Living / Arts

Teen sensation sings sweetly on Seoul stage

2003.08.21
 
Setting her sights on becoming the next adolescent angel of the crossover stage, 16-year-old New Zealand singer Hayley Westenra appeared at the HOAM Art Hall Tuesday for a promotional showcase. During the hour-long event, which was a recording industry version of a debutante party, the lanky teen shyly shuffled into the spotlight and launched into songs from her first international album, Pure, released in Korea July. Produced by longtime Beatles collaborator, Sir George Martin, Pure features lushly orchestrated collections of pop melodies, classical remakes, and traditional songs of the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand.

Westenra began singing when she was six and started performing on the streets of her hometown of Christchurch, for fun, when she was 11. With the money she earned busking, a year later she recorded a small collection of her favorite songs, which sparked the interests of local television and radio stations. At 14, she released her next album under a major record label which soon reached No. 1 in New Zealand album charts.

Westenra is currently on a promotional tour of Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. From Seoul, she is departing to Wales, Great Britain to perform with opera stars Jose Carreras and Bryn Terfel.

The Westenra showcase is part of the HOAM Art Hall City Festival, a concert series presenting domestic and international crossover and New Age performers, running now until Aug. 31.

(warrenlee@heraldm.com)


This article originated from The Korea Herald. Thanks to RWHW Group

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