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With her first international album release, PURE, having already sold more than one million copies abroad, 17-year-old vocal sensation Hayley Westenra is quickly reaching new heights of international stardom. Born into a family of singers, the New Zealand native has recently become both the fastest-selling debut classical artist ever in the UK and the biggest-selling local artist in New Zealand's history. Produced by Giles Martin with his father, the legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin, PURE finds Westenra exploring the worlds of pop and traditional Maori choral singing, as well as giving fresh takes on numbers from the classical repertoire. GREAT PERFORMANCES presents Westenra in concert from Wellington, New Zealand, performing songs like "Amazing Grace" and "Pokarekare Ana (Come Back to Me)," and displaying the pitch-perfect talent that has already earned her appearances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and tenor legend José Carreras.
Discover the advantages of having perfect pitch, as Hayley Westenra does, and read about the events that catapulted her to international singing stardom while still in her teens in the essay by writer Ed Ward. Read the interview in Dialogue to get more tidbits about the singer's life. Find the works she performs in the evening's program as well as video excerpts in the song list.
Special funding for this program was provided by Tourism New Zealand.
Many local PBS stations are offering the DVD of the program and Hayley Westenra's CD, PURE, as Pledge gifts. To order these items,
pledge now.
Top banner photos: Hayley Westenra, and the singer performing with special guest Teddy Tahu Rhodes. |
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Baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes joins Hayley in the duets "How Many Stars?" and "Hine e Hine." |
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Hayley Westenra's singing talents were first spotted by her grade-school teacher. |
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This program is currently not available through Shop Thirteen or ShopPBS. |
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