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.
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Kiri Te Kanawa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
The song "O Little Town of Bethlehem" by Kiri Te Kanawa is a beautiful and reflective hymn that paints an evocative picture of the town of Bethlehem on the night of Jesus' birth. In the opening verse, the singer observes how still and peaceful the town appears in the night, as the stars shine silently above. Yet, in the midst of this tranquility, there is a deeper spiritual importance to Bethlehem, as it is where "the hopes and fears of all the years are met" in the birth of Christ. This verse highlights the contrast between the outward appearance of the town and its profound spiritual significance.
The second verse shifts focus to the night of Jesus' birth itself, as angels keep watch over the world while mortals sleep. The "morning stars" come together to proclaim the holy birth, and the singer adds her own voice to the chorus of praises for God and prayers for peace on earth. The final verse repeats the first, bringing the hymn full circle as the singer once again reflects on the stillness of Bethlehem and the eternal light that shines within it.
Overall, "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a beautiful hymn that captures the contemplative spirit of the Christmas season. It invites listeners to reflect on the profound spiritual significance of Jesus' birth and the peace and hope that it brings to the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Bethlehem, though little known, lays still and tranquil on this very night.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
While you sleep peacefully, the stars silently pass above.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
Amidst the darkness of the quiet town, a divine, never-ending light shines bright.
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
All of humanity's hopes and fears converge on Bethlehem's ground, tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
Mary gives birth to Jesus, and all of creation above gathers to celebrate.
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Angels, full of wondrous love, watch over this night while humans rest in slumber.
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
Morning stars come together to announce the arrival of the Holy One.
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.
All voices lift up praises to the King, offering peace and goodwill to humanity.
Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Bethlehem remains calm and quiet, a witness to the momentous event occurring within its borders.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
The stars continue their motion through the sky, while Bethlehem's residents remain almost oblivious to the extraordinary scene playing out around them.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The quietness and inconspicuousness of Bethlehem belie the eternal, divine light that shines within it.
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Within Bethlehem, all of creation's collective yearning and trepidation culminate on this special, holy night.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Lewis H Redner, Phillip Brooks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
soavemusica
Indeed, it is written: Psalm 92: 1 "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: 2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, 3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound."
E Mitch
wow-absolutely lovely
Richard Cumming-Bruce
Quite simply the most beautiful human voice I've ever heard. Alastair Cook, the England cricketer is in the middle of the screen from 0.19 to 0.26 too.
Tertiary Adjunct
i'm moved to tears
Suo Nagato
Hi .my dear friend , Excellent video and song and performance!!
Thumbs up.......enjoyed +゜:。*゜+ love it....:*･゜ﾟ･*:･'ﾟ☆
I want blessing of Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2016 for you and your family
from Suo
Jack Sprat
And the little lad next to her is mischief personified. He probably had his hand up her dress for her to reach the really high notes.