ARTS • February 19, 2006

Hayley Westenra, the 18-year-old New Zealander with the voice of an angel, joins Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly and the NAC Orchestra for CTV Pops concerts from Thursday, March 2 to Saturday, March 4 at 20:00 in Southam Hall. Jack will take audiences around the world in the opening half of the programme in a series of light orchestral classics. 

Hayley Westenra is the best-selling artist ever in her home country of New Zealand where her debut album Pure has gone Platinum 12 times over. In the UK, Pure went straight to No. 1 on the classical charts making her the fastest selling debut classical artist of all time ahead of Charlotte Church, Pavarotti and Bocelli. "A ton of star quality," is how Newsweek International described her, while The Times said, "the control and purity of her upper registers defy belief." Hayley has now also become the biggest selling classical artist in Japan, where her hit single"Amazing Grace" turned Gold. 

Hayley has performed in front of presidents, prime ministers and the Queen. She has duetted with Andrea Bocelli, José Carreras, Bryn Terfel and Russell Watson. She has appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Wembley Arena and the Royal Albert Hall. She has sung for 200,000 at Auckland Domain (largest live concert) and Melbourne "Carols by Candelight" (largest TV audience - NZ, Australia and Asia). The teenager has also appeared as a special guest with the world's leading orchestras including the Moscow Philharmonic, the Boston Pops and the London Philharmonic; andshe has made her National Arts Centre Orchestra debut in the sold-out Lord of the Rings Symphonic concerts in July 2004.  

Now Ottawa audiences will have the chance to hear more of this remarkable young performer in selections from her first album Pure, her latest release Odyssey and more. The second half of these CTV Pops concerts features her perfect soprano voice in "May It Be" from Lord of the Rings, the gorgeous traditional Maori song"Pokarekare Ana", Orff's "In Trutina" from Carmina Burana, "O mio babbino caro" from Gianni Schicci , "Pie Jesu" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem, "Ave Maria", and her hit single "Amazing Grace". 

The affable and enormously talented Jack Everly will open the programme with a global journey beginning with Around the World in 80 Days. The NAC Orchestra will sparkle in such light classics as Chabrier's Espana, Borodin's In the Steppes of Central Asia, Villa-Lobos's The Little Train of Caipira, Cowan's Waltzing Matilda, America the Beautiful, The Pines of Rome and Robert Farnon's "Ottawa Heights" from Canadian Impressions. 

Tickets for Hayley Westenra, Jack Everly and the National Arts Centre Orchestra from March 2 to 4 are on sale now at $34.50, $51.00, $53.00, $63.00 and $65.00, with box seats at $92.00 (GST and Facility Fee included) at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC's web-site at www.nac-cna.ca .  

Groups of 10 and more save 15% to 20% off the regular price of tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances.  To reserve your seats call 947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca.  Half-price tickets for students in all sections of the hall are on sale in person at the NAC Box Office upon presentation of a valid student ID card.