Hayley Westenra

Seems like all I listen to on this cd, is "Summer Fly."
I thought Hayley, could of done better, but maybe I need to
give her a second try, as she is a wonderful singing voice.
Like an Angel.

Haley Westenra has a God-given vocal talent which she uses at its best. Fans who appreciate Celtic Women and Enya will love this cd as well.

I bought my 1st Celtic CD about 18 mths ago. Just love it. Played it over and over again. I'm still listening to it now.

When you have not heard it - you would not think it's good.

But, if you hear it - believe me, you'll never stop playing the CD over and over again.

Thomas Foo

Great music a nice twist in the flavor of Celtic music. New and old songs but all original

I would rate the cd a 10. The song selection and Haley's great voice is just amazing. The cd is a better presentation than the dvd as the acoustics and instrumentals is perfect.

She truly does a beautiful job singing Enya's "May it Be" from LOTR. Another favorite of mine on this album is "Dell'Amore Non Si Sa", a duet with Andrea Bocelli. Need I say more? You'll enjoy this album.

Haley Westenra has a voice like few others...absolutely pure and haunting. This cd shows her incredible range and clarity of tone. It is a joy to experience. How amazing that she had that "voice" even at age 14 when I first was blessed to hear her sing.

The CD was a gift to my husband who loves it. He listens to it at least once a day. Hayley Westenra has a wonderful voice and the other artist just make it very soothing, very Irish sounding. It isn't like the traditional Irish music with the old standards like Danny Boy.. This one uses some older contemporary songs and some Irish but they all go well together.

Every song is good. Hayley's vocie is so soft and calming.
Never saw blue like that before.
And the water song. I forget the name of it.

I believe that this is one her best recordings. I am especially glad that I chose this version of the the album. It has all of the original tracks on it.

Pure represents the initial international, read US, CD release of Hayley Westenra. Other albums had been released outside of the US market, but Pure is an excellent cross-section of the wide ranging vocal talent of a sixteen year old New Zealand Popera. This is a must have CD for fans of pitch perfect singers. Her signature piece is Pokarekare Ana. This album has two versions: a basic and extended version. I recommend listening while looking at the CD cover photo. It is amazing to me that such a voice comes out of such a wonderfully talented young woman. If you fall in love with the album and the artist, you will have to have the DVD Hayley Westenra, Live from New Zealand. She is seventeen in it. She takes chances as demonstrated on the cut Wuthering Heights. Hayley has the voice of an angel and probably is one. Highly recommended as the first of many Hayley Westenra albums

I had heard a few songs from this collection and really liked them. She's young but I would like to see how she matures as an artist.

I would have given this 5 stars, except for the execrable "Wuthering Heights" track, which she starts by emitting a note that could only be described as shrieky. I literally jumped the first time I heard it, and it's still unpleasant. Didn't anybody listen to that track before the CD was released? It sounds like a siren (a police siren, I mean), and I don't mean to be nasty because I think she's good, but it sounded as if she was struggling to hit that note, and there was no need for it. She could have taken it down a half-tone and the effect would not have been alarming, the way it is now.

She should also work a bit on her enunciation. For the longest time, when I listened to "Across a Universe of Time" I kept hearing "tell me your vision OF SUNNY DELITE" (instead if "a story begun") She isn't helped in that department by overwrought arrangements. Whoever's arranging the music should work with her fragile voice.

But I'm looking forward to her development as an artist. Just stop screaming, Hayley!

I first discovered Hayley Westenra on Celtic Woman. Then, I heard the song "Wuthering Heights." Contrary to popular opinion, or so it seems, I think this song is amazing, even in her younger years. It's amazing that she can hit the notes, let alone make them beautiful and moving. (Of course, it helps if you've read the book and understand everything behind them...)

I agree that a few of her songs are just a liiiitle too generic, but she definately makes up for it in 90% of her songs, which is more than most artists can say. She only gets better as the years go on, and it is definately worth getting her later CDs as well.


Enjoy!!!

In the interest of full disclosure, I'll say upfront that I'm a huge fan of Hayley's. Pure serves as her debut album for most of the world, and she's an amazing young woman. She has one of the most naturally beautiful voices I've ever heard, and I think it's almost genetically impossible for her to sing anything that doesn't come out lovely. As a singer and music teacher, I also appreciate her technique and near-flawless diction. (She realizes that words have final consonants that should be pronounced even when singing! What a concept!!) Everything I say in this review is in the overall context of noting that Pure is a CD that I listen to over and over.

