North American Tour 2007

[petertong]

grant said:

roger said:

Hi Stephany,

Thanks for quoting the comment on Lisa's forum.

I think it is outrageous to have to pay that amount of money and then not be allowed to take a photograph. I hope that is made clear before people pay. I wonder where the money goes. (?)

Roger

It seems very unfair and unreasonable to have to pay such large sums of money for what appears to very little in return. Especially when compared to what Hayley's own fans receive for just the price of the concert ticket!!

I know Hayley is enjoying the tour but I bet she doesn't like being kept away from the fans afterwards. More tactlessness from CW management!!

Grant

Thats great to hear that Hayley is enjoying the tour here in the US. Is there some legal arrangement that keeps her from the fans? I mean what keeps her from stepping out and needing to use the washroom as an excuse to say Hi to us ? $1200 to say hi? What are some folks smoking LOL ?!

[Richard]

Hello everybody!

Here is a review of the Uncasville concert from The Republican:-

Irish charm of Celtic Woman entertains sold-out audience

Thursday, March 15, 2007

By DONNIE MOORHOUSE
Music writer

UNCASVILLE, Conn. - The phenomenon, born on public television and known as Celtic Woman, came to Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday night and the vocal group charmed a sold-out crowd over the course of a more than two-hour performance.

Celtic Woman has become an international success based on the heavy rotation of its PBS Review special, and the group has taken that slick production and performance on the road with the "New Journey" tour.

Violinist Mairead Nesbitt gave the show's opening a mystic quality, standing backlit on the stage and offering a New Age instrumental. The women arrived en masse, along with an eight-member chorale group, to deliver a lush version of "The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun."

Individually, the women produced some sterling performances, from Orla Fallon's "Caledonia" to Hayley Westenra's eloquent reading of "Danny Boy." Collectively they were just as riveting, joining forces on traditional Celtic tunes and renderings of standard pop songs.

Nesbitt played the role of the pixie, darting in and out to ramp up the energy between songs with a handful of solos and occasionally accompanied by bodhran rhythms or tin whistle.

Sixteen-year-old Chloe Agnew chipped in with "The Prayer" and Lisa Kelly joined the group for a somewhat sterile rendition of the Bobby Darrin hit "Beyond the Sea."

In fact, if there was any criticism of the group's performance at Mohegan Sun, it would have to be the sterility of the production. The women made it through most of two sets without acknowledging the crowd except for the occasional nod or curtsy. At times they seemed as mystical as the sound emanating from the stage.

The sound itself was clear and pure almost to the point of being hollow, and really did a disservice to the vitality of the program. Westenra's run through "Scarborough Fair" was treated even more preciously than the original, with a lush arrangement and delivery.

The group came together to wrap up the first set with a rousing "Mo Ghile Mear" before stepping off stage for a 25-minute intermission.

The second set was more of the same, with the group never really hitting the depths of the music they were performing. Agnew's "The Soft Goodbye" was pure but seemingly weightless, although her rendering of "The Last Rose of Summer" was well received.

Highlights of the second set included Orla Fallon's singing of "Carrickfergus," accompanying herself on the harp, and the group version of "Going to the Ceili."

Richard

[Stephany]

Thanks for the interesting article, Richard. I'm glad to hear that people do enjoy Hayley's version of Danny Boy.

[roger]

Thanks for the article, Richard.

richnorri said:

...From LiveDaily.com

The women made it through most of two sets without acknowledging the crowd except for the occasional nod or curtsy.

Isn't this explained by the fact that we are talking about a show as opposed to a concert?

Roger

[Richard]

Hello everybody!

Here's another article, from New York News:-

Celtic Woman to serenade Radio City Music Hall for St. Patrick's Day

By SARAH TOMLINSON
FOR THE JOURNAL NEWS

[/b][/size]


Celtic Woman's newest member is
Hayley from New Zealand.
Photo provided by Shore Fire Media

Super groups come in all shapes and sizes. There are the celebrity collaborations like The Traveling Wilburys, that featured big guns like Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison. And there are the bands that become so incredibly popular they achieve superstar status in their own right, like ABBA or The Rolling Stones. The success story of the Irish vocal sextet Celtic Woman draws a little bit from both of these two scenarios.

