Te Kanawa was born in Gisborne, on New Zealand's North Island. She has both Māori and European ancestry, but little is known about her birth parents as she was adopted as an infant. She is the adopted daughter of an Irish mother and Māori father. In her teens and early 20s, Te Kanawa was a pop star and popular entertainer at clubs in New Zealand.
She was educated at Saint Mary's College Auckland and formally trained in operatic singing by the celebrated Dame Sister Mary Leo, RSM, who was New Zealand's best-known opera coach. She began her singing career as a mezzo-soprano, but later developed into a soprano. Her recording of the "Nuns' Chorus" from the Strauss operetta Casanova was New Zealand's first gold record.
Kiri married Desmond Park, whom she met on a blind date in Auckland in August 1967 and married 6 months later. The couple adopted two children, Antonia (1976) and Thomas (1979, named after Kiri's adoptive father). The couple divorced in the late 1990s.
Career
In 1965 she won the prestigious Mobil Song Quest, entered by all types of singers, jazz, pop and classical, with her performance of Puccini's "Vissi d'arte" from Tosca. As the winner, she received a grant to study in London.
Early years in London
In 1966, without an audition, she enrolled at the London Opera Centre to study under James Robertson, who is said to have stated that Te Kanawa did not have any singing technique when she arrived at the school but did have a gift for captivating audiences.
She first appeared on stage as the "Second Lady" in Die Zauberflöte, as well as in performances of Dido and Aeneas in December 1968 at the Sadler's Wells Theatre. In 1969, she sang "Elena" in Gioacchino Rossini's La donna del lago at the Camden Festival. Praise for her "Idamante" in Mozart's Idomeneo led to an offer of a three-year contract as junior principal at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden where she made her debut as 'Xenia' in Boris Godunov and a 'Flower Maiden' in Parsifal in 1970, and was also heard as the "Voice from Heaven", an off-stage role, at the end of Verdi's Don Carlo. Also, during 1969, she was offered the role of the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro after an audition in which the conductor, Colin Davis said "I couldn't believe my ears. I've taken thousands of auditions, but it was such a fantastically beautiful voice." Under director John Copley, Te Kanawa was carefully groomed for the role for a December 1971 opening.
International career
Meanwhile, word of her success had reached John Crosby at the Santa Fe Opera, a summer opera festival in the U.S. state of New Mexico then about to begin its fifteenth season. He cast her in the role of the Countess in Figaro, which opened on 30 July 1971. "It was two of the newcomers who left the audience dazzled: Frederica von Stade as Cherubino and Kiri Te Kanawa as the Countess. Everyone knew at once that these were brilliant finds. History has confirmed that first impression." Von Stade and Te Kanawa have continued this association even up to the present day. In 2007, they sang together at Kiri's farewell concert in Carnegie Hall.
But on 1 December 1971 at Covent Garden, Kiri Te Kanawa repeated the Santa Fe triumph and created an international sensation in the same role: "with 'Porgi amor' Kiri knocked the place flat." It was followed by performances as the Countess at the San Francisco Opera in autumn 1972, while her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1974 as Desdemona in Otello took place on short notice, replacing an ill Teresa Stratas at the last minute.
In subsequent years, she performed at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Paris Opera, Sydney Opera House, the Vienna State Opera, La Scala, San Francisco Opera, Munich and Cologne, adding the Mozart roles of Donna Elvira, Pamina, and Fiordiligi, in addition to Italian roles such as Mimi in La bohème. She played Donna Elvira in Joseph Losey's 1979 film adaptation of Don Giovanni.
Te Kanawa has a particular affinity for the heroines of Richard Strauss. Her first appearance in the title role in Arabella was at the Houston Grand Opera in 1977, followed by the roles of the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier and the Countess in Capriccio. Many performances were given under the baton of Georg Solti and it was with him that she made her first recording of Figaro.
Te Kanawa retired from the opera stage after her performances in Samuel Barber's Vanessa with the Washington National Opera and the Los Angeles Opera in November/December 2004, but she still performs in concert halls.
UK talk show host Michael Parkinson asked her to name the person she felt was the greatest singer that ever lived. She replied: "The young Elvis Presley, without any doubt."
Honours
Kiri Te Kanawa was conferred a Dame Commander of The Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1982, invested as an Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1990 and awarded the prestigious Order of New Zealand (ONZ) in the 1995 Queen's Birthday Honours List. She has also received honorary degrees from the following universities in the UK: Cambridge, Dundee, Durham, Nottingham, Oxford, Sunderland, Warwick as well as these universities worldwide: Chicago, Auckland and Waikato as well as being honorary fellow of Somerville College, Oxford and Wolfson College, Cambridge. She is also patron of Ringmer Community College, a school in the South-East of England.
Controversy
Te Kanawa has always been popular among New Zealanders, but in a 2003 interview with the Melbourne-based Herald Sun she was critical of the high rate of welfare dependence among the Māori people, angering some of her compatriots.
Te Kanawa has recently been taken to court by Leading Edge for cancelling a concert with Australian singer John Farnham after learning that his fans sometimes threw their underwear on stage, which he would then proudly display. She won this breach-of-contract lawsuit, in part because no binding contract was made, but over $100,000 in court costs were awarded against the Mittane holding company which employs and manages Te Kanawa.
Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation
Kiri founded the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation with the vision "that talented young New Zealand singers and musicians with complete dedication to their art may receive judicious and thoughtful mentoring and support to assist them in realising their dreams."
The Foundation manages a trust fund to provide financial and career scholarships to young New Zealand singers and musicians.
I Got the Sun in the Morning
Kiri Te Kanawa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Taking stock of what I have and what I haven't
What do I find?
The things I got will keep me satisfied
Checking up on what I have and what I haven't
What do I find?
A healthy balance on the credit side
[1st refrain:]
Got no diamond, got no pearl
Still I think I'm a lucky girl
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night
Got no mansion, got no yacht
Still I'm happy with what I've got
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night
Sunshine gives me a lovely day
Moonlight gives me the Milky Way
Got no checkbooks, got no banks
Still I'd like to express my thanks
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night
And with the sun in the morning
And the moon in the evening
I'm all right
[2nd refrain:]
Got no butler, got no maid
Still I think I've been overpaid
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night
-I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night
Got no silver, got no gold
What I got can't be bought or sold
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night
-I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night
Sunshine gives me a lovely day
Moonlight gives me the Milky Way
Got no heirlooms for my kin
Made no will but when I cash in
I leave the sun in the morning and the moon at night
And with the sun in the morning
And the moon in the evening they're all right
[3rd refrain:]
Got no mansion, got no yacht
Still I'm happy with what I've got
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night
Got no silver, got no gold
What I got can't be bought or sold
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night
Sunshine gives me a lovely day
Moonlight gives me the Milky Way
Got no checkbooks, got no banks
Still I'd like to express my thanks
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night
And with the sun in the morning
And the moon in the evening
I'm all right
In Kiri Te Kanawa's song "I Got the Sun in the Morning," the lyrics convey a message of gratitude and contentment with the simple joys and blessings in life. The singer reflects on what they have and haven't acquired, realizing that the things they possess are enough to keep them satisfied. The first verse presents a moment of self-reflection, where they take stock of their life and find a healthy balance on the positive side.
The first refrain begins by acknowledging that the singer may not have extravagant possessions like diamonds or pearls, but they consider themselves lucky nonetheless. They find solace in having the sun in the morning and the moon at night, emphasizing that nature's beauty brings them great joy. The sunlight represents the start of a lovely day, while the moonlight showcases the vastness of the universe with the Milky Way. The absence of checkbooks and banks implies they may not have financial wealth, but they still express gratitude for the intangible gifts they receive.
The second refrain builds upon this theme of gratitude and fulfillment. Despite lacking a butler, a maid, silver, or gold, the singer believes they have been overpaid in life. Their riches lie in the presence of the sun in the morning and the moon at night. The refrain reinforces the connection between nature's cycles and their sense of well-being. They continue to appreciate the sunshine for brightening their days and the moonlight for illuminating their nights. The absence of heirlooms and will also highlights their focus on cherishing the present moment rather than accumulating material possessions.
The third and final refrain reiterates the themes of contentment and appreciation. The singer emphasizes their happiness with what they have, despite not having a mansion or a yacht. They acknowledge that the things they possess are invaluable and cannot be bought or sold. Once again, they express gratitude for the sun in the morning and the moon at night, recognizing the beauty and wonder these natural elements bring into their life. The refrain concludes with the affirmation that with the presence of the sun in the morning and the moon in the evening, everything is alright.
Overall, "I Got the Sun in the Morning" is a song that reminds us to find joy and gratitude in the simple pleasures and natural wonders that surround us, rather than focusing on material wealth or possessions.
Line by Line Meaning
Taking stock of what I have and what I haven't
Reflecting on the things that I possess and the things that I don't
What do I find?
What do I discover?
The things I got will keep me satisfied
The possessions I have will bring contentment to me
Checking up on what I have and what I haven't
Examining the things that I own and the things that I don't
What do I find?
What do I come across?
A healthy balance on the credit side
A favorable situation in terms of financial resources
Got no diamond, got no pearl
I don't possess any precious gems or jewelry
Still I think I'm a lucky girl
Nevertheless, I consider myself fortunate
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night
I have the glory of the sun during the day and the beauty of the moon during the night
Got no mansion, got no yacht
I don't own a grand house or a luxurious boat
Still I'm happy with what I've got
However, I am content with what I possess
Sunshine gives me a lovely day
The brightness of the sun provides me with a wonderful day
Moonlight gives me the Milky Way
The radiance of the moon reveals the beauty of the Milky Way
Got no checkbooks, got no banks
I lack checkbooks and bank accounts
Still I'd like to express my thanks
Nevertheless, I want to express my gratitude
And with the sun in the morning
And having the sun in the morning
And the moon in the evening
And the moon in the evening
I'm all right
I am content and satisfied
Got no butler, got no maid
I don't have a butler or a maid
Still I think I've been overpaid
Yet, I believe that I have received more than I deserve
Got no silver, got no gold
I possess no silver or gold
What I got can't be bought or sold
What I have cannot be purchased or traded
Got no heirlooms for my kin
I have no valuable possessions to pass down to my family
Made no will but when I cash in
I haven't made a will, but when I die
I leave the sun in the morning and the moon at night
I will leave behind the beauty of the sun in the morning and the moon at night
And with the sun in the morning
And having the sun in the morning
And the moon in the evening they're all right
And the moon in the evening, everything will be fine
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Donald Blackmore
on Tarakihi (The Locust)
Beautiful