ClassicFM Magazine October 2011

[Nordly]

Hi everyone,

According to their website, Hayley is on the cover of the October issue of the ClassicFM magazine. I hope I renewed my subscription in time to get this issue!



~Nordly

[jimg]

Hi Nordly,

Inside the magazine there is also this image along with an article.

[Jillian]

Hi Jim!

What a fun picture! Love it! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Can't wait to eventually see some scans of the article!

Cheers,
Jillian

[Richard]

Thanks for the tip, Nordly!

You can see a preview of the magazine's contents including Hayley via this link:

www.classicfm.co.uk/shop/classic-fm-magazine/classic-fm-magazine-new-look/

I'm posting that link on our Facebook page.

Richard

[Richard]

This issue of the magazine is on sale in WH Smith already.

Richard

[believeagain]

Oh wow, cannot wait to buy this! Although Classic FM costs €12 here, coughs. But Hayley! <3

[Sing]

Thanks for the info will hopefully get myself a copy tomorrow- it might be quite a mission as ClassicFM magazines are not very popular around here!

best wishes
Sing

[Sing]

Here's the article

'I can't believe I've made an album with Ennio Morricone!'
For Hayley Westenra, working with legendary composer Ennio Morricone on her new album, Paradiso, was a live-changing experience. By James McCarthy
As Ennio Morricone accepted his honorary Oscar in 2007 he said, ‘this Oscar is not an arrival, but a starting point.’ Four years on, that starting point has led him to Paradiso, and a rejuvenating collaboration with Hayley Westenra. And Westenra, too, confides that working with the legendary composer has affected her more deeply than she ever expected. ‘A change has happened inside of me. It’s exciting to feel like I’m developing, and it wouldn’t have happened without Ennio.’
On the face of it, Westenra and Morricone are an unlikely partnership. Westenra is the 24-year-old soprano from New Zealand whose international debut album, Pure is the best selling classical album of the 21st century, while Morricone is an 83-year-old Italian composer best known for his 1960s film scores for Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns. But, in fact, the two are kindred spirits. One of the hallmarks of Morricone’s music throughout his long career has been the prominent role for haunting, wordless female vocal lines in his scores. In other words, the kind of music that Westenra was born to sing. It seems that Morricone has finally found the singer he has had in his mind’s eye from the very beginning.
Perhaps this is the reason why Morricone has invested so much of his time in Paradiso. He has re-orchestrated every song on the album as well as conducting the recording sessions. Westenra says. ‘He’s 83, so you’d think he’d want to put his feet up! But he’s still so passionate about his work and so very dedicated. He would turn up to the recording sessions an hour earlier than necessary so that he could prepare his music properly. He was working from 8:30am to 8:30pm every day in the studio.’
Music and Lyrics
Morricone has also composed new songs for Westenra and, significantly, allowed Westenra to write her own lyrics to some of his most famous melodies. I wondered if she found that an intimidating prospect? ‘Well, I was keen to have a go at writing lyrics for “Malena”, so I did, then I submitted them and held my breath! It turned out that he was really happy with them and so he asked me to write some more. We also had Don Black and Tim Rice contributing lyrics so that added a bit more pressure too.’
So where did she begin? ‘My lyrics are in keeping with the original sentiment of the music. With “Whispers in a Dream” I had The Mission in the back of my head all the time I was writing the lyrics. When I first started out in my career I was happy to be just a vessel for other people’s songs. But as you get older you have stronger opinions and more life experience to draw upon. The lyrics just flowed.’
What was their working relationship like? ‘When I first met Ennio, he was quite an intimidating presence. But then, after spending a decent amount of time in the studio with him, and having lunch with him every day in his favourite local café, having spent that relaxed time with him we were able to just enjoy each other’s company.’
And did he offer her advice? ‘He encouraged me to song in a way that I wasn’t used to. When I went into the studio he was able to give me intense direction and that was really valuable. He allowed me to use parts of my voice that I wasn’t used to putting on record. He pushed me to dig deep to find the right emotion for each song. Even when I thought I was really in the moment, with the right headspace, he still pushed me further. In some ways he was a hard taskmaster, but I like that, it’s what you need as a performer.’
The musical arrangements on Paradiso feel and sound very different from those on Westenra’s previous albums. They are richer and more organic. Morricone’s experience in the subtle nuances of orchestration can be felt in every bar. ‘He sees the voice as an instrument. So the way he does his arrangements is that he has the voice weaving in and out of the orchestra. It’s very different from what I’m used to. I’m used to the orchestra playing an accompanying role but here I’m definitely a part of the ensemble. The recording sounds, in a way, quite raw. These days people want to polish recordings and add tonnes of reverb, this is a bit more old-school.’
Though she is still young, Westenra is already a veteran of the classical recording industry. It’s an industry that has changed immeasurably since she signed to Decca Records 10 years ago. And while dozens imitators have come and gone. Westenra remains. ‘When I signed with Decca they saw me as having a long career, and I was lucky to be surrounded by people who had my best interests at heart. I was fortunate that they didn’t just want to make a quick buck. These days record companies are under a huge amount of pressure to make money quickly, so they don’t necessarily always invest properly in young artists. I have a lot of friends who were signed by labels, they released an album that did OK, but not well enough, so they were dropped. The industry has become more cut-throat, so I feel blessed. If you’ve got a good family around you, you’ll be OK. If you don’t, then you’re open to a big knock.’
Actually there’s something else apart from the beautiful voice and the supportive family that has separated Westenra from the pack. What’s most disarming about Westenra when you meet her is her modesty; for her, the music always comes first. This is why she worked so hard with Morricone to test her technical and emotional limits on this record. And you can hear it in the very first track ‘Whispers in a Dream’, a knockout performance that demonstrates the full spectrum of power has been unleashed by his collaboration that promises an exciting future for Westenra.
So how does she feel about the album now that it’s all wrapped up? ‘Paradiso has exceeded all my expectations. I’m really thrilled with this album- it’s a big step forward for me. It’s a change of direction in some respects, not a shocking change, but it is a significant one. I still can’t believe I’ve made an album with Ennio Morricone. He really is a musical genius. I still feel like I’m just a girl from Christchurch and yet here’s this living legend who wants to make an album with me.’ There’s that modesty again.
Photography by Peter Searle, styling by Marina Olivati
...Dresses by Medici

