DREAMING OF A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS: New Zealand singing sensation Hayley Westenra is in Wellington this week to record two shows for the United States public broadcaster 13Net, to be shown at Christmas time. ROSS GIBLIN/Dominion Post

But breaking into the tough American market is something New Zealand singing sensation Hayley Westenra is taking in her stride. Westenra, 17, is in Wellington this week to record two Great Performance shows for United States public broadcaster 13Net, to be shown at Christmas.

The only other New Zealander to feature in the long-running series is Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. The Three Tenors - Jose Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo - Italian opera star Andrea Bocelli, and young up-and-coming US singer Josh Groban have all used the show as a springboard to further their careers.

"It's a huge deal, really," Westenra said before rehearsals at the Avalon television studios last night. "It's something that can make or break you, so it's kind of nerve-racking."

New York producer John Horn, on hand to make it even more so with about four million US viewers each time the show is aired, has brought a dozen crew to New Zealand to record the hour-long programme.

The programme will include a profile of Westenra "at home", and dozens of images of New Zealand.