New Zealand singing sensation HAYLEY WESTENRA launches THE OFFICIAL RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011 ALBUM ‘World In Union’
The world’s biggest-selling soprano, Hayley Westenra, launches The Rugby World Cup 2011 Official Album, entitled World In Union, to be released on Decca (a Division of Universal Music Operations Limited) on 29th August.
The new Rugby World Cup 2011 album opens and closes with the title track ‘World In Union’ (based on Jupiterfrom Holst’s Planets Suite) – which has, over the years, been adopted as the global anthem for all Rugby World Cups. This rousing theme has become the only enduring official song for a major international sports event that is recorded anew for each Tournament, this year’s choice being the hosting nation’s own Hayley Westenra. This coincides with Hayley celebrating 10 years in the music industry.
The 24-year-old singer follows in the footsteps of another of the country’s most celebrated singers, fellow New Zealander Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, who topped the charts with her version for Rugby World Cup 1991. Hayley has not only recorded the song in English and Maori, as heard on this album, but also in Italian, French and Japanese – each version is expected to be heard played in the relevant countries. The album continues with 20 more stirring tracks from around the globe, featuring some of the world’s most successful singers, that will both unite and inspire. Representing ENGLAND is “the Nation’s Favourite Tenor” Alfie Boe with The Band of the Coldstream Guardsperforming the rousing Jerusalem, and rising star Laura Wright with her tender, acoustic version of Swing Low, a great rugby anthem that is also contrastingly performed by Russell Watson. For SCOTLAND the song Now’s The Time, based on the tune of Loch Lomond, is here sung by Scottish Tenor Luigi Corvi. The traditional Flower of Scotland is also featured, performed by The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. From WALES we have none other than The Fron Male Voice Choir with Land Of My Fathers, as well as music from Bryn Terfel and Katherine Jenkins. And IRELAND brings its official song Ireland’s Call featuring Brian Kennedy representing the North andPaul Byrom the South, and introduces new Irish songstress, Mairead, with her rendition of The Fields Of Athenry. Also included is a recording from International superstar violinist André Rieu from HOLLAND, with singer Mirusia Louwerse from AUSTRALIA. From AFRICA comes The Kenyan Boys’ Choir, and Roberto Alagna represents FRANCE with his version of the French National Anthem. Rugby World Cup 2011 will be the largest sporting event ever to be held in New Zealand, with over 85,000 visitors expected to flock from overseas – but wherever you are in the world, this album will provide the perfect soundtrack. About Rugby World Cup 2011: Rugby World Cup is the crown jewel of the sport and a prominent global property – with television coverage of Rugby World Cup 2007 spanning more than 200 territories, reaching a cumulative audience of 4 billion viewers. Rugby World Cup 2011 is being held in New Zealand for the first time since the inaugural event in 1987. Teams representing 20 nations will compete in 48 matches across 12 Host Cities between 9 September and 23 October 2011.