earned it. Unlike last year, which wasn't entirely a holiday, I hope that she has a month when she can just relax and enjoy being at home with the rest of the family and her friends.
Would you email me and bring me up to date on all the news from your end. How are you, etc.
Keith.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Sept 17, 2004 17:53:47 GMT
At last!
I finally found out exactly what Hayley sang at Andrea Bocelli's Christchurch concert, thanks to Timbob on the official Andrea Bocelli forum.
Hayley warmed up the crowd at the beginning of the concert with:
Pokarekare Ana
Amazing Grace
InTrutina
Later on, Hayley's duet with Andrea Bocelli was "Time to say Goodbye" but it was more of a trio because Maria Luigia Borsi (Andrea's main supporting act) joined in the final part of the song - Becky_NZ said it was the final encore!
I bet it was fantastic, I *love* that song, I'd pay anything to get hold of a recording of Hayley's duet, erm... trio![/b]
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Sept 20, 2004 14:35:39 GMT
Because of the initial confusion over what concerts Hayley would and wouldn't "guest" in (see above in thread), here's the full list including reasons 'why not':
Hayley sings:
September
15th - Christchurch, New Zealand (with Andrea Bocelli)
17th - Sydney Superdrome, Australia (with Andrea Bocelli)
18th - Sydney Superdrome, Australia (with Andrea Bocelli)
20th - Brisbane Entertainment Centre (with Andrea Bocelli)
24th - Perth West Australia Cricket Oval (with Andrea Bocelli)
Hayley doesn't sing:
September
11th - Melbourne (she was in London for two Songs of Praise recordings)
22nd - Adelaide (it's the date of the NZ Music Awards!)
Two perfectly good reasons for missing concerts, I'd say!
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coincidence, I am sure...
It sent my head spinning just writing that and it's no wonder she's reported to have been under the weather recently (let's hope she managed a good nights sleep last night and recovers quickly from jet lag).
