Dame Kiri (70) is in town for her concert An Evening with Dame Kiri at the Dunedin Town Hall tomorrow night, and despite fighting a persistent cold and feeling a little tired, the opera great is still in fine form.
A New Zealand Herald reviewer said her recent concert in the Aotea Centre took the audience on a ''lyrical and dramatic journey, evoking memories of her early career on the way''.
And a Sydney Morning Herald reviewer said: ''Combine the voice with a deep musical intelligence ... add an adventurous choice of repertoire and a generous stage presence, and you end up with a recital that nears perfection''.
Following the tour, Dame Kiri said she looked forward to performing several Jake Heggie works, commissioned for her to perform at the Ravinia Festival, in Chicago.
She also has shows booked in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Finland, Paris and Spain later this year.
''My retirement has been grossly exaggerated,'' the soprano said. In between the concert engagements, she plans to go on a cruise around Scotland, judge at some music competitions, and have a documentary filmed about her life, for New Zealand television.
''It's about me, on a grand scale. It's a history of my life.''
While in Dunedin, Dame Kiri said she hoped to visit Dunedin's Royal Albatross Colony and take a trip to Oamaru.
''I'd like to drive over to Oamaru - it's so beautiful.
''I love the South Island and I haven't seen enough of it.''
When asked if she had plans to do anything else while in Dunedin, she politely affirmed: ''No, that's enough''.
The Dunedin Town Hall concert is Dame Kiri's only South Island show on her Gala Tour.
She will perform a selection of her favourite arias and songs, accompanied by Dunedin pianist Terence Dennis.
For 11-year-old Invercargill singer Emma Jones, the concert will provide an unexpected opportunity to meet her musical idol.
Emma sent an email to Dame Kiri, asking if they could meet after the concert and have their photo taken together.
Dame Kiri has agreed, and Emma is ''over the moon''.
