The official album of Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand was launched today by the world’s biggest-selling soprano and one of the country’s most recognisable stars, Hayley Westenra.
World in Union, which will be released by Universal Music on August 26* and is available on CD and at iTunes and other digital providers, features 20 tracks recorded by some of the world’s most recognisable operatic voices to celebrate this year’s largest sporting event.
The iconic title track World in Union has become the anthem of each Rugby World Cup with an illustrious list of artists recording the song for each Tournament.
The 2011 album features Westenra recording a rendition that will become synonymous with Rugby World Cup 2011. The 24-year-old follows in the footsteps of another of the country’s most celebrated singers, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, who topped the charts with her version for Rugby World Cup 1991.
Westenra has not only recorded the song in English and Maori, as heard on this album, but also in Italian, French and Japanese.
Click here to hear World in Union>>
Rugby World Cup Limited Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "The World in Union is the soundtrack to Rugby World Cup, an iconic song for the global Rugby family and I am sure that this album, featuring some of the world's biggest musicians, will add to the Tournament experience for fans around the world."
"I am delighted that the album is not only a compliation of Rugby anthems, but it is a fine collection of songs performed by musicians who are Rugby fans. I am sure that Hayley Westenra’s rendition of World in Union will be extremely popular."
In addition to Westenra, the World in Union album features 20 more stirring tracks performed by some of the world’s most successful singers. Alfie Boe, Russell Watson, Laura Wright, Luigi Corvi, Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins, Brian Kennedy, Paul Byrom, Mirusia Louwerse and Roberto Alagna have all recorded songs representing the participating nations.
The album also features acclaimed Dutch violinist André Rieu, The Kenyan Boys’ Choir, The Band of the Coldstream Guards, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and the Fron Male Voice Choir.
With 95,000 fans expected to flock from overseas, Rugby World Cup is the sporting event to be at in 2011 and World in Union will provide the perfect soundtrack.
*Australia launch (August 26), New Zealand launch (August 29), UK/International launch (September 12).
For more information, contact: dominic.rumbles@irb.com.
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