An honest review... and about time too!

I was perusing The Press last Friday and came across a review which gave me revolting amounts of delight. It wasn't mean, just truthful. The reviewer, David Sell, a music lecturer at Canterbury University, did not mince words. Some of my favourites:

"... there were three voices, regardless of what she sang - a girlish upper voice, a bland lower voice, and a few notes in between that were always harsh and piercing"

and

"...It is a voice of little musical character."

We are talking, of course, about Hayley Westenra.

Well isn't that about time? I was so surprised to read a reviewer actually slagging off our wee Hayley that i nearly had an apoplexy on the spot. Sure she's done well, earnt millions, rubbed shoulders with politicians, celebrities and royalty, but she certainly doesn't have a lasting career in classical music. As soon as her cute factor wears off and she enters the adult world, she'll be out in the cold. I seriously doubt she will puruse serious voice training. In fact, if I had already made millions by the age of 18 I doubt I would either.

I have never felt strongly enough about anything to actually write a letter to the editor, but on this occassion i felt the opportunity was too good to pass up, and so as of yesterday I am a bondafide published author. My letter was short, but written with a little too much pleasure:

Dear Sir,
I wish to congratulate David Sell on his honest review of Hayley Westenra's Jan 18th concert. Too often one reads reviews, which by the very nature of the genre purport to be impartial, that spout nothing more than obsequious drivel. Mr Sell, with his frank appraisal of Miss Westenra’s performance, is a great credit both to himself and to the upholding of musical standards. May we look forward to many more honest reviewers and reviews in the future.