Album

This album overlaps considerably with the Treasure release by New Zealand-born soprano Hayley Westenra, a rather irritating marketing device that suggests Westenra's management was uncomfortable with the new range of Treasure and wanted a shorter version that would fit more easily within established categories. Even the interior graphics overlap, although the covers are different. Evaluated on its own merits it is less interesting than Treasures, although those who already like Westenra and are enamored of the idea of hearing her voice applied to Celtic-flavored crossover music may find it's just the ticket. The music is by no means exclusively Celtic; "Summer Fly" is an ambitious American folk or country song by New England writer Cheryl Wheeler, "Sonny" is a song from Newfoundland, and "One Fine Day" is simply Puccini's "Un bel di" translated into English and not especially convincingly done by Westenra. But the Maori "E Pari Ra" has been removed from the program, and several other changes smooth it out as well; it is heavier on extremely familiar pieces ("Danny Boy," "Shenandoah," and "The Last Rose of Summer," among others) than Treasure is. The result is a less varied program that basically leaves the listener with Westenra and her silvery voice, which you either like or hate. British critic Ian Sime compares it to "camomile tea and essential oils [that] aid sleep and recovery," which suggests the difficulty of making any kind of judgment about it. Westenra tends to sound the same whatever she sings, and the result here is more specifically directed at her hardcore fans than Treasure is. If the idea of hearing Hayley Westenra sing Celtic music gives you the shivers already, this is the album to pick. If you're new to her music, give Treasure a try first.

© James Manheim, All Music Guide

CD 1
Hayley Westenra / Sarah Class Composer Let Me Lie, song Work Anthony Hinnigan Flute, Wix Keyboard, Hayley Westenra Vocals, Irish Film Orchestra Orchestra, Nick Ingman Conductor, Miles Bould Percussion
1	Let Me Lie, song	5:06			$0.99
English Traditional Composer Scarborough Fair Work Rupert Christie Keyboard, London Session Orchestra Orchestra, Hayley Westenra Vocals, Tony Hinnegan Pipe, Nick Ingman Conductor, Miles Bould Percussion
2	Scarborough Fair	3:11			$0.99
American Traditional Composer Shenandoah, folk song Work Rupert Christie Keyboard, Anthony Hinnigan Flute, Hayley Westenra Vocals, Irish Film Orchestra Orchestra, Nick Ingman Piano, Miles Bould Percussion
3	Shenandoah, folk song	3:21			$0.99
Cheryl Wheeler Composer Summerfly Work Brad Davidge Guitar, Natalie MacMaster Fiddle, Mac Morin Piano, Hayley Westenra Vocals, Miche Pouliot Drums, Matt MacIsaac Whistle (Human), Shane Hendrickson Bass
4	Summerfly	3:39			$0.99
Septimus Winner Composer Whispering Hope Work Metro Voices Chorus/Choir, Jenny O'Grady Chorus/Choir Director, Hayley Westenra Vocals, Irish Film Orchestra Orchestra
5	Whispering Hope	2:02			$0.99
Irish Traditional Composer Londonderry Air (Danny Boy), folk song Work Hayley Westenra Vocals, Irish Film Orchestra Orchestra, Nick Ingman Conductor
6	Londonderry Air (Danny Boy), folk song	3:41			$0.99
Jeffrey Franzel / Hayley Westenra Composer Summer Rain, song Work Rupert Christie Keyboard, Katie Krykant Vocals (Background), Hayley Westenra Vocals, Irish Film Orchestra Orchestra, Nick Ingman Conductor, Miles Bould Percussion
7	Summer Rain, song	3:58			$0.99
Irish Traditional Composer The Last Rose of Summer, folk song Work David Downes Conductor, Andreja Malir Harp, Hayley Westenra Vocals, Irish Film Orchestra Orchestra, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha Performer
8	The Last Rose of Summer, folk song	3:36			$0.99
Giacomo Puccini Composer Madama Butterfly (opera)...Madama Butterfly (opera; arr. voice and celtic ensemble) Work Hayley Westenra Vocals, Des Moore Gittern, Irish Film Orchestra Orchestra, Nick Ingman Conductor
9	Un bel dì verdremo	3:30			$0.99
Ron Hynes Composer Sonny, song Work Hayley Westenra Vocals, Irish Film Orchestra Orchestra, Nick Ingman Conductor
10	Sonny, song	3:12			$0.99
American Traditional Composer The Water Is Wide (after O Waly, Waly) Work Rupert Christie Keyboard, London Session Orchestra Orchestra, Hayley Westenra Vocals, Tony Hinnegan Pipe, Nick Ingman Conductor, Miles Bould Percussion
11	The Water Is Wide (after O Waly, Waly)	3:32			$0.99
Hayley Westenra Composer Melancholy Interlude, song (after John Dowland) Work Hayley Westenra Vocals, Irish Film Orchestra Orchestra, Nick Ingman Conductor
12	Melancholy Interlude, song (after John Dowland)	1:37			$0.49
William Henry Monk Composer Abide with me (Tune: Eventide) Work Hayley Westenra Vocals, Pat Fitzpatrick Piano, Irish Film Orchestra Orchestra, Nick Ingman Conductor
13	Abide with me (Tune: Eventide)	3:34			$0.99