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The Classical Album 2005

Search: River of Dreams (adapted from "Winter") - Hayley Westenra
by: Various Artists

November 15, 2004
This has become an annual release, though this year they have dropped the "No 1" from the middle of the title. As well as being a compilation of light classical music it acts as a showcase, or sampler, of albums currently available in the genre from the Universal and Sony/BMG labels.

This is not to say that all the tracks, or the artists spotlighted, are brand new; there is an enormous age range of both, from the burgeoning talent of Katherine Jones and Hayley Westenra, through the established greatness of Bryn Terfel and Kiri te Kanawa, to the archived voices of Mario Lanza and Kathleen Ferrier.

Just about all imaginable styles are covered, too - opera, film scores, virtuoso instrumentals, variations on themes, sacred ... Read More:

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Pure

Search: River of Dreams (adapted from "Winter") - Hayley Westenra
by: Hayley Westenra Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Ian Dean

November 15, 2004

The original `Pure' album was released in 2003, and despite there now being a confusing number of variations of it (special edition, import, bonus tracks & bonus discs) there are basically two editions - the original single disc and this 2CD Special Edition which adds a bonus disc to the original one.

The songs are a mixture of classical, popular and traditional, with some highly original and unexpected choices such as `River of Dreams' which is a transcription of Vivaldi's lovely violin solo 'largo' from `The Four Seasons', and a powerful recording of `Benedictus' from the Karl Jenkins' album `The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace'.

The New Zealand traditionals, predictably chosen because of Hayley's origin ... Read More:

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River Of Dreams - The Very Best Of Hayley Westenra

Search: River of Dreams (adapted from "Winter") - Hayley Westenra
by: Hayley Westenra

October 27, 2008
If I had never heard any Hayley Westenra before, this would have received an enthusiastic five stars. But as I'm a big fan, having seen her in concert and possessing both Pure and Treasure, this CD was rather a disappointment, there is so much repetition of tracks on it and the new material is unimaginative and in danger of being dull. Sweet and bewitching, Hayley and her beautiful voice need to move on and be brave enough to take on more adventurous material, either written especially for her (the best idea, why hasn't it been done?) or by covering singers like Sandy Denny and Stevie Nicks in reflective mode just as very personal suggestions. Hayley covered Wuthering Heights on Pure, so why not? I prefer Hayley's voice over the more widely ... Read More:

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Hayley Westenra: Pure

Search: River of Dreams (adapted from "Winter") - Hayley Westenra
by: Hayley Westenra Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Ian Dean

January 16, 2006

The original `Pure' album was released in 2003, and despite there now being a confusing number of variations of it (special edition, import, bonus tracks & bonus discs) there are basically two editions - this original single disc album, and a 2CD Special Edition which is the original album plus a bonus disc.

The songs are a mixture of classical, popular and traditional, with some highly original and unexpected choices such as `River of Dreams' which is a transcription of Vivaldi's lovely violin solo `largo' from `The Four Seasons', and a powerful recording of `Benedictus' from the Karl Jenkins' album `The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace'.

The New Zealand traditionals, predictably chosen because of Hayley's origin ... Read More: