Dame Kiri puts Hayley out in the cold - NZ Herald

[grant]

Hello everyone

Having been off line for about thirteen hours, I logged in to find 70 new posts - most of them in this thread! I've read through them all with interest and it's exactly as Socalboy said

Nothing like the pompous rantings of a fading opera diva to get your dander up

I've already added my twopenneth but I just wanted to add that I agree with everything that has been said since.

Dori, I've read your comment - well done - yours and most of the others are very supportive of Hayley and of the fact that she has remained silent on the issue.

This outburst also underlines why Hayley is most adamant that she is not and never will be a diva.

Best wishes
Grant

[grant]

Hi Dori

I don't see the photo that way at all. In fact, I think it's quite clever to depict Hayley that way as she could be seen to be "laughing it off"

It suggests to me that the paper is taking sides here "Who do you prefer? "The staid but rude grandma or the polite and happy youngster?" Errm No contest!!

Those of us who've met Hayley many times and are used to her facial expressions will no doubt be able to add their own captions! One for you perhaps Martin?

Best wishes
Grant

[tonyw]

Hi

This is not the first time Dame Kiri has accused Hayley of being an ephemeral talent.
www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/dame%20kiri.%20church%20has%20no%20future

Charlotte Church and Hayley are both singled out. This was 4 years ago!

Tony

[roger]

stephany said:

Even the British press is now publishing the story!

Dame Kiri, you have done more to spread Hayley's name around the world in five minutes than HWI has achieved in five years. Keep up the good work.

Roger

[comet]

Dame Kiri is just so amazing, she can vocalise through both ends of her digestive tract at the same time.

[loveyou]

That Lady seems to have some vocal feature which some people used to sort out themselves as some kinds of genres. Her maybe did some right thing about refusing to attend some concert to show good impression to other people in the past. But that Lady seems to lack some good spirit inside to let her help other young artists in righteous way. Her talking easily drive younglings to the counterreaction. The reality is that decent concert surroundings, dulcet instruments and good orchestral not only belong to her but also to many other artists who can use them in good way.
Her talking maybe imply to the contrary genre of that gentleman who performed with Hayley recently. These kinds of so-called genres which were sorted out by some people for their external features always cause complex arguments in the media.
There is a good way can help young artist out the arguments. Such as performing more with decent choir members like Hour of Power in America, U.K. choir members, New Zealand choir members¡­¡­

[grant]

comet said:

Dame Kiri is just so amazing, she can vocalise through both ends of her digestive tract at the same time.

Hi Comet

:rollin I was just about to scold you for being 'pro' the diva - then the penny dropped!!

Best wishes
Grant

[Richard]

Hello Comet and Grant!

I expect Dame Kiri's outburst was only a flash in the pan!

I wonder what the Google Ads will make of all this?

Richard

[stevemacdonald]

Though Dame Kiri, so proud and elite,
Can be heard from the high opera seat,
When she gives Hayley jeers
It will fall on deaf ears
Because Hayl' has the world at her feet!

[Stephany]

Hi everyone,

You will love what Gray Bartlett has to say about the whole thing.

Agent backs Hayley
By Carolyne Meng-Yee
24 February 2008 - New Zealand Herald

Hayley Westenra has been criticised by opera icon Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

The man who discovered popera princess Hayley Westenra has hit back at Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's ``holier than thou'' swipe at his star.

The opera singer yesterday refused to share the stage with Westenra at last night's postponed Starlight Symphony concert in the Auckland Domain and then described her a ``fake singer''.

But Gray Bartlett, who put Westenra on the musical map rubbished the criticism, pointing to the millions of CDs Westenra had sold.

``I can tell you now... Kiri and Pavarotti and those international singers, if it wasn't for their compilation CDs they'd be lucky to sell in the hundreds. Now that's the truth,'' he said.

Westenra's father didn't want to be drawn into the spat, but said the two singers' styles were ``like apples and oranges'' and it was wrong to compare them.

Bartlett, however, was more to the point.

Asked if Dame Kiri was suffering from ``a bit of the old green-eyed monster'', he said: ``I think it's a bit of that, plus I think it's this whole opera thing... and that holier than thou attitude. It [opera] still retains a snob factor.''

Bartlett believed Dame Kiri's comments were the result of professional jealousy and she felt threatened.

His advice to her was: ``She looks great, she's done well, just get a life.''

Stephany

[Dave]

roger said:

stephany said:

Even the British press is now publishing the story!

Dame Kiri, you have done more to spread Hayley's name around the world in five minutes than HWI has achieved in five years. Keep up the good work.
Roger

Good point Roger! Also:

grant said:

dave said:

He [Mark Forrest on Classic FM] was also well aware of the "Te Kanawa" incident so well done to him for being completely up to date with all things "Hayley"

Hi Dave
Can you remember exactly what Mark Forrest said?
Grant

Hi Grant,

*checks recording* He said quite a lot and like Hayley, he was diplomatic about it when he said:

[plays Quantia Qualia] "she's supposed to be performing this weekend as part of a big festival in Auckland, weather permitting - apparently they've had some dire winds and rains and many of these concerts are outdoors. Hayley Westenra.

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is on the same venue and she's [laughs] been creating a [laughs] stir, surprise surprise, in the press down there, saying not terribly nice things about poor old Hayley, which is a shame. If the weather is good she should be performing about now - I think it's tomorrow that you get a chance to hear Hayley... but I don't think you'd get there in time so for now, let's stick with the CD... it's Odyssey, non-mover at 25, Patrick Hawes' Quantia Qualia and the RPO conducted by the composer."

The tone of his voice made it clear that his sympathies lay with Hayley.

Cheers, Dave

[grant]

Hi Stephany, Dave and everyone

I was incensed when I read the initial article, but now, I have to say that I'm enjoying reading all the comments immensely. It is apparent, not only from this thread, but from the response by media professionals and people like Gray Bartlett, that everyone is pretty much on Hayley's side.

As Roger has already observed, the publicity is doing Hayley no harm at all.

Best wishes
Grant

[petertong]

hi Grant,

Once again Hayley shows her wisdom by not choosing to respond to this garbage lol...

Don't NZ mothers teach their children the dictum "If you have nothing good to say about anyone, say nothing at all"? Well Hayley obviously listens to her mother, whereas this Dame.... hmmm

blessings,
Peter

[starbuck]

I must add my 2 cents to this.
Simply put Hayley is more of a lady then she with the title.
Hayley has Class and decorum she does not.

So thanks for the spreading the word about Hayley

Long Live Our Lady
Hayley

Love
Monte

[Oksana]

dori said:

Hello all,

Thought you all might like to see the scan of the front page of our morning paper. My mom made a good point - look at the differences in the photos, where they want to make Hayley look 'silly', and Kiri look 'prestigous'. Quite shocking - and rude, but here we are....

I know what you mean, Dori, but honestly, I'd rather see Hayley's bright and genuine smile over some "dignified" headshot any day! At least the picture shows us who knows how to have fun!

Oksy