The group was conceived in 2004 as a union of talented female singers and musicians from Ireland, and the collective has become a major hit worldwide. At press time, the group was celebrating more than 100 weeks at the top of the World Music Billboard charts. And their triumph shows no signs of abating, either. They have plans to tour almost nonstop through June with their ambitious stage show, which made them a household name thanks to the popularity of their "Celtic Woman" concert film on PBS. As the ladies prepare to bring their live show to town for two nights at Radio City Music Hall, fittingly booked to celebrate St. Patrick's Day weekend, they couldn't be happier with their success, or the fact that they're achieving it together. "We've just had such an amazing reaction everywhere we've gone," says singer Chloe Agnew by phone from a Philadelphia tour stop. "The new show has kind of taken everyone by surprise, I think. And the audiences have been so welcoming and fantastic in their response to the new show. So we're loving it, absolutely. Every day has just flown by. It really has."

Those who became Celtic Woman fans after watching their first concert DVD and its follow up, "A New Journey: Live at Slane Castle, Ireland" will find some surprises in store for them during this tour. They will still have the opportunity to hear live renditions of songs from the group's two CDs, their 2004 self-titled debut and it's follow up "A New Journey." These include a wide range of influences, from traditional Irish songs like "Dulaman" and pop classics like Simon and Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair," to new compositions like "Mo Ghile Mear," written by their musical director David Downes. But, as the group's popularity has grown, so has the show. "We have an amazing new set and fantastic lighting and new costumes and everything," says Agnew. "So that will be all new. And some new pieces of music have been added to the show, taken from our live DVD at Slane Castle in Ireland. And a lot of the pieces that have been written for the fliers and stuff have kind of [talked about] the fact that this is a new journey for us. And we think the show showcases that in itself."

The changes aren't just aesthetic, or related to their program, though. The group's individual members have all become stronger performers, thanks to the many months they've spent on tour over the past two years. And the individual members - fiddle player Mairead Nesbitt, vocalists Orla Fallon, Meav Ni Mhaolchatha, Lisa Kelly, Chloe Agnew, and newest sometime member Hayley Westenra - have also become much closer to each other, personally. And that connection is visible onstage. "People can see there's a huge change in Celtic Woman as a group," says Agnew. "We only met each other two days before we filmed the original Celtic woman DVD. We didn't know each other at all, and I think none of us had any idea of what was in store. And now, looking at our new DVD, and our new live show, people can really see that we've grown together, and we've grown with this show. Our performances, I think, have come up a notch because we're a lot more comfortable with one another now. And there's a great camaraderie, not just the five of us, between the cast and the band onstage with us."

The group was initially conceived by music director David Downes, who brought together its members for what was initially expected to be a onetime performance. Downes was deeply immersed in the Irish community as the musical director of Riverdance for the U.S. and European touring companies, and when it was performed on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre. A successful composer, he also orchestrated Riverdance when it was produced on Broadway. His immersion in the Irish musical community had made him familiar with the group's individual performers, who all had established solo careers at the time. "He brought the five of us together to produce this show," says Agnew. "And it's really thanks to him, that he had the vision and had the idea to bring five solo artists together, which I don't believe had been done before, and to produce that show. And, as I said, we are, within the show, still solo artists. And when we come together in the group numbers, it's fantastic. It's really a wonderful thing."

The individual members have also continued to build their own solo careers since joining Celtic Woman. All have released solo CDs, which have also done well on the World Music charts. And all expect to continue working on their own projects. For Agnew, and her musical compatriots, it has been incredibly gratifying to further popularize Irish music thanks to the success of their albums. "For such a small little country as Ireland, it really has made its mark all over the world," says Agnew. "And it's thanks to fantastic bands like U2 and wonderful shows like Riverdance. But I think, to have five Irish women making their mark, is really fantastic for us. And to be able to say, we've spent like 101 consecutive weeks at number one on billboard, it's just an absolute honor. And that makes you very proud."

This is of course, a particularly fitting time of the year to celebrate all things Irish, especially the music and culture. And Agnew and the ladies of Celtic Woman are looking forward to being a part of the festivities. While she must remind American fans that St. Patrick's Day is just a bit different in Ireland, where it's a religious holiday, Agnew says it's impossible not to get into the swing of things when they're stateside. "It's a really special time to be in Ireland, obviously, around that time, because there's no better way to celebrate it than with Irish people," says Agnew. "But we've been in New York the last two years on St. Patrick's Day, and they've just been fantastic. And the reaction, when you are 100 percent Irish, people are so fantastic and very open to talking to you about your country and your culture and everything. And I think that's very special to us. That such a small island can be so celebrated all over the world is something fantastic."[/quote]
Richard

[Stephany]

A fan took a few NYC pictures and it looks like there are posters of CW everywhere. More pictures on his website.

