Songbird

Fresh from New Zealand, Hayley Westenra will join ‘Katarina Witt & Friends’ at Sovereign Bank Arena.

By: Matt Smith

Hayley Westenra will perform in an event combining live music and ice skating in Trenton Oct. 20.

   Hayley Westenra is busy seeing the world at the tender age of 17. The angel-voiced singer from Christchurch, New Zealand, has appeared with prestigious symphonies at famous concert halls, and performed in England at a dinner for Queen Elizabeth II, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George W. Bush.
   These exploits have made Hayley a household name in New Zealand, and an unofficial Kiwi ambassador abroad. That means fielding countless questions about The Lord of the Rings films, which used the small island’s breathtaking scenery as a stand-in for J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth.
   "Most people, when they hear I’m from New Zealand, they say, ‘Oh, I’ve seen ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ so I just tell them what they see in the movie is true," says Hayley. "’The images you see on the screen are not computer-generated.’ In fact, it’s even more stunning when you actually go to the location. I tell them that should they ever get the chance, they should definitely go, because it’s beautiful all around New Zealand. I’m biased, of course."
   As chance would have it, Hayley was speaking from a hotel room in Dallas, Texas, where she was singing in a pair of Dallas Symphony concerts of Howard Shore’s score for the trilogy. Unfortunately, Hayley didn’t get to see the visually stunning movies in the theater. "I got the DVD set actually," she says. "That was the only way I got around to watching it, because I’ve been traveling around so much."
   Hayley will travel to Trenton Oct. 20 to join R&B diva Patti LaBelle and country singer Jo Dee Messina in "Katarina Witt & Friends" at Sovereign Bank Arena. Skating stars Kristi Yamaguchi, Ekaterina Gordeeva and Nicole Bobek will join Ms. Witt on the ice at the one-time-only event, which will be taped to air on NBC New Year’s weekend.
   "Gosh, I’m so excited about it," says the genial, speed-talking teen. "I didn’t know that sort of thing existed. It sounds really different and creative to me, combining two different art forms, yeah."
   Hayley was discovered in 2000 busking on the streets of her hometown with younger sister Sophie and younger brother Isaac, soon signing a deal with Universal Music New Zealand. Her self-titled debut for that label, a mix of show tunes and classical pieces, topped the local charts and was followed by a Christmas album, My Gift to You. Those efforts led to a contract with Decca Music Group in London, which released her international debut, Pure, last year.
   "There’s definitely a classical influence, and I do some straight classical songs, but it’s kind of an easy-listening feel, mixed with pop" says Hayley, describing the stylistic mix on the million-selling CD.
   Pure was produced by Giles Martin, with a little help from his legendary producer father, Sir George Martin (The Beatles). It includes everything from Haydn and Vivaldi to a pair of traditional Maori choral works from New Zealand.
   "They were like, ‘What songs do you like,’ and I came up with a list," says Hayley. "I wanted to include a couple songs from home, ‘Pokarekare Ana’ and ‘Hine e Hine,’ they’re just songs I learnt in school really. Everyone in New Zealand knows them, so it’s kind of nice to share them with the rest of world."
   Perhaps the most compelling pop selection on Pure is the closer, Kate Bush’s "Wuthering Heights," the moody tale of Cathy and Heathcliff from the classic Emily Brontë novel.
   "I have to thank my mom for introducing me to that song, because when we were looking for songs, we just listened to everything," says Hayley. "We were going through some of Dad’s record collection with Mom, and she pulled out this Kate Bush 45 record, and she put it on and I just fell in love with the song. The first time I heard it I was like, ‘OK, this is a little bit strange.’ It was different from what I was doing, but it’s such a unique song, really. Then I just had it on repeat after that. I played it over and over again, and it’s become my favorite song now."
   Hayley recently discovered Joni Mitchell, and performs the singer-songwriter’s "Both Sides Now" on her upcoming PBS Great Performances special, which premieres next month. That TV appearance comes on the heels of an acting turn on the NBC show American Dreams, in which she played herself singing at a café.
   "I did a lot of acting when I was younger, then singing kind of took over," she says. "I’m definitely getting into acting again now, but at the same time I don’t want it to override my singing. I always put my singing first."
   Hayley enjoys the "variety" of her pursuits, but is careful to avoid the controversy that sometimes accompanies stardom at a young age. "You learn to be careful just by watching other people make mistakes. ‘OK, I don’t want to get into that situation.’"
   The rabid British press attempted to create a rivalry between Hayley and fellow young singing star Charlotte Church, who has made headlines for her offstage exploits. Hayley refused to bite on the tabloid bait.
   "We’re two different people with different voices, different styles, and I think she’s going to do something in pop anyway. She’s doing her own thing. I think lots of people hear my music and they realize it actually is quite different. It’s just a way of people pigeonholing you, trying to get a grasp on what you’re doing."
Hayley Westenra will perform as part of Katarina Witt & Friends at Sovereign Bank Arena, 81 Hamilton Ave., Trenton, Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $35-$55; VIP tickets cost $100. Ms. Westenra also will perform at Sovereign Bank Arena with the Boston Pops, Dec. 12, 1 p.m. Tickets cost $34-$49. For information, call (609) 520-8383. On the Web: www.sovereignbankarena.com. Hayley Westenra on the Web: www.hayleywestenra.com