I really wish I could post some scans but as I don't have a scanner I guess it's difficult lol...but there are 2 really nice photos of Hayley too so it is worth getting I think, although there is not really any new information ..
best wishes
Sing

[Libby]

Thanks for typing all that up for us!

[Richard]

Thanks for copying out the article, Sing!

I'm hoping somebody will be able to post scans of the article for us. The magazine will be on sale for about the next four weeks.

Richard

[postscript]

Hi everyone.

I see that pages 32 33 and the cover of Classic fm, assuming it was neutral lighting, tells us unquestionably her eyes are green!

Peter S.

[martindn]

No, I don't beleive it. I've seen Hayley's eyes many times and her eyes are blue/grey. If you can look at my avatar close up, they are very similar in colour to mine, perhaps a bit less blue. But then I'm a bit colour blind so you may be right. I shall pick up a copy of that mag when I'm next in town.

My wife sue, now her eyes are green...

Martin D

[Libby]

I have seen photos where Hayley's eyes look green. And ones where they appear blue. It must look different in different lights.

[tireman]

Aug 28, 2011 21:05:42 GMT Libby said:

I have seen photos where Hayley's eyes look green. And ones where they appear blue. It must look different in different lights.

They are green.

[Dave]

Aug 29, 2011 0:09:54 GMT tireman said:

Aug 28, 2011 21:05:42 GMT Libby said:

I have seen photos where Hayley's eyes look green. And ones where they appear blue. It must look different in different lights.

They are green.

Yes indeed. Green with a hint of pale blue/cyan. But I am colour blind!

Dave