Hayley Westenra & Innovate Skelmanthorpe Band

The chance to see Hayley Westenra perform in a Town Hall just 25 minutes away from me seemed like an opportunity not to be missed. Tickets were very reasonably priced at £10-18.00 and the venue suggested a really intimate evening concert. The fact that Hayley would be singing with the Skelmanthorpe Band did get me curious, as I was intrigued to see how that pure, clear voice of Hayley's would combine with a Brass Band - now this I had to see and hear!

I arrived slightly late thanks to a one way system around Huddersfield and SATNAV that was proving very uncooperative! Luckily I had only missed 1 piece by the band and Hayley was yet to sing.The Band, led by Stan Lippeat started with Fest Musik der Stadt Wien by Richard Strauss (arr Eric Banks) followed by Overture Tantalusqualen by Suppe.

Then the MC Gilbert Symes introduced Hayley. She was wearing a lovely dark blue dress, fitted bodice with thin soulder straps and a floaty blue overskirt. The underskirt was a lovely pale green which provided a great contrast and looked beautiful.

Hayley started by singing Pokekare Ana, a song from her native new Zealand. Her voice was as ever on top form, so clear and beautiful and very well suited to this song. She was accompanied by the brass band and the combination was absoulutely wonderful. Hayley had received a rapturous applause as she had come on stage and this was repeated after her performance of this song.

She then said hello to the crowd and said she was pleased that england had beaten Paraguay in the football today, which also earned a big cheer. She explained that she was going to Stuttgart the following day where she would be performing in one of the many World Cup Concerts that have been scheduled.

Next she sang The Water is Wide from her album Odyssey. This song was sung to a backing track but was still a wonderful rendition and received great applause. Hayley said she was thrilled to be back with the band and in Huddersfield Town Hall as she loved the architecture. This suggested that she had sung with the band before and indeed the lady sat next to me confirmed that not only had Hayley sung with them previously, but also so had Katherine Jenkins and Aled Jones. Are they working their way through Classicalx's list of artists I wonder?!

Next she sang one of my favourite songs also from the Odyssey album; Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell. Hayley said she really connects with this song and always seems to find something different in the lyrics. This was also sung to a backing track but was sung very beautifully and again received a big round of applause from the audience. Her final song in the first part of the concert was the song Lascia Ch'io Pianga from the Odyssey album. This was sung with the band and Hayley's voice and the brass instruments blended wonderfully together. The band concluded the first half with Fugue from Graduation Day by Phillip Square and then Somewhere from West Side Story by Bernstein which was a marvellous arrangement.

After the interval, the band came back minus their jackets(it was incredibly hot in the hall despite the windows being opened during the interval) and played Start of Something Big an arrangment by D Roberts. This was followed by Vitae Lux and Sparkling Diamonds. The last song proved very popular and you could see some people singing along to 'diamonds are a girl's best friend', the band seemed to be enjoying themselves too.

A costume change for Hayley for part 2 as well, she wore a midnight blue dress with a criss-cross sequin design across the bust area and again a floaty blue overskirt. Apart from some earrings, she wore no jewellry and so her look was very understated but nevertheless very elegant.

Hayley then sang a song based on the story of Hansel and Gretel as they are lost in the woods and ask the angels to watch over them. This song was sung to a backing track which started a bit early but Hayley showed what a professional she is and carried on with her performance. Next was the song Across the Universe of Time from her album Pure and then accompanied by the band she sang Amazing Grace. She said the song was known well enough not to need an introduction and as the band started playing and people recognised the tune, there were several murmurs of approval. I had heard hayley singing this when she was on tour with Il Divo. She had sung it a cappella then and it had been wonderful. I couldn't see how she could beat that. Then as the band joined in, it added an extra touch and made it a very moving performance.

The Band concluded with Nightmare and Victory from Cry of the Celts and the Finale from the Firebird.

The MC then said that this was where they pretend they've finished and the audience yell for more. The crowd responded apprpriately and were rewarded with Hayley reappearing on stage. As an encore she sang a maori lullaby accompanied by the band which again was very beautiful and a lovely restful song.

As the bows were taken and acknowledgements given, a band member presented Hayley with some flowers and was thanked with a kiss. I think he left the stage a very happy if somewhat embarressed guy!

Despite the almost unbearable heat, it was a thoroughly enjoyable performance. Hayley's voice and the band blended together surprisingly well and were a great compliment to each other. All in all, a very good evening out!

Added: June 18th 2006
Reviewer: Grantie
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