Tonight's Dame Kiri Te Kanawa recital sold out

One of the world’s most acclaimed singers, legendary New Zealand soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, is in Rotorua today to perform her only 2012 North Island recital.

But if you haven't already secured a seat you are out of luck as tickets for tonight’s performance at the Civic Theatre sold out within 48 hours of going on sale last year.

The international opera star is appearing in concert tonight with New Zealand tenor Ben Makisi and will be accompanied by pianist Terence Dennis.

Dame Kiri, who performed in Rotorua in 2000 in the Lakeside ‘Knight with a Dame’ outdoor concert with the late Sir Howard Morrison, said she had been looking forward to coming back to the city.

“I am delighted to be returning to Rotorua for the recital - I have many pleasant memories of previous concerts there.”

Rotorua’s success in attracting Dame Kiri follows months of behind-the-scenes work and negotiations by local performing arts enthusiasts and promoters Ian Edward and Grahame Hall.

Dame Kiri was born in Tokomaru Bay in 1944. She was later adopted by Tom Te Kanawa, a haulage contractor, and his wife Nell.

She was educated at Central School, St Mary’s Primary School in Gisborne and St Mary’s College in Auckland, where Kiri became a pupil of the legendary singing teacher Dame Sister Mary Leo.

Her mother had recognised her daughter’s vocal talent and was determined to encourage it. She entered her into musical competitions in Gisborne and elsewhere, then moved the family to Auckland when Kiri was 12 for her voice to be further developed.

By the time she was 20 Kiri had won major prizes and had embarked on a recording career.

After winning the John Court Aria Prize and the Mobil Song Quest, Kiri shot to stardom in New Zealand and was accepted without audition to study at the London Opera Centre in 1965.

Her first major success was in 1971, as the lead soprano the Countess, in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.

Unknown in the world of opera, she was a huge overnight success and rapidly became an important figure in the leading opera houses of the world.

In 1981, as soloist at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, Kiri sang to a direct telecast audience estimated to be more than 600 million people worldwide.

Her outdoor concert in Auckland in 1990 attracted a record crowd of 140,000.

Created a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1982, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has been conferred with honorary degrees from many universities in England, America and New Zealand. She was awarded the prestigious Order of New Zealand in 1995.

Still a New Zealander, she lives in London but enjoys coming home to New Zealand to visit her Bay of Islands property.