Hamilton - Claudelands Arena 15 Nov 2011

[Dave]

Hi everyone,

We can now discuss in this thread Hayley's Concert at Hamilton, Claudelands Arena on 15 November 2011. This is part of the Hayley's NZ Paradiso tour, as published by Stuff.co.nz and several other major NZ media sites today.

Please discuss anything about the tour as a whole in the main thread entitled NZ Tour 2011 - General thread, thanks!

Dave

[Ross]

I have seat BB 14 so only 1 row from the front.

[Ross]

i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Waikato Times has an article about the album and the upcoming concert

www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/life-style/arts/5677817/Singing-with-emotion

[Richard]

Hello Ross!

I'll post that article in full too:

Singing with emotion

Last updated 10:01 24/09/2011



Italian producer and composer Ennio Morricone is globally respected for his work on movie sound tracks including 60s spaghetti westerns The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Once Upon A Time in the West and The Mission.

Last year, the maestro invited New Zealand's young soprano star Hayley Westenra to his studio in Italy to record her latest recording, Paradiso.

She will be performing selections from the album at her Hamilton concert at Claudelands Arena in November.

Hamilton is the first date of Westenra's The Paradiso 10th Anniversary Homecoming Tour.

At 24, Westenra says working with the 82-year-old Morricone was intimidating at first.

"But over the recording time we got to know each other and we were making jokes and having a good laugh, actually."

Westenra says the entire process was a treat.

"I still have to pinch myself – it still hasn't really all sunk in yet."

Westenra was delighted with the entire experience.

"We would go out in our lunch breaks, this little group of us and he would take us to his favourite cafe. We would be sitting with our plates of pasta and expressos directly opposite him. It was a real experience.

It was about four years ago when Westenra first met Morricone and was invited out to Sicily to meet him. Morricone had heard the young soprano singing on one of her previous albums given to him by a friend.

"This friend of the maestro's also had connections to my record company. It resulted in Ennio becoming interested in getting me involved in a collaboration album he was doing." Unfortunately that album did not end up being made.

However, four years later when Westenra was coming up with ideas for recording her new album, Morricone's name came up.

"I was like, maybe he is interested in doing a track with me.

"Word came back that he was interested in doing a whole album."

Westenra flew to Rome to meet him in February last year. That meeting became the first of many to discuss the album.

During those first few meetings, Westenra would suggest pieces she liked and the maestro would take them on board. He then came up with compositions he favoured.

Westenra says in the end, she went with all of his suggestions. She thought it was best to trust him and his wealth of experience.

However Westenra wrote the lyrics for two songs on Paradiso which is a first when working with Morricone.

The first was the song La Califfa.

"The first piece I wrote lyrics for was La Califfa which was a risk in itself and then he really liked the lyrics that I had written and he encouraged me to write more.

Even more special and approving was when Morricone allowed Westenra to write lyrics for his famous tender piece, Gabriel's Oboe included in his soundtrack to The Mission. "I was really chuffed with his seal of approval."

Encouraging Westenra to express herself, she says she really committed herself.

That commitment especially comes through strongly on the track Amalia Por Amor where her vocal expression is filled with tender emotion.

"The pieces that he chose covered a wide spectrum of emotions and he encouraged me to give my all.

"He really kept me on my toes. Not only did I have to deal with challenges of singing in Portugese, Italian and French, I was really pushing myself to my limits."

Westenra would end up at the end of each recording session exhausted.

"Which is a good thing, it means I gave it my all. We ended up mixing it in December so it was a long process getting the album done but it was so much fun and an incredible experience delving into his world.

"I will hold those memories dear."

Maintaining a pure vocal and crisp intonation, it may surprise some that Westenra received no vocal coaching.

"I am a very natural singer. I have not done any serious training. In terms of my vocal tones and approach, it is all very natural."

New Zealand is the first country in the world to release Paradiso and Westenra says Morricone is very happy with it.

"He came in the studio and gave me a kiss on the forehead when I did my last take. I felt so safe in his hands and he helped bring out the best in me."

Looking back on her musical career that includes musical collaborations with classical artists including Andrea Bocelli and Jose Carreras and still basking in the joy of working with Morricone, she says it has been an incredible journey.

Hayley Westenra, The Paradiso 10th Anniversary Homecoming Tour, Claudelands Arena, Tuesday, November 15.

- Waikato Times

I've also posted a link on our Facebook page.

