''Paradiso'' is a studio album by New Zealand

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hz to "high A" (A5) = 880&n ...

Hayley Westenra Hayley Dee Westenra (born 10 April 1987) is a New Zealand classical crossover singer and songwriter. Her first internationally released album, ''Pure'', reached number one on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million c ...

, in collaboration with

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

maestro

Ennio Morricone Ennio Morricone (; 10 November 19286 July 2020) was an Italian composer, orchestrator, conductor, and trumpeter who wrote music in a wide range of styles. With more than 400 scores for cinema and television, as well as more than 100 classica ...

. It was released worldwide beginning 18 April 2011 in New Zealand. ''Paradiso'' features new compositions written by Morricone for Westenra, as well as Westenra performing some of his best-known film compositions in

vocalese Vocalese is a style of jazz singing in which words are added to an instrumental soloist's improvisation. Definition Vocalese uses recognizable lyrics that are sung to pre-existing instrumental solos, as opposed to scat singing, which uses nonsen ...

. Westenra also contributed new English lyrics for some of Morricone's most well-known pieces, such as "

Gabriel's Oboe "Gabriel's Oboe" is the main theme for the 1986 film '' The Mission'', with Robert de Niro, Jeremy Irons, Liam Neeson and directed by Roland Joffé. The theme was written by Italian composer Ennio Morricone, and has since been arranged and perfor ...

", "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 Sir Timothy Miles Bindon Rice (born 10 November 1944) is an English lyricist and author. He is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote, among other shows, ''Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'', ' ...

, 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 number 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 number 1 albums. ''Paradiso'' hit number 1 on the official

UK Classical Charts The UK Classical Charts are three record charts based on classical music in the United Kingdom: the Classical Artist Albums Chart, the Classical Compilation Albums Chart and the Specialist Classical Albums Chart. The charts are commercial monitor ...

, as well as the Classic FM chart, after its release in the UK.

Track listing

( Whispers In A Dream)" - lyrics by

#"Cinema Paradiso: Profumo Di Limone" - lyrics by

#"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 Sir Timothy Miles Bindon Rice (born 10 November 1944) is an English lyricist and author. He is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote, among other shows, ''Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'', ' ...

#"Amália Por Amor" - lyrics by Joao Mendonca #"Here's To You" - lyrics by Joan Baez #"Malena" - lyrics by Hayley Westenra Japan Release: #"

( Whispers In A Dream)" - lyrics by

#"Cinema Paradiso: Profumo Di Limone" - lyrics by

#"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)" - apanese Lyrics#"

Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779 with words written in 1772 by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (1725–1807). It is an immensely popular hymn, particularly in the United States, where it is used for both ...

" (Special Bonus Track) Disc 2 HM-CD Special Edition#"Gabriel's Oboe (Whispers In A Dream)" Music Video

Promotion

On 17 July 2011, Westenra talked about working with world-renowned composers on ''Paradiso'' when interviewed by

Terry Wogan Sir Michael Terence Wogan (; 3 August 1938 – 31 January 2016) was an Irish radio and television broadcaster who worked for the BBC in the UK for most of his career. Between 1993 and his semi-retirement in December 2009, his BBC Radio 2 weekd ...

, and performed " Whispers In A Dream" and "Songbird" live for

BBC Radio 2 BBC Radio 2 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It is the most popular station in the United Kingdom with over 15 million weekly listeners. Since launching in 1967, the station broadcasts a wide range of content. ...

. On 1 September,

Premier Christian Radio Premier Christian Radio is a British Christian radio station, part of Premier (a Christian communications organisation), owned by the charity Premier Christian Media Trust. Premier Christian Radio broadcasts Christian programming, including ne ...

interviewed Westenra about recording ''Paradiso'' with Morricone and his orchestra in Rome. On 15 September, Westenra appeared as a guest star on the Italian reality TV show for children ''Io Canto'' and sang "Whispers In A Dream" and "Cinema Paradiso: Profumo di Limone" with the show's 2010 winner, Benedetta Caretta. The

BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board ex ...

programme ''

Songs of Praise ''Songs of Praise'' is a BBC Television religious programme that presents Christian hymns sung in churches of varying denominations from around the UK. The series was first broadcast in October 1961. On that occasion, the venue was the Ta ...

'' broadcast "Whispers In A Dream" as performed by Westenra in

Salisbury Cathedral Salisbury Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England. The cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Salisbury and is the seat of the Bishop of Salisbury. The buildi ...

. Westenra was also interviewed by several American media outlets, including

Fox News The Fox News Channel, abbreviated FNC, commonly known as Fox News, and stylized in all caps, is an American multinational conservative cable news television channel based in New York City. It is owned by Fox News Media, which itself is owne ...

, to promote the album's release in the United States. On 17 October, Westenra appeared on

CNN CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by the M ...

for an interview entitled "Prodigy Puts Words to Morricone's Classics".

Paradiso Homecoming Tour

To promote and spread ''Paradiso'', Westenra announced her plan to embark on the Paradiso Homecoming Tour, a tour of the UK, New Zealand, and east Asia.

Track listing

Promotion

Paradiso Homecoming Tour

Charts and Certifications

Charts

Certifications

International Release

References