Treasure

About Treasure

Treasure (titled Celtic Treasure in some countries) is the third internationally released album by Christchurch, New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra, released in 2007. The album celebrates Westenra's Irish roots by covering Irish songs like "Danny Boy" and religious classics like "Whispering Hope", "The Heart Worships", while also including three new songs which Hayley has co-written. Treasure became Westenra's fourth album to hit #1 on the New Zealand music charts, and her third album to debut at #1 on the New Zealand music charts, making her the most successful female album artist in the history of the Official New Zealand Music Charts. The album spent five weeks in the number 1 position on the New Zealand charts. Treasure became Westenra's second album to chart in the US and peaked within the Top 10 in the UK (it was the second highest new entry its debut week). Celtic Treasure is a very personal collection of classical arias, Irish and Maori folk songs. Celtic Treasure is a rich musical heritage celebration of Hayley's family roots, and her great-great-grandparent's journey across the World on the first boat that left Ireland for New Zealand in the 1880s. Westenra's first recordings of her own songs bring together all those musical influences. Celtic treasure include her compositions "Let Me Lie" and "Summer Rain" plus her lyrics to a haunting lute song by the Elizabethan English composer John Dowland, called simply "Melancholy Interlude". A special edition of the album released in Westenra's native New Zealand includes that country's national anthem God Defend New Zealand more »