Paradiso is an international album by Christchurch, New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra, in collaboration with Italian maestro Ennio Morricone. It was released worldwide beginning 18 April 2011 in New Zealand.
Paradiso features new compositions written by Morricone for Westenra, as well as Hayley performing some of his best-known film compositions in vocalese. Westenra also contributed new English lyrics for some of Morricone's most well-known pieces, "Gabriel's Oboe", "La Califfa", and "Malena". Westenra said she not only was inspired by "Gabriel's Oboe" (the theme from the 1986 film classic The Mission), but also contributed lyrics to Whispers In A Dream (music:"Gabriel’s Oboe") in the spirit of world peace.
Morricone produced all of Westenra's vocal performances and created new arrangements for each track, conducting instrumental sessions with his own 120-piece orchestra, Sinfonietta di Roma. On 18 July 2011, Morricone commented, "When I first heard Hayley’s voice I was impressed and fascinated. I was very pleased when I was asked to compose and arrange the pieces that Hayley sings on her CD and am delighted with the results. I want to mention that this is not just a small anthology but also includes new songs performed and recorded for the first time... I wish our CD great fortune and many listeners and to this beautiful performer, a great career." Oscar-winning lyricist Don Black, Sir Tim Rice, and Marilyn and Alan Bergman also contributed lyrics to the multi-language album (including some English and Italian songs, a French and a Portuguese song).
Paradiso became the 85th local #1 album since the inception of the Official New Zealand Music Charts in 1975. It has been certified gold in New Zealand, and became Westenra's fifth number one album in New Zealand, breaking the record for the New Zealand artist with the most #1 albums to their name announced by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (Rianz) in May. It rose to number one on the Amazon Classical pre-release chart, and topped the HMV Classical pre-release chart.
Paradiso hit #1 on the official UK Classical Charts, as well as the Classic FM chart, after its release in the UK. It also reached #2 on the Amazon.com US classical chart after release in the United States.
Track listing
- Gabriel's Oboe (Whispers In A Dream) lyrics by Hayley Westenra
- Cinema Paradiso: Profumo Di Limone lyrics by Ennio Morricone
- La Califfa lyrics by Ennio Morricone & Hayley Westenra
- Once Upon A Time In The West lyrics by Ennio Morricone
- Metti Una Sera A Cena lyrics by Ennio Morricone
- Cinema Paradiso: Would He Even Know Me Now? lyrics by Don Black
- Per Natale (L'Esprit de Noël) lyrics by Josephine Drai
- I Knew I Loved You (Deborah's Theme) lyrics by Ennio Morricone, Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman
- Lezione Di Musica lyrics by Ennio Morricone
- Da Quel Sorriso Che Non Ride Piu lyrics by Ennio Morricone
- The Edge Of Love lyrics by Tim Rice
- Amália Por Amor lyrics by Joao Mendonca
- Here's To You lyrics by Joan Baez
- Malena lyrics by Hayley Westenra
Japan Release:
- Gabriel's Oboe (Whispers In A Dream) lyrics by Hayley Westenra
- Cinema Paradiso: Profumo Di Limone lyrics by Ennio Morricone
- La Califfa lyrics by Ennio Morricone & Hayley Westenra
- Once Upon A Time In The West lyrics by Ennio Morricone
- Metti Una Sera A Cena lyrics by Ennio Morricone
- Cinema Paradiso: Would He Even Know Me Now? lyrics by Don Black
- Per Natale (L'Esprit de Noël) lyrics by Josephine Drai
- I Knew I Loved You (Deborah's Theme) lyrics by Ennio Morricone, Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman
- Lezione Di Musica lyrics by Ennio Morricone
- Da Quel Sorriso Che Non Ride Piu lyrics by Ennio Morricone
- The Edge Of Love lyrics by Tim Rice
- Amália Por Amor lyrics by Joao Mendonca
- Here's To You lyrics by Joan Baez
- Malena lyrics by Hayley Westenra
- Cinema Paradiso: Profumo Di Limone (Bonus Track) [Japanese Lyrics]
- Amazing Grace (Special Bonus Track)
Disc 2 [SHM-CD Special Edition]
- Gabriel's Oboe (Whispers In A Dream) Music Video
On 17 July 2011, Westenra talked about working with world-renowned composers on Paradiso when interviewed by Terry Wogan, and performed Whispers In A Dream and "Songbird" live for BBC Radio 2. On 1 September, Premier Christian Radio interviewed Westenra about recording Paradiso with Morricone and his orchestra in Rome. On 15 September, Westenra appeared as a guest star on the popular Italian reality TV show for children "Io Canto" (Canale 5) and sang "Whispers In A Dream" and "Cinema Paradiso: Profumo di Limone" with the show's 2010 winner, Benedetta Caretta. The BBC programme Songs of Praise broadcast "Whispers In A Dream" as performed by Westenra in Salisbury Cathedral. Also, Hayley was interviewed by several American media outlets, including Fox News, to promote the album's release in the United States. On 17 October, Westenra appeared on CNN for an interview entitled "Prodigy Puts Words to Morricone's Classics".
To promote and spread Paradiso, Westenra plans to embark on the Paradiso Homecoming Tour, a tour of the UK, New Zealand, and east Asia.
During the tour, River of Dreams and Paradiso is reentering New Zealand Albums Chart at #6 and #7 on 21 Nov, and Paradiso is reentering #1 on TaiWan classical music chart.