Richard

[Libby]

Singing with emotion

Last updated 10:01 24/09/2011

It resulted in Ennio becoming interested in getting me involved in a collaboration album he was doing." Unfortunately that album did not end up being made.

However Westenra wrote the lyrics for two songs on Paradiso which is a first when working with Morricone.

The first was the song La Califfa.

"The first piece I wrote lyrics for was La Califfa which was a risk in itself and then he really liked the lyrics that I had written and he encouraged me to write more.

Even more special and approving was when Morricone allowed Westenra to write lyrics for his famous tender piece, Gabriel's Oboe included in his soundtrack to The Mission. "I was really chuffed with his seal of approval."

It says she wrote 2 songs, but she wrote 3. And in another article or interview, she said that the first song that she wrote was Malena. These articles are so confusing. The facts are always changing; you'd think Hayley would remember which song she did first. I'm not saying I'm questioning Hayley's memory, but maybe the interviewer got it wrong somehow.

And was it really so unfortunate that that collaboration album didn't end up happening? I think not. Maybe Ennio would have still wanted to do the album, but Hayley probably wouldn't have wanted to ask him if she'd already done that album. So, I think it's extremely fortunate that that album didn't come to be. Otherwise we most likely would not have Paradiso.

[postscript]

Sept 25, 2011 3:51:34 GMT Libby said:

Singing with emotion

Last updated 10:01 24/09/2011

It resulted in Ennio becoming interested in getting me involved in a collaboration album he was doing." Unfortunately that album did not end up being made.

...And was it really so unfortunate that that collaboration album didn't end up happening? I think not. Maybe Ennio would have still wanted to do the album, but Hayley probably wouldn't have wanted to ask him if she'd already done that album. So, I think it's extremely fortunate that that album didn't come to be. Otherwise we most likely would not have Paradiso.

Fair comment, Libby. I think there have been several times when Hayley's expectations did not develop but something else did which might not have done had original plans panned out. Life in general is a chancy thing, never mind the music business!

I think your comment regarding titles depends on who picked up what press release and thought it was the latest. That I suspect is how most inaccuracies arise, lack of awareness of latest information. journalists cannot, if ideally should, take time to check they are referring to the latest, although the official site should have links to her press office which should ensure that source always has the latest information.

Peter S.

[martindn]

Hi Libby,

I think we heard that Malena was the first one she wrote direct from Hayley's own lips in a radio interview. So I'm more inclined to believe that than newspaper articles that we know often get things wrong. You can see how they all originate from the samer source.

Martin D

[Libby]

Yes, I thought it might've been a radio interview, but I can't remember which one. And yes, I believe what Hayley herself says more than that article.

I love Malena. It's a very beautiful song, and wonderful songwriting. I almost wonder if she had already come up with those lyrics previously, or if she heard the music first, and then wrote it. I wish I could ask Hayley that. And also, I always wonder which album of Hayley's that Ennio heard that made him want to work with her! I'm dying to know. I'll have to wait till Hayley's next question-answering session on Twitter, I guess. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[Jillian]

An interesting snippet from this article:

Despite Claudelands struggling to attract events, the council's outgoing event facilities manager, Mark Christie, said Hamilton had the highest ticket sales for a Hayley Westenra concert on November 15 compared with other venues on the singer's tour.

By Nikki Preston

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10763605

[Joe]

Only a few hours to go!

Enjoy the show Ross, Dori and Jillian Looking forward to your photos and reports

[Libby]

Oooh, I'm excited, even though I'm going to be (hopefully) sound asleep when it starts! I wonder what she'll sing, I wonder what she'll wear, I wonder if Jillian will get her picture taken with Hayley... i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[grant]

Hello everyone

From the initial tweets, it sounds as though Hayley's first New Zealand concert went well i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

wuff1es Amy Hill
@hayleywestenra those red shoes were gorgeous!! good show tonight

jkferri Jess Ferri
@hayleywestenra Thank you so much for a wonderful show! You have the voice of an angel:).

jkferri Jess Ferri
@hayleywestenra Hugs

Best wishes
Grant

[postscript]

There is a lovely write-up on her prior to that event at www.eventfinder.co.nz/2011/hayley-westenra/hamilton

Peter S.

[jimg]

I don't understand this tweet about Hamilton.

MLGoddenMark Godden
@hayleywestenra . Thanks for a fantastic show! Sorry Hamilton has not done better for you. Thanks for the autograph (and the wave)

[Richard]

It's now the middle of the night in New Zealand and the concert would have finished about five hours ago. I hope to see some reports and photographs tomorrow.

Richard