There are 13 tracks in the US version, with a mix of familiar ("Amazing Grace"), classical ("In Trutina" from Orff's Carmina Burana), and other pieces. Of special note are two Maori songs (Pokarekare Ana and Hine e Hine) whose simple melodies showcase Hayley's admirable lyricism.

This isn't a perfect album. Hayley's taste at this point in her career seems to favor flowing melodies, medium tempos, and sustained lines that show off her voice wonderfully, and the sentiments often are not particularly deep. (She seems to be a very mature teenager, but she is still very young, and the song choices reflect that). As a result, there's a certain sameness to many of the songs that can leave one craving a little more variety. (This is solved on her second album, Odyssey.) An exception to the sameness is "Heaven," an upbeat calypso-inspired ditty about untimely death(!)

And then there's the last track, "Wuthering Heights." Hayley's been quoted as saying this is one of her favorite songs. It contradicts everything else I've said in this review. She shrieks, she swoops, she screeches, she's often unintelligible (thank goodness for the lyrics in the CD insert!). This is Hayley-tries-rock-music and Hayley-goes-wild. It was probably fun to sing. Maybe she needed to get it out of her system. To me, it's just strange.

But there are 12 other tracks that make this remarkable CD well worth having.

Just recently discovering Hayley Westenra I have become an 81 year old fan. I think her voice is outstanding and her selections great. She sang a duet on her 2004 DVD with a Teddy Tahu Rhodes who I'm trying to get his CD's. It's great to have another Sarah Brightman.

If you don't have any of Hayley's albums this is the perfect place to start. With tracks from her previous albums Pure, Odyssey and Treasure.
There three new recordings on the album too !
Now Is The Hour in Maori and English was a huge hit worldwide before Music Charts were even invented. This song is worth the price of the album on its own and Hayley's version is beautifully performed.
A delicate interpretation of Songbird, the Christine MacVie classic.
Also a new recording of Ave Maria demonstrating how much Hayley's voice has matured recently.
the album has 17 great songs to soothe the mind and soul

Great sound quality but If you are stuck on the original sound from the movie or broadway, this isn't totally the same.

The energy, sound recording and ensemble makes this wonderful recording a must for West Side Story lovers. However, the lead lady, who is usually known for her pop singing, does not have the voice quality to match the lead male, whose voice is superb. To lift the sound of her voice to an acceptable quality, the sound engineer employed much too much echo or reverberation. It sounds odd when mixed freely with other voices that don't have the same treatment. It becomes really annoying in some songs. Luckily it does not spoil the bulk of the music on the CD, which I fully recommend.

As a Hayley Westenra fan, I didn't exactly come into this unbiased. She is indeed in top form, and for one trying this kind of performance for the first time, genuinely amazing. I was expecting to be put off by the international cast and the "wrong" accents, but let's face it - opera has been doing this as far back as any of us can remember and no one complains. West Side Story is timeless and every bit as much of a classic in every sense as Carmen or La Boheme. These are classic, though not purist, performances, and they are very, very good. I especially appreciate the orchestra's adherence to the score. Too often in revivals the perpetrators seem to think they can improve on the score/orchestration and end up butchering it instead. Not so here. This is a thoroughly enjoyable recording, but I certainly don't intend to toss out the others.

I do like the original, but musically speaking, this recording is far superior. To start with, the two young leads have amazing voices. The first Tony and Maria were adequate, but not excellent. Kiri Te Kawana and Jose Carreras have excellent voices, but they sound too mature for the role of the teenage lovers. Hayley Westenra and Vittorio Grigolo are both young AND accomplished, and they bring such beauty and passion to the roles Tony and Maria.

The rest of the cast is great too. In fact, I wasn't expecting to like "The Jet Song" or "Cool," but Will Martin's compelling tough but strong trained voice brings real life to the Riff character, and I can't imagine anyone else doing a better job of it. Another standout is Connie Fisher's incredible performance of "Somewhere."

The only reason for criticism of this magnificent album would be the international cast. None of the singers are American (Vittorio Grigolo is Italian, Will Martin and Hayley Westenra are from New Zealand and Connie Fisher is Welsh, I believe.) Personally, I don't have a problem with Vittorio's accent, I think it's kind of cute, but the "real" Tony wouldn't have one. Hayley doesn't look or sound Puerto Rican either. Oh well. These singers were chosen for their vocal abilities, not for their nationality.

