Kiri Te Kanawa

Kiri Te Kanawa is a New Zealand operatic soprano whose international career, prominent from the 1970s onward, included major roles and recordings.

Connect

The Marriage of Figaro: An opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, first performed in 1786, about a servant couple outwitting their employer. Countess Almaviva became one of Te Kanawa’s signature roles.
Colin Davis: An English conductor known for performances and recordings of Mozart, Berlioz, and other composers. Davis conducted Te Kanawa in major opera productions and recordings.
Auckland: New Zealand’s largest city and a major cultural and educational center. Te Kanawa was born and raised in Auckland.
Opera recording: The capture and distribution of staged or studio performances of opera as audio or audiovisual media. Her extensive discography brought operatic performances to listeners worldwide.
Joan Sutherland: An Australian coloratura soprano celebrated for bel canto opera roles and virtuoso singing. Sutherland’s coloratura repertoire contrasts with Te Kanawa’s emphasis on Mozart and lyric roles.
Così fan tutte: An opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in which two men test the fidelity of their partners through disguises. Te Kanawa performed the role of Fiordiligi in this Mozart opera.
Georg Solti: A Hungarian-British conductor renowned for his interpretations of opera and symphonic music. Solti led performances and recordings featuring Te Kanawa.
New Zealand: An island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, comprising the North and South Islands and smaller islands. Her upbringing and later support for young singers are closely associated with New Zealand.
Classical crossover: Music that blends classical performance traditions with popular genres or audiences. Her recordings and public appearances reached audiences beyond the conventional opera circuit.
Renée Fleming: An American soprano known for operatic roles, concert performances, and recordings across several classical styles. Fleming represents a later generation of internationally prominent lyric sopranos.