Dame Kiri Te Kanawa

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, the celebrated New Zealand soprano, enchants audiences worldwide with her velvety, full lyric soprano voice. Born Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron in 1944, she was adopted and given the name Kiri, embracing her Maori and Irish heritage. Te Kanawa's career took off after her debut at Covent Garden in 1971, where she captivated audiences with her mellow yet vibrant tone, excelling in roles by Mozart, Strauss, Verdi, and Puccini. Her illustrious career includes performing at the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana and breaking attendance records with a 1990 open-air concert in Auckland. Beyond her operatic triumphs, Te Kanawa was honored with the title "Dame Commander of the British Empire" and established the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation to nurture young opera singers. Retiring in 2017, she continues to inspire, leaving an indelible mark on the world of music and culture.