This is a classy yet accessible version of this famous musical. Everyone did a fantastic job, and I'm sure I'll listen to it again and again in years to come. Of the three major recordings of "West Side Story" that I have heard, this is the one I like best. The main reason I like it best is because Hayley and Vittorio who have such natural yet technically perfect voices; truly a match made in heaven!

I was really looking forward to this cd, but once I heard Vittorio sing Tony's part it kind of seemed cheap. I am a fan of Vittorio's, but why did he sing a classic piece of music and sound like he just got off the boat?
This completely took me out of the production. Who's idea was it anyway??

This is the best CD to buy at Christmas, or in July! She has a remarkable voice that comes straight from her heart. I have all the CD's she has made that I know of, and I love them all. I don't hesitate to buy any new one's whether I know the songs or not because I've never been disappointed by any of them. I reccomend it to anyone who loves music.

What more to say? Haley sings like the angels in Heaven. Especially love the Maori songs.

I did not know who Hayley Westenra was until I saw her performing on PBS. She has a really beautiful voice. This cd is a Christmas cd that she has recorded. Some songs are traditional Christmas songs and others are inspirational tunes. I recommend it.

I was disappointed when i recieved this cd. Not worth the price.

Hayley Westenra is the best. I thought this would be Valentines Day music or the like, but it is more like simulated Christmas / religious. The title does say "gift", but when I read the description before buying I did not think Christmas music.

Hayley Westenra is a lovely singer with a clear beautiful voice. I enjoy the music in this selection. I learned of her by chance looking for the song, "Pie Jesu" and became enchanted with her rendition of it on YouTube. I searched an album with her singing that song and found this one. The only disappointments I have are that some of the songs are sung too quickly for my taste and the price was a little high. Otherwise she has a pure true voice. I heartily recommend her album.

This is the first CD I bought by Hayley, and I went on to get, "My Gift To You", and all the rest of her CD's! She really does have a beautiful voice, and she uses it well. It seems to come straight from her heart to everyone who loves music! A rare treasure! I recommend it to all of you.

Hayley's performance on this album is delightful and superior. To think this lady was just fourteen or fifteen years old when she did it is amazing. If you have listened to Hayley in her older years, you have to experience this album and know a little of her vocal roots and how fantastic she was even then. He beauty and versatility is as evedent then as it is now. I highly recommend it and believe you will enjoy it immensely. Its one way of getting to know her a little better. It is also an example that younger singers can appreciate, follow and envision the realization of their dreams.

Art D.

I first saw and heard Hayley Westenra during an OPB broadcast of "Celtic Woman" in concert. Of the five woman who comprise the singers of Celtic Woman, I thought Hayley's voice was the most pure and angelic. This CD is a testament to her ability as a great singer. Her voice fairly sails through the stratosphere with the ease of a seasoned performer. Yet she possesses the innocence and beauty of youth. What you'll hear is stellar quality presented in a freshness of youth. This young woman will go far in the industry if she can keep herself apart from the ugly side of things. Good luck, Hayley. Keep it fresh.

Hayley is a very beautiful talented young lady. Everything she does is always a oustanding production. Has a voice that is out of this world!

This soundtrack for a movie version of The Merchant of Venice makes for an interesting music album. Without actually having a note of authentic Elizabethan music on it, a medieval atmosphere is created. Contrasting styles and textures seem to immerse the listener and transport one to different places. In addition to the three tracks featuring countertenor Andreas Scholl, track number eight has words by Shakespeare sung by a delightful boy soprano, Ben Crawley.

My main gripe with this, as with most movie soundtracks, is that however well they serve the movie, they do not provide an "even" musical environment for the listener at home. I play music to relax or to match my mood. Because of the variety of styles and textures on this album, there is always something that strikes a jarring note so this CD does not get as much play on my home rotation.

What a beautiful collection of music from the movie, "The Merchant of Venice". It is the first CD I listen to each time I get into my car. Every track is unbelievably moving, from the Jewish songs to the mid-evil voices and strings. Some are haunting and others, uplifting...always leaves me wanting more of the same.This music is great for meditation or will calm you in rush hour traffic. The lyrics are exceptional and are written by John milton, William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Luys de Narvaez and Clara Sanabras.

