Kiri Te Kanawa

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
ONZ CH DBE AC
Te Kanawa in 2013
Born
Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron

(1944-03-06) 6 March 1944 (age 80)
Gisborne, New Zealand
OccupationOpera singer (soprano)
Years active1968–2017
Spouse
Desmond Park
​
​
(m. 1967; div. 1997)​
Children2

Dame Kiri Jeanette Claire Te Kanawa[1] ONZ, CH, DBE, AC (/ˈkɪri təˈkɑːnəwə/),[2] born Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron (6 March 1944), is a New Zealand opera singer. She had a full lyric soprano voice, which has been described as "mellow yet vibrant, warm, ample and unforced".[3] On 1 December 1971 she was recognised internationally when she appeared as the Countess in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro at the Royal Opera House in London.

Te Kanawa received accolades in many countries,[4][5] performing works composed in the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries and singing in several languages. She was particularly associated with the music of Mozart, Verdi, and Puccini and Richard Strauss, and was often cast as an aristocrat.[6] Her extensive discography includes three albums which featured in the top forty in charts in Australia in the mid-1980s.[7]

Towards the end of her career, Te Kanawa appeared in opera only rarely, preferring to perform in concerts and recitals. She also devoted much of her time to giving masterclasses and supporting young opera singers through the period of their apprenticeship.[8]

  1. ^ "Te Kanawa, Dame Kiri (Jeanette Claire), (born 6 March 1944), opera singer". Ukwhoswho.com. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U37222. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4.
  2. ^ "ABC Pronounce". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 February 1990. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. ^ John von Rhein (30 July 2001). "Kiri Te Kanawa sails at Ravinia". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Profile: Tonight she sings for Britain: Kiri Te Kanawa, most beloved". Independent.co.uk. 12 September 1992.
  5. ^ Rhein, John von (20 August 2010). "Nostalgia flows freely as beloved diva charms fans at Ravinia. But don't call it a farewell". chicagotribune.com.
  6. ^ Steane, J.B. (2001). "Kiri Te Kanawa". In Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 978-1-56159-239-5.‎
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference aus was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Matt Thomas, "Dame Kiri Te Kanawa on coaching young singers", Walesonline.co.uk, 8 December 2008, Retrieved 7 December 2009