Hayley Westenra – Treasure

Hayley Westenra – Treasure

Treasure is the acclaimed 2007 album from New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra, blending classical crossover, Celtic influences, traditional folk songs, sacred music and contemporary vocal writing. Released in the UK on Decca, it was Westenra's third internationally released album and followed the huge worldwide success of Pure and Odyssey. The album reached No. 1 in New Zealand, where it remained at the top of the chart for five weeks.

The album showcases the remarkably clear, pure soprano that established Westenra as one of the leading young voices in the classical crossover movement. Rather than concentrating exclusively on classical repertoire, Treasure moves freely between Irish and Celtic traditional songs, American folk music, sacred hymns, opera and original material, creating a varied programme with a strong sense of atmosphere.

The opening “Let Me Lie”, co-written by Westenra, establishes the album's gentle, cinematic character before moving into “Le Notte Del Silenzio”, performed with Humphrey Berney, and the traditional Italian song “Santa Lucia”. The programme then turns towards familiar folk and traditional material with “Shenandoah”, “Whispering Hope” and the ever-popular Irish standard “Danny Boy”. The Irish Film Orchestra provides much of the album's rich orchestral backdrop, conducted by Nick Ingman.

Classical repertoire is represented by “One Fine Day” from Puccini's Madama Butterfly, while Westenra also explores her New Zealand heritage through “E Pari Ra”, a Māori song. These performances sit naturally alongside the Celtic and traditional material, reflecting the international character of Westenra's music and her ability to perform across several languages and musical traditions.

There is also plenty of space for more contemporary songwriting. “Summer Rain” was co-written by Westenra and Jeffrey Franzel, while “Summer Fly” comes from American singer-songwriter Cheryl Wheeler. Westenra's own “Melancholy Interlude”, inspired by ideas associated with Renaissance composer John Dowland, is another particularly interesting inclusion, demonstrating that Treasure is more than simply a collection of traditional songs.

The final sequence includes “Bist Du Bei Mir”, based on the celebrated Baroque aria attributed to Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel, before closing with the enduring hymn “Abide With Me”. The result is a beautifully arranged collection that balances classical elegance with folk tradition, sacred music and Celtic atmosphere.

For collectors of Hayley Westenra CDs, classical crossover, Celtic music, vocal music and Decca classical releases, Treasure is an appealing example of the genre at the height of its early-2000s popularity. Importantly, this is the UK/international 15-track edition, making it distinct from the 13-track Celtic Treasure version released in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Tracklist

1. Let Me Lie – 5:06
2. Le Notte Del Silenzio – 4:21
3. Santa Lucia – 2:10
4. Shenandoah – 3:21
5. Whispering Hope – 2:02
6. Summer Rain – 3:58
7. Danny Boy – 3:42
8. One Fine Day – 3:30
9. The Heart Worships – 3:16
10. E Pari Ra – 3:12
11. Sonny – 3:12
12. Summer Fly – 3:39
13. Melancholy Interlude – 1:38
14. Bist Du Bei Mir – 2:56
15. Abide With Me – 3:34