Kiri Te Kanawa 1944–
World Famous Singer
One of the most famous New Zealanders in the world today is singer Kiri Te Kanawa. Te Kanawa shot to stardom in 1971 when she appeared at the Royal Opera House in London. She sang the part of the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart. Audiences loved her and the critics raved about her. Almost overnight, Te Kanawa went from being a young unknown to a star of the opera world.
Te Kanawa was born in Gisborne, a small town in New Zealand. Her father was Maori and her mother, Irish. She studied voice in college and won singing contests in New Zealand and Australia. Then she moved to London to continue her training. Since 1971, Te Kanawa has sung all over the world and has made many recordings.
In addition to opera, she sings classical and sacred music, popular songs, and show tunes. In 1999, Te Kanawa recorded an album of Maori songs from her childhood. She recently started the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation to raise money to help young singers and musicians pursue their careers.
Critical Thinking
Why do you think Te Kanawa recorded an album of Maori songs?