CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

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Pure

Search: River of Dreams (adapted from "Winter") - Hayley Westenra
by: Hayley Westenra Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Ian Dean

Release Date November 15, 2004

The original `Pure' album was released in 2003, and despite there now being a confusing number of variations of it (special edition, import, bonus tracks & bonus discs) there are basically two editions - the original single disc and this 2CD Special Edition which adds a bonus disc to the original one.

The songs are a mixture of classical, popular and traditional, with some highly original and unexpected choices such as `River of Dreams' which is a transcription of Vivaldi's lovely violin solo 'largo' from `The Four Seasons', and a powerful recording of `Benedictus' from the Karl Jenkins' album `The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace'.

The New Zealand traditionals, predictably chosen because of Hayley's origin ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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The Classical Album 2005

Search: River of Dreams (adapted from "Winter") - Hayley Westenra
by: Various Artists

Release Date November 15, 2004
This has become an annual release, though this year they have dropped the "No 1" from the middle of the title. As well as being a compilation of light classical music it acts as a showcase, or sampler, of albums currently available in the genre from the Universal and Sony/BMG labels.

This is not to say that all the tracks, or the artists spotlighted, are brand new; there is an enormous age range of both, from the burgeoning talent of Katherine Jones and Hayley Westenra, through the established greatness of Bryn Terfel and Kiri te Kanawa, to the archived voices of Mario Lanza and Kathleen Ferrier.

Just about all imaginable styles are covered, too - opera, film scores, virtuoso instrumentals, variations on themes, sacred ... Read More: