Editorial Review:Album Description:Hayley's third solo album is a very personal collection of classical arias, Irish and Maori folk songs - representing treasured people and places on her remarkable musical journey. Recorded in Dublin, Ireland, Hayley's third solo album is a very personal collection of classical arias, Irish and Maori folk songs - representing treasured people and places in her remarkable musical journey. For the first time the album also includes several original tracks written by Hayley herself. Celtic Treasure is a celebration of Hayley's family roots, and her grandparent's journey across the World on the first boat that left Ireland for New Zealand in the 1880s - taking with them a rich musical heritage. Her grandmother - a singer, and her grandfather, who played the accordion, were to be important influences on Hayley's musical development. Hayley grew up hearing her grandmother singing Italian opera arias in English. Hayley has continued this tradition by recording the well-known aria One Fine Day... ('Un bel di) from Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Hayley's grandmother also sang Irish folk tunes, and Hayley includes one of them - Danny Boy on the album as a tribute to her. Another Irish folk tune Sonny, is the first recording in which Hayley accompanies herself on the piano. In the same vein as Hayley's signature song Pokarekare Ana from her debut album Pure, Hayley's deep sense of pride as a New Zealander, and the simple beauty of her voice come together in E Para Ra - a Maori lovesong reflecting her own love of her homeland. Hayley's first recordings of her own songs bring together all these musical influences. They include her compositions Let Me Lie and Summer Rain and her lyrics to a haunting lute song by the Elizabethan English composer John Dowland, called simply Melancholy Interlude.
Amazon.com: Having sung before royalty and performed with the Irish super-group Celtic Woman, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, and Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel, the very young and remarkably beautiful singer is back with a tribute to her Celtic ancestry. As with her previous Platinum-selling releases (she is already a huge star in her native New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and the UK), the orchestrations are lush, with sighing phalanxes of strings and woodwinds. But in keeping with the avowed theme, there are also soft touches of soulful, wavering tin whistles and vaguely fiddle-like violin vamps. The program is more varied than the album's title might lead one to expect, encompassing everything from 'The Last Rose Of Summer' and 'Danny Boy' to 'Shenandoah,' 'Scarborough Fair,' 'Abide With Me,' and even a couple of more pop-oriented songs penned by Westenra herself. However, brief sideways winks toward Nashville or the Great White Way do not adulterate the album's overall mood of ethereal, remote bliss. The one misstep is an English-language cover of 'Un Bel Di' ('One Fine Day') from Puccini's
Madama Butterfly: an aria unsuited to the artist's fragile, bell-like soprano and placid temperament. This aside, established classical crossover/theatrical divas like Sarah Brightman would be wise to begin looking to their laurels. --
Christina Roden
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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* Hayley's Heavenly Treasure ...
Complementing her recent tour with Celtic Woman as well as her own heritage, Celtic Treasure once again blesses us with a beautifully sung collection of well crafted and orchestrated music that showcases the vocal talents of this gifted artist from New Zealand.
Included are Scarborough Fair, Danny Boy, and other Celtic standards that sound like fresh material written just for her. Especially memorable is Abide With Me and the hauntingly beautiful Sonny.
Two self-penned songs, Let Me Lie and Summer Rain, provide a hint of what is to come regarding Hayley's songwriting abilities. They are both good songs and we hope with her busy schedule she finds time to write more.
The future looks very bright for Hayley and her next CD is eagerly anticipated.
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* Celtic Treasure ...
After hearing Hayley on Celtic Treasure and also her earlier recordings I was really surprised hearing her voice. I have been singing since I was about three years old and am now in my late seventy's and haven't heard a voice like hers for a good number of years. I have sung in choirs, choruses and even in Operettas and am still singing in a choir. When I heard her sing on Celtic Women I knew I had to hear more of her music. I was struck by the softness, clarity, and mellow tones which rang in my ears. I have also listened to her recording of Pure, Odyssey and Live From New Zealand and especially enjoy the Spiritual portion on each of them. Hayleys music has come at a good time. We need to hear more music like hers and I hope and pray she will continue to give us her music for a long time to come. I listen to her music daily which is soothing and relaxing. Hayley certainly has had a very good family upbringing and I pray she will continue to be the person she already has become.
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* Very moving cd ...
Hayley Westenra is an amazing singer, her voice is like an angel... She has a very touching,moving sweet voice,her harmony is so sweet to listen to.. Hayley is young so that means that we could await more from her in the future,she has became one of my favorite artists,if not my favorite now!!! I would for her to rejoin Celtic Woman again .....from Dario from Calif.
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* Love them Irish vocals ...
After watching and listening to Celtic Woman. I was hooked. I have purchased many other CD's by the other women. Hayley is outstanding, especially when she does Danny Boy. Have a tissue handy.
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* Celtic Treasure ...
Hayley has the voice of an angel. You will enjoy any of her CDs. Her music is varied but appealing to any age group. Well worth the money.
