Kiri Te Kanawa

Kiri Te Kanawa

Dame Kiri Jeanette Claire Te Kanawa ONZ, CH, DBE, AC (/ˈkɪri təˈkɑːnəwə/; born Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron, 6 March 1944) is a retired New Zealand opera singer. She had a full lyric soprano voice, which has been described as "mellow yet vibrant, warm, ample and unforced". Te Kanawa had three top 40 albums in Australia in the mid-1980s. Te Kanawa has received accolades in many countries, singing a wide array of works in many languages dating from the 17th to the 20th centuries. She is particularly associated with the works of Mozart, Strauss, Verdi, Handel and Puccini, and found considerable success in portraying princesses, nobility, and other similar characters on stage. Though she rarely sang opera later in her career, Te Kanawa frequently performed in concert and recital, gave masterclasses, and supported young opera singers in launching their careers. Her final performance was in Ballarat, Australia, in October 2016, but she did not reveal her retirement until September 2017. Te Kanawa was born Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron in Gisborne, New Zealand, to Māori butcher Tieki "Jack" Wawatai and to Mary Noeleen Rawstron, who was the daughter of Irish emigrants. Wawatai was already married to Apo, the daughter of the Rev. Poihipi Kohere. Poihipi Kohere was the brother of both the community leader Rēweti Kōhere and the soldier and farmer Henare Mokena Kohere. Mary Noeleen Rawstron's mother insisted the baby be given up for adoption. Te Kanawa was adopted as an infant by Thomas Te Kanawa, the owner of a successful trucking business, and his wife Nell. She was educated at St Mary's College, Auckland, and formally trained in operatic singing by Sister Mary Leo Niccol. Te Kanawa began her singing career as a mezzo-soprano but developed into a soprano. Her recording of the "Nuns' Chorus" from the Strauss operetta Casanova was the first gold record produced in New Zealand. Te Kanawa met Desmond Park on a blind date in London in August 1967, and they married six weeks later at St Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland. They adopted two children, Antonia (born 1976) and Thomas (born 1979). The couple divorced in 1997. Te Kanawa never made an attempt to contact her biological parents, but her half-brother Jim Rawstron contacted her. Initially, she was unwilling to meet him, but agreed to do so in 1997. The episode ended bitterly, when a newspaper ran a story on their meeting; despite Rawstron denying contact with the newspaper, she has since reaffirmed her decision to have nothing to do with her birth family. In her teens and early 20s, Te Kanawa was a pop star and entertainer at clubs in New Zealand,[failed verification] and regularly appeared in newspapers and magazines. In 1963, she was runner-up to Malvina Major in the Mobil Song Quest with her performance of "Vissi d'arte" from Tosca, and in 1965 she won the same competition. As winner, she received a grant to study in London. She appeared and sang in the 1966 musical comedy film Don't Let It Get You. In 1966, she won the Melbourne Sun-Aria contest, which Major had also won the previous year. Both singers had been taught by Sister Mary Leo. ... Source: Article "Kiri Te Kanawa" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

  • Title: Kiri Te Kanawa
  • Popularity: 0.692
  • Known For: Acting
  • Birthday: 1944-03-06
  • Place of Birth: Gisborne, New Zealand
  • Homepage:
  • Also Known As: Кири Те Канава
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Kiri Te Kanawa Movies

  • 2006
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    Christmas with Kiri Te Kanawa: Carols from Coventry Cathedral

    Christmas with Kiri Te Kanawa: Carols from Coventry Cathedral

    1 2006 HD

    Kiri Te Kanawa, Michael George, and a choir sing Christmas music, and in between selections, David Frost narrates a history of the Christmas carol.

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  • 2021
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    Marjorie Lawrence: The World at Her Feet

    Marjorie Lawrence: The World at Her Feet

    1 2021 HD

    Marjorie grew up in Winchelsea in country Victoria, Australia, dreaming of becoming an opera star like Dame Nellie Melba. In 1928 she went to Paris...

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  • 2017
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    Kiri Te Kanawa at the BBC

    Kiri Te Kanawa at the BBC

    4 2017 HD

    New Zealand soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa looks back at her life in song through 40 years of performances from the archives, including rugby anthem...

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  • 1975
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    Kiri Te Kanawa

    Kiri Te Kanawa

    1 1975 HD

    Opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa talks to Bernard Levin and sings scenes from Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro, Otello and La Boheme. With Ryland...

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  • 1979
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    Don Giovanni

    Don Giovanni

    6.9 1979 HD

    Screen adapatation of Mozart's greatest opera. Don Giovanni, the infamous womanizer, makes one conquest after another until the ghost of Donna Anna's...

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  • 1985
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    Der Rosenkavalier

    Der Rosenkavalier

    7.5 1985 HD

    Live performance, new production season 1984-5. BBC 2 Television relay on 30 March 1985 of performance of February 11.

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  • 1984
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    Die Fledermaus

    Die Fledermaus

    7.8 1984 HD

    Most opera houses ring in the New Year with Johann Strauss Jr.'s most popular operetta--the festiveness of which is appropriate for the occasion--and...

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  • 1992
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    Otello

    Otello

    1 1992 HD

    The complete version of Verdi's Otello performed by Placido Domingo and Kiri Te Kanawa, at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Gala Performance in...

