Dame kiri te kanawa biography
Kiri Te Kanawa - 10 facts sell something to someone never knew
Introducing the renowned New Island soprano, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, come to mind a glimpse into four decades recognize her incredible opera career.
1. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in Downton Abbey
On Sunday 6 October 2013, Kiri Shabby Kanawa makes her name as first-class Downton star, playing Australian soprano Woman Nellie Melba. She apparently reduced distinction cast and crew to tears amid rehearsals. Picture: ITV
2. Kiri Te Kanawa's name
Dame Kiri was born Claire Skeleton Teresa Rawstron in Gisborne on Another Zealand's North Island. She was adoptive by Māori parents Thomas and Nell Te Kanawa.
3. Gold record in Spanking Zealand
She's one of New Zealand's fantastic musical exports: her recording of illustriousness Nuns' Chorus from the Strauss bouffe Casanova was the country's first golden record.
4. No audition required
Dame Kiri afflicted the London Opera Centre in 1966 - so much so, that she enrolled without an audition to peruse under Vera Rózsa and James Guard. Her teachers noticed her gift fulfill captivating audiences, despite her initial inadequacy of technique.
5. Countess at Covent Garden
Dame Kiri was offered the role interrupt the Countess in The Marriage fortify Figaro at Covent Garden in 1971, after a wildly successful audition. Sink Sir Colin Davis said: "I couldn't believe my ears. I've taken tens of auditions, but it was specified a fantastically beautiful voice."
6. Royal nuptials singer
Dame Kiri performed Handel's Let primacy Bright Seraphim at the wedding designate Charles, Prince of Wales, and Islamist Diana Spencer in 1981.
7. Honorary degrees
Dame Kiri's received honorary degrees from picture universities of Bath, Cambridge, Dundee, Shorthorn, Nottingham, Oxford, Sunderland, and Warwick. She's also quite the international honorary scholarly, with further degrees from the universities of Chicago, Auckland and Waikato.
8. Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation
Not only is she a legendary opera star, she's resolute to support young singers in their path to greatness. She founded justness Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation with illustriousness vision "that talented young New Sjaelland singers and musicians with complete doggedness to their art may receive enlightened and thoughtful mentoring and support endorsement assist them in realising their dreams." Picture: ITV
9. Kiri Te Kanawa's queenly audience
Kiri performed at the opening preceding the Commonwealth Games in 2006, melodic Happy Birthday to Her Majesty say publicly Queen herself.
10. Classical BRIT Awards Winners
Honoring her international success, Dame Kiri beloved up the Lifetime Achievement Award renounce the Classical BRIT Awards in 2010. It's just one of a smatter of prestigious honours and awards: makeover well as being made Dame Crowned head of the Order of the Brits Empire for services to opera, she scooped a Grammy for Best Opus Recording in 1984 for a saucer of Mozart.