Winter Magic

Hayley Westenra | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 23, 2009)
• Original Release Date: November 23, 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B002PAQETO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,764 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Hayley Westenra returns with an all-new album of holiday favorites
destined to make this holiday season a little brighter and warmer.
The young singer, who has already sold more than four million albums
worldwide, brings her pure tone and disarming charm to these
evergreen favorites.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never A Sweeter Angel Have We Heard On High, November 24, 2009

By 

Pamela A. Ligieri "mystacor" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Winter Magic (Audio CD)

Hayley Westenra has the voice of an angel; her fans have known that, since the beginning. But, what we truly discover with this recording is that she is also a Christmas angel. If at the time of listening to this recording the listener is not yet in the Christmas spirit, this CD will do the trick. It is a diamond that, once owned, will be cherished and I dare anyone to not be reluctant to loan it out to friends and family.

Many vocalists the world over put out Christmas CDs that, while perhaps very beautiful, are stale in song choice. Not so here. It is on Hayley's Christmas CD that we hear the rarer, more solemn spectrum of the holidays as in such the spine-tingling, introspective Veni Veni Emmanuel (sung entirely in Latin) and The Coventry Carol. Also, Hayley's voice soars in her rendition of Carol of The Bells and enchants in the Corpus Christi Carol. Not without its playful charm, included are also Sleigh Ride and a stirring The Little Drummer Boy. Hayley also covers the popular song River with much heart and puts her soul into it. And, last but not least, there is a gem called Christmas Morning which the singer wrote herself which has the great infectiousness to bring a smile and the keen yearning for snow, family and everything involving Christmas celebration.

If you haven't bought this CD yet, what are you waiting for? Stick it in the stereo, curl up in front of a roaring fire or brightly-lit Christmas tree with a cup of cocoa while the snow falls softly outside and drift off into bliss.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gentle and filled with Joy, December 25, 2009

By 

J. F. Glenn (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Winter Magic (Audio CD)

In this recording Hayley shows a softer side of her voice. Christmas is a time of displaying gentle love to all humanity and true to her artistic form she has captured the essence of the season. Christmas is about "a light that has shown through the darkness." Winter Magic does this in a beautiful way. Hayley does not simply sing the songs, she caresses them with love. She pours herself into every song to bring us hope, which is summed up in her original "Peace Shall Come".
In our Northern Hemisphere these are the darkest and longest nights of our year. We are blessed that this young woman of the Southern Hemisphere, who for the first 15 years of her life only experienced Christmas in the summer, has granted to us this essence of light from her homeland. She has brought to our northern nights a glimpse of the Southern Cross. Her choice of songs and musical arrangements has brought to our hearts a wish of peace, love and hope.
Additional note: Kudos to the songwriting team of Hayley Westenra and Jeff Franzel - Three wonderful songs!
J.F. Glenn

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hayley Magic, November 24, 2009

By 

1littlegirl (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winter Magic (Audio CD)

Hayley's new album will surely lift your Christmas spirit like never before. Beautiful vocals, creative arrangements, and incredibly well-written brand new songs are all put together to make this album very special and different from all the other Christmas albums. Hayley presents some popular seasonal songs such as 'Silent Night,' 'Sleigh Ride,' 'Carol of the Bells,' and 'The Little Drummer Boy,' but the wonderful thing is that these songs don't sound like your typical Christmas song on the radio. In addition to these songs, Hayley sings the soft, emotional 'River,' which is sure to send chills down your spine. And her version of the lesser heard song 'The Little Road to Bethlehem' is just so fantastic and cheerful! Hayley also co-wrote three songs, 'Christmas Morning,' 'All with You,' and 'Peace Shall Come'. I've always been a little apprehensive about newly-written Christmas songs, but these songs are easily the very best on the album. My personal favourite is 'Peace Shall Come'--I've never heard a more perfect song. I'm sure you will think so too. ;) So leave alone the traditional, same old singers you hear every winter and buy this beautiful, magical album.