While watching the movie on HBO, I was entranced by the musical score and ordered both the video and the soundtrack. Very evocative. It has become one of my favorites.

The solo voice pieces by Andreas Scholl and Hayley Westenra are excellent. Selection #15, "Bridal Ballad", is the one that stands out. The CD price is a bargain.

I am really picky about film scores. A lot of film scores I hear are loud, bombastic, and over the top. My favorite film score of all time has to be Jocelyn Pook's compositions for the 2004 film adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice". Her orchestral compositions really reflects the time period the film takes place in. For me, the gorgeous film score was what made the film so engaging for me. The meldoies were never loud or bombastic like you would hear in John Williams' or Hans Zimmer's work. Andreas Scholl's operatic vocals added a nice touch to Jocelyn Pook's music. Originally I thought Andreas was a she and not a he. His voice is very high for a man and I mean that in a positive way. My favorite track on the album is "Bridal Ballad" with Hayley Westenra. This was my first introduction to Hayley. I must say I was quite impressed. She has a lovely voice that is rarely heard in singers around her age. I wish Britney Spears could sing like that, much less sing like a human and less like a chipmunk.Anyways, I really feel that Jocelyn captured the Shakespeare era that the story was takes place with her music. I hope to hear more from her in the near future.

This CD is absolutely beautiful! Hayley's voice is possibly the best female's voice that I have ever heard. Every note is hit perfectly. I am just in awe of her talent. There is an excellent mixture of classical, pop, and hymn-like music on this CD. My personal favorites would have to be Benedictus, Who Painted the Moon Black, and Heaven.

I would highly recommend this enhanced version. The extra CD has 7 extra beautiful songs on it, including 3 Christmas songs.

Haley Westenra is a real joy to listen to. Every track on this collection hits a soft spot (with the exception of "Wuthering Heights" that gets a bit shrill). I especially enjoy "Pokarekare Ana" and "Benedictus." This was my first purchase of one of Haley's albums - I've since bought them all and look forward to more.

Listening to Haley sing just has to be what Heaven sounds like! Can't get enough, especially when she sings in the Maori language with a chorus accompaniment.

Hayley reaches adulthood on this biggest selling classical recording in UK's history. From "Po Kare kare ana",to that genius Brazlian composer's Masterpiece. An absolute must to WOW your Guests
Arohanui (Love) from Aotearoa/New Zealand

This George Martin produced album is one of Hayley's best and is a showcase of her vocal capabilities. Her soaring, perfect pitch voice is ethereal and it is obvious that she is passionate about her singing perfection. Every one of these well selected and beautifully orchestrated songs is touching and memorable. This CD is highly recommended and will leave you eagerly awaiting Hayley's next effort.

If you already have other Hayley albums this one is still worth having as it has lots of tracks on it that were only previously available on film soundtracks and other difficult to obtain albums or singles.

If you have no Hayley albums then this is a perfect place to start.
Some and I mean only some of her most beautiful pieces are on this album.
"Listen to the Wind" alone is worth the sticker price.
Her voice is hauntingly beautiful on this album as it is in live performance for those lucky enough to have been to one of Hayley's concerts.

Prepare to be come addicted to one of the most beautiful voices in the world.

It is very hard for me to imagine how anyone on this Earth could have such a beautiful voice with such fantastic expression as Hayley has matured and evolved so wonderfully since "Walking in the Air." Hayley is the best vocalist in the world today. The album "Prayer" is truly great and so nice on the ears. It has new material for Hayley which she performs beautifully. A few of the songs I do not like, such as Jekyll, but that does not reflect on Hayley's singing of them and she still performs them with grace and beauty. I can only say that you have to experience this album for yourself to appreciate it. I don't think anyone can describe it better than "Beautiful." It has the quality that when you listen, it feels like she is singing just for/to you - which is truly Hayley's style and desire.

A note of comment, I would like to see Hayley come out with an Album of Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's music particularly from Phantom.

Cordially and best regards,
Arthur

I absolutely love this album! It provides a compilation of music from the time her original album "Pure" was released all the way up to her recent tour with Celtic Woman this year, all with music that had not been released on a Hayley-only album. An absolute must have for Hayley fans!! Thanks CD-Japan as well for the speedy shipping. While there was a 5 to 8 week wait with Amazon. com, I was able to get the album for only $3 more through CDJapan!!