[Stephany]

There are a few interesting reviews on Lisa Kelly's forum. Some of them feature comments on Hayley. Here's one:

Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

I came away thinking that Mohegan Sun cannot do these ladies justice! Their music transcends place and time and this venue and its venue personnel seemed to be about caging their free spirit and that of the patrons.

And in some sense, I think it was palpable to Hayley...When she missed a signature high note in, I believe it was "The Last Rose of Summer." I could swear I saw her cringe when her voice creaked.

I felt such sympathy for her at that moment, I wanted to race to the stage and hug her!

[socalboy]

stephany said:

There are a few interesting reviews on Lisa Kelly's forum. Some of them feature comments on Hayley. Here's one:

Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

I came away thinking that Mohegan Sun cannot do these ladies justice! Their music transcends place and time and this venue and its venue personnel seemed to be about caging their free spirit and that of the patrons.

And in some sense, I think it was palpable to Hayley...When she missed a signature high note in, I believe it was "The Last Rose of Summer." I could swear I saw her cringe when her voice creaked.

I felt such sympathy for her at that moment, I wanted to race to the stage and hug her!

Did anyone from this forum attend the concert at Mohegan Sun Arena?

I don't know what to think. Hayley missing a note? Of course it's possible, but I imagine it happens about as often as her comet appears.

[Stephany]

You're right Socalboy, that sounds pretty incredible for someone like Hayley. But who knows?

Yet, another review - but not from the same place - can be found here : "Hayley Westenra's Performance in Boston this Weekend was Amazing".

[Joe]

Looks like New York City will be both green for St Patrick's Day and white from the snow!

I hope Caite's flight into NYC wasn't cancelled. If not, it's surely delayed. I also hope the CW performance at Radio City Music Hall isn't affected by a low turnout etc. from the storm. Some of the northern suburbs may see a foot of snow.

Here in northeastern PA, we're expecting another foot of snow on top of the six inches that fell earlier today. And, just two days ago it was 20 degrees C

[Stephany]

Mairead talks about CW - and Meav being replaced by Hayley.

By Bob Karlovits
TRIBUNE-REVIEW MUSIC WRITER
Thursday, March 8, 2007

Mairead Nesbitt, the firefly of a fiddler from Celtic Woman, is finding success brings on many challenges.

Not only does it mean being out on the road longer, it also is making her create ways of staying on her feet while learning a new set.

"Obviously, when you're playing, you can't look down," says Nesbitt, whose onstage prancing during her fiddling has become one of the trademarks of the popular show. "We've had lots of rehearsals, but I have had to stay and try to get even more familiar with the stage."

The group of four Irish singers, the fiddler, and an orchestral and choral backup group will make its third annual appearance Downtown on Tuesday and Wednesday. The group returns to New York City for its St. Patrick's Day concerts at Radio City Music Hall.

"That's where we were two years ago when it all started," Nesbitt says of the third appearance in New York on the Irish holiday. "It just seems like the place to be on that day."

The group is familiar with tradition. Its music is shaped around such songs as "The Last Rose of Summer" and also "Mo Ghile Mear" in Gaelic.

But it also has New Age songs such as "Orinoco Flow," classics such as "Scarborough Fair" and, new to the group, "Shenandoah."

"That is such a beautiful song and when we come over here we don't want to sing it badly," she says of "Shenandoah."

The band has broken with tradition in another way, too, but even that has a traditional leaning. Hayley Westenra, a New Zealand singer with Irish roots, will be in the group at the concert here, part of a monthlong stay in which she replaces Meav Ni Mhaolchatha.

David Downes, orchestrator of the "Riverdance" show and music director of this one, came up with the idea of blending singers, who all were having good solo careers, and marketing them together.

That led to the mix of Nesbitt, Ni Mhaolchatha. Chloe Agnew, Lisa Kelly and Orla Fallon.

Westenra fits into that category, Nesbitt says, and will offer Ni Mhaolchatha a bit of a break on this 4.5-month tour which has 68 dates, up from 50 last year.

"We all have so much to do, I'm sure Meav will use the time to work on other things," Nesbitt says.

The new singer will use it to advance her new album, "Celtic Treasure."

Westenra, 19, has done some touring in the United States with the Boston Pops and in visits with other orchestras. She says this stretch with Celtic Woman will allow her to "reach out to a new audience."

It also pushes her "out of my comfort zone a bit and makes me grow as a performer," she says.

