Tewkesbury 2 Dec 2009

 Hayley at Tewkesbury. Full size photos are below the review. For more photos and concert reports click here for the HWI forum.

Review from Crackerjack, Gloucestershire

"Hayley Westenra: Winter Magic - Tewkesbury Abbey

Thursday 3rd December 2009

Uncomplicated, ingenuous and with a delightfully warm personality Hayley Westenra captivated a packed Tewkesbury Abbey with festive songs and carols.

Opening the concert Tewkesbury Youth Choir conducted by Rachel Gay sang an arrangement of This Old Man which was particularly effective. Privileged to share the singing of The Coventry Carol with Hayley the choir assuredly and sweetly effected a two-part backing.

Although infiltrating many musical genres Hayley is particularly successful in the ballad/pop/folk fields where her clear pure voice bewitches. Good diction and a unique appealing sharp vocal edge marked her performance.

In her own inimitable style Hayley entranced with Eva Cassidy's I Know You By Heart, her own composition Peace Shall Come and Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire. After the quicker tempo of Sleigh Ride the mood changed to solemnity for O Holy Night, Ave Maria and the Corpus Christi Carol.

Backed by Tim Evans piano, A J Moore acoustic guitar and the Raven Quartet, Hayley and the instrumentalists were relaxed with good audience rapport. Undeterred by technical hitches including broken cello string, wobbly piano stool and disappearing piano pedal their professionalism never faltered.

All-girl Raven Quartet stunned in looks and performance. Standing in the Nave aisle their playing was lively and brilliantly synchronised. Ravel's Bolero and an arrangement of Loch Lomond ending in a fast reel ensured much toe-tapping.

Hayley's sincerity left an indelible mark on an audience contemplating the approaching festivities.

Jill Bacon"

Photos by Grant

  Hayley Westenra on keyboards at Tewkesbury, 2 December 2009 (sound check)

© Grant Wright

Hayley Westenra at her signing after the concert in Tewkesbury, 2 December 2009

© Grant Wright