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  • 1985
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    The Making Of West Side Story

    The Making Of West Side Story

    7.9 1985 HD

    A documentary which shows, in great detail, the making of the 1985 Bernstein-conducted recording of the entire score of "West Side Story", featuring...

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  • 1982
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    Otello

    Otello

    1 1982 HD

    Verdi's 'Otello', based on Shakespeare's famous tragedy, is performed at the famous Arena of Verona, with Kiri Te Kanawa and Vladimir Atlantov...

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  • 1983
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    Manon Lescaut

    Manon Lescaut

    7 1983 HD

    "Manon", wrote Puccini to his publisher Giulio Ricordi in 1889, "is a heroine I believe in and therefore she cannot fail to win the heart of the...

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  • 1975
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    The Marriage of Figaro

    The Marriage of Figaro

    6.5 1975 HD

    Mozart's Marriage of Figaro is a comedy whose dark undertones explore the blurred boundaries between dying feudalism and emerging Enlightenment. ...

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  • 1996
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    Metropolitan Opera Gala James Levine's 25th Anniversary

    Metropolitan Opera Gala James Levine's 25th Anniversary

    1 1996 HD

    This tribute to James Levine, first shown on PBS, was only part of that glorious evening. Here we have the whole performance, up to three hours. I...

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  • 1986
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    Die Fledermaus

    Die Fledermaus

    1 1986 HD

    Live performance from the Metropolitan Opera, 31 December 1986.

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  • 1994
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    Arabella

    Arabella

    1 1994 HD

    Arabella, Op. 79, is a lyric comedy or opera in three acts by Richard Strauss to a German libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, their sixth and last...

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  • 1998
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    Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Royal Albert Hall Celebration

    Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Royal Albert Hall Celebration

    6.7 1998 HD

    British superstar composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is feted in this 50th birthday benefit gala produced by Lloyd Webber's own theatrical company at...

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  • 1982
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    Der Rosenkavalier

    Der Rosenkavalier

    1 1982 HD

    In this stunning performance from 1982, Strauss’s enchanting fairy tale for adults is blessed with a cast, conductor, and production that have...

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  • 1995
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    Giuseppe Verdi: Simon Boccanegra

    Giuseppe Verdi: Simon Boccanegra

    1 1995 HD

    This evocative production by Giancarlo Del Monaco sumptuously captures the look and feel of 14th century Genoa and is a perfect compliment to...

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  • 2007
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    Simon Boccanegra: Royal Opera House

    Simon Boccanegra: Royal Opera House

    1 2007 HD

    Kiri Te Kanawa, Alexandru Agache, Michael Sylvesyer, and Roberto Scandiuzzi star in this Covent Garden production of the Verdi opera conducted by Sir...

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  • 1983
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    The Metropolitan Opera Centennial Gala

    The Metropolitan Opera Centennial Gala

    1 1983 HD

    In celebration of its 100th anniversary in 1983, the Metropolitan Opera hosts a four-hour performance uniting some of the world's most spellbinding...

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  • 2002
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    Prom at the Palace

    Prom at the Palace

    1 2002 HD

    All-time classical favourites from the first ever public concert held in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, hosted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II....

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  • 1974
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    The Marriage of Figaro

    The Marriage of Figaro

    2.5 1974 HD

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  • 1964
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    Runaway

    Runaway

    1 1964 HD

    A nightmare chase across the scenic splendor of a wild continent. David Manning, a young accountant, is unable to live within his income. He spends...

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  • 1966
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    Don't Let It Get You

    Don't Let It Get You

    1 1966 HD

    “The big ALL FUN show for the whole family to enjoy!” was the tagline for this musical comedy classic. Sir Howard Morrison (as himself)...

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  • 2006
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    The One Show

    The One Show

    4.6 2006 HD

    A topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One.

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  • 1988
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    Noel's Saturday Roadshow

    Noel's Saturday Roadshow

    1 1988 HD

    Noel's Saturday Roadshow is a BBC television light entertainment show which was broadcast live on Saturday evenings from 3 September 1988 to 15...

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  • 2010
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    Downton Abbey

    Downton Abbey

    8.102 2010 HD

    A chronicle of the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the post-Edwardian era—with great events in history having an...

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  • 1982
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    Wogan

    Wogan

    4.5 1982 HD

    Chat show hosted by Terry Wogan, featuring live studio interviews with famous and notable personalities.

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  • 1987
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    Going Live!

    Going Live!

    6 1987 HD

    Going Live! was a Saturday morning magazine show, broadcast on BBC1 between 1987 and 1993. It was presented by Phillip Schofield and Sarah...

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  • 1972
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    Le Grand Échiquier

    Le Grand Échiquier

    8 1972 HD

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  • 1971
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    Great Performances

    Great Performances

    5.2 1971 HD

    The best in the performing arts from across America and around the world including a diverse programming portfolio of classical music, opera, popular...

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  • 1971
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    Great Performances

    Great Performances

    5.2 1971 HD

    The best in the performing arts from across America and around the world including a diverse programming portfolio of classical music, opera, popular...

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  • 1998
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    Parkinson

    Parkinson

    1 1998 HD

    Michael Parkinson returns for a second run of his iconic talk show.

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