Post by HWI on Mar 22, 2005 19:20:09 GMT
Hayley to sing NZ's praises
23 March 2005
Christchurch starlet Hayley Westenra has been confirmed as the headline act at the New Zealand Day celebrations at the 2005 World Expo in Japan.
The commissioner-general for the New Zealand pavilion, Phillip Gibson, yesterday described securing an appearance by the popera princess as a coup for organisers.
"She is somebody that New Zealanders readily identify with and she projects a terrific image for New Zealand. But importantly, she is very, very popular in Japan.”
Westenra is riding high in Japan with her version of Amazing Grace, which featured on the sound track of a recently released and successful Japanese movie.
"She's got a strong following here, and we are absolutely delighted that she's agreed to do it," Gibson said.
Westenra's performance is likely to generate significant interest from the Japanese media. "Profiling New Zealand and promoting it is very important, and she really helps add to that," Gibson said.
Westenra will also sing with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra in Osaka this weekend before her schedule takes her to Denmark and Ghana.
Her father, Gerald Westenra, said the decision to perform at the Aichi Expo New Zealand Day celebrations on June 3 was an easy one for his daughter to make. Just what Westenra will sing has yet to be confirmed.
The 2005 World Expo is being hosted in the central prefecture of Japan for six months from Friday.
Colleen Simpson will travel to Aichi tomorrow and be there when the New Zealand pavilion opens to the public. Read her first report on Saturday in The Weekend Press.
Link to original story:
www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3225747a1860,00.html
23 March 2005
Christchurch starlet Hayley Westenra has been confirmed as the headline act at the New Zealand Day celebrations at the 2005 World Expo in Japan.
The commissioner-general for the New Zealand pavilion, Phillip Gibson, yesterday described securing an appearance by the popera princess as a coup for organisers.
"She is somebody that New Zealanders readily identify with and she projects a terrific image for New Zealand. But importantly, she is very, very popular in Japan.”
Westenra is riding high in Japan with her version of Amazing Grace, which featured on the sound track of a recently released and successful Japanese movie.
"She's got a strong following here, and we are absolutely delighted that she's agreed to do it," Gibson said.
Westenra's performance is likely to generate significant interest from the Japanese media. "Profiling New Zealand and promoting it is very important, and she really helps add to that," Gibson said.
Westenra will also sing with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra in Osaka this weekend before her schedule takes her to Denmark and Ghana.
Her father, Gerald Westenra, said the decision to perform at the Aichi Expo New Zealand Day celebrations on June 3 was an easy one for his daughter to make. Just what Westenra will sing has yet to be confirmed.
The 2005 World Expo is being hosted in the central prefecture of Japan for six months from Friday.
Colleen Simpson will travel to Aichi tomorrow and be there when the New Zealand pavilion opens to the public. Read her first report on Saturday in The Weekend Press.
Link to original story:
www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3225747a1860,00.html