Palmerston North - Regent Theatre 26 Nov 2011

[Dave]

Hi everyone,

We can now discuss in this thread Hayley's Concert at Palmerston North - Regent Theatre on Saturday 26 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

[Richard]

Here's a preview from the Manawatu Standard:

Home crowd is best for Hayley

MATHEW GROCOTT
Last updated 12:00 25/10/2011


JOHN SELKIRK/Stuff

Hayley Westenra still has moments where she is surprised people pay to hear her sing, despite all her success as an artist.

The soprano, who sang at Sunday's Rugby World Cup final, will perform in Palmerston North on November 26 as part of a 10-show national tour that celebrates her decade-long singing career.

During that time Christchurch-born Westenra has sold more than 4 million albums, performed with the likes of Andrea Bocelli and Jose Carreras and sung for the Queen and various other world leaders.

"Every now and then I'll have these moments where I really have to pinch myself," she said. "Even now when I step out on the stage in front of a paying audience I'm like `these people have turned up to see me?' I'm still quite overwhelmed at times."

One of those "pinch myself" moments came last year when Westenra recorded her latest album in Rome with film composer Ennio Morricone.

Westenra said working with Morricone was "a really incredible experience". She had originally approached Morricone about collaborating on one song and was flattered when he offered to work on her entire album.

The fruit of that partnership, Paradiso, was released in April. Westenra, 24, was looking forward to bringing some of her new songs to a New Zealand audience.

"Singing to a home crowd there's nothing quite like it, so it's going to be special. I'm really excited about bringing my new music onto the stage."

Westenra had also gone through her back catalogue and selected songs which she had not sung in a while.

"It's always fun digging up old favourites. I feel like I've got a really good mix of songs in my set, it's going to be wonderful."

Westenra said she always dreamed of being a singer.

"I decided at quite an early age that singing was what I wanted to do, what I was going to do no matter what – I guess I must have been about eight. I didn't really have a big picture in my head as to how it would be. All I had in my head was I was going to perform up on stage in front of big audiences. That was the dream.

"Every time I get up on stage it just feels right and it feels like it's where I am supposed to be."

Having been in the industry for more than 10 years, where does Westenra see herself in another 10?

"I have no idea. I don't plan all that far ahead. Even next year I'm not so sure. I have some concerts and some tours booked but I'm just going to go with the flow."

- Manawatu Standard

Richard

[Simba]

Amazing article! I enjoyed it thoroughly, some of the quotes are really touching, shows how modest our hayley is, I mean she's irreplaceable, it's impossible to find anyone else in this entire universe with such a good mix (voice, beauty, character, everything XD).....Every time I watch/read something about her, it makes me feel all the more proud that I'm her great fan!

[Richard]

Hello Simba!

Your reaction has prompted me to post a link to this thread on our Facebook page.

Best wishes,

Richard

[Richard]

A tweet from Hayley:

HayleyWestenra Hayley Westenra
Palmerston North! See you tonight!!! X

Richard

[Ross]

And the very latest

Thanksss Palmy for being a SUPER crowd last night! Just made it to New Plymouth, casually passing active volcano Mt Taranaki en route... X