INTERNATIONALLY renown-ed classical superstar Hayley Westenra plays her first-ever Liverpool date tonight.
The 21-year-old singer – named the biggest-selling classical artist of the 21st Century – has just released a “greatest hits” CD, River of Dreams, and begun a string of live dates which brings her to the city.
It follows a stint of global travel that has seen Hayley lend her tal-ent to help a number of charities.
“It’s a bit mad at the moment, but I’d much prefer to be busy than not,” she says. “I’m looking for-ward to performing in Liverpool. We’ll be having so much fun. I’ve got a great band and I’ll be doing a lot of songs I haven’t performed in a while.”
River of Dreams is a selection of songs from her first three albums.
“I guess I’m young to be releasing a Best of, but, in music industry terms, I’ve been around for a while. I released my first album when I was 16, so for me this is like an end of an era.
“It’s celebrating and reflecting what I’ve achieved so far.”
In that time, Hayley has perform-ed for the Queen, President Bush and Tony Blair, Prince Charles, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and the Dalai Lama.
Last week, she came back from Basra where she launched this year’s British Legion poppy appeal and sang for the troops.
“They’re grateful for any visitors who go out there and really appre-ciate that support,” she said.
“I don’t know how the guys do it. So I’m really keen to promote the poppy appeal and I hope the British public get behind them and support the troops, as they’re not given the recognition they deserve.”
She is also an ambassador for Unicef and recently spent time in Ghana helping a variety of projects.
“Once you go out there and start the work with the local team, you’re able to gain a deeper understanding of the issues rather than just scratching the surface. I’m lucky in that I’ve a bit of extra power to do some good, and I get a lot back from it as well.”
HAYLEY WESTENRA plays at the Philharmonic Hall tonight.
vickyanderson