She has a great comfort zone for performing, though. She says she's been singing "since I could talk," was busking at 11, did her first concert at 13 and started touring at 15.

When she leaves the group in April, she will return to England, where she lives now, before going to Japan, Australia and New Zealand to promote her album. She then will return to the group for another stint in May.

Celtic Woman has a new album, too, bearing the same title as this concert, "A New Journey."

That project also is accompanied by a like-titled DVD of an outdoor concert at a Irish castle.

Nesbitt says the title points to efforts to make shows different enough to be fresh while similar enough to provide that for which they are well liked.

For instance, she says, listeners can count on hearing "Orinoco Flow," a song that has become something of at theme.

"It's such a beautiful number, it is a delight to sing," she says. "You end up doing something different every night, so it is never a chore."

Fans also can expect her fiddle choreography. She laughs when she is complimented on her "foot speed," and says it just makes sense as a way of blending music and a form of dance.

It isn't easy, she says, but that's the point.

"Of course it's difficult," she says, "otherwise everybody would be doing it."

[Richard]

Thanks for posting the link to the Gather review, Stephany!

Here is a transcript:-

Hayley Westenra's Performance in Boston this Weekend was Amazing

by Kristen C.

Watching American Idol these last few weeks has left me feeling that there might not be any real talent left out there. The contestants are amateurish, at best, and I often find myself hitting the mute button mid-song, unable to believe one or more of these wannabes will be signed to a record label when all is said and done. That’s not at all the case with Hayley Westenra, part of the powerhouse Celtic Woman tour. The tour is one of those things that started as a PBS special and turned into a phenomenon, and if you’ve seen the show live, it’s easy to see what the fuss is all about over these women.

The music of the Celtic Woman tour is not your typical radio fare that you’d crank up while driving down the highway. It’s more your relaxing-on-a-Sunday-afternoon background music that you just can’t help but love. These women possess talent in the truest form; their voices are very often described as being “angelic,” and there is no better word to use.

On Saturday night at the Citi Wang Theatre, the show opened with the fiddler, Máiréad, flitting about the stage like a little sprite – an absurdly talented little sprite. After a solo, she was joined by all four women of the group in a rendition of “I Am the Sky and the Dawn and the Sun.” Their voices were so clear that it took me a few moments to convince myself that I was, in fact at a live show and wasn’t listening to a recording.

Westenra performed a beautiful a cappella version of “Danny Boy” for her first solo and then went smoothly into Enya’s “Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)” with two of the other women. A Celtic version of Bobby Darin’s “Somewhere Beyond the Sea,” “Scarborough Fair” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” were all highlights of the first half of the show, and Hayley made it seem as if it was impossible not to sing so perfectly. I was instantly jealous that I wasn’t born with some sort of God-given talent like that.

The lights of intermission revealed a crowd that was considerably older than both me and my fifty-year-old mother – something that actually surprised me a bit. I started to feel a little out of place being there, but as soon as the second half of the concert got under way with an upbeat song sung in Italian, I realized that the age of the fans didn’t matter at all – it was the quality of the show. Listening to the Celtic Women sing songs of love and life and loss was moving in every sense of the word.

Though she has already sold more than three million copies of her two albums worldwide, Hayley Westenra is clearly poised to continue on to even greater success following her tour with Celtic Woman. As my mother said to me after one of Hayley’s solos, “That girl can sing!”

Check out Hayley's page on Gather: hayleywestenra.gather.com/

Source: www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976929562

Richard

[Stephany]

From what I've read, Hayley is still seen by many CW fans as "shy".
The following message is from the CW forum.

As for her being aloof, I see her as just being shy. You see that on ANJ several times when she is singing ensemble, she just has that shy look going. It's actually really endearing. Remember, she is the newest member, and she may not have had alot of time with the ol' pros lol.

At Sam's Club today, I checked out the end aisle cap, and Hayley's CD is there, has 3 rows, along with 3 rows of ANJ.

And I am going to have to buy another one to add to my CD player at home, since I have the one I bought Sat, in the car

Each time I hear it, I really love it more.

[roger]

Hi Stephany,

Thank you for another interesting and very pleasing report from the CW Forum. I think Hayley is naturally rather shy. In fact I believe she admitted it in a recent interview. Despite that, she always performs and meets her fans with great confidence... even when it's me!

Roger

[Stephany]

Thanks for the precision, Roger.
Shy, really? I wouldn't have thought that considering how confident she looks everytime she performs in front of thousands of people.