Dame Kiri Te Kanawa sings "O, Holy Night"

[@AllenJones-w3p]

The now-retired Dame Kiri is one of the greatest opera singers of all time, and this classic carol is a superb showcase for her artistry.

[@propman3523]

Perhaps the most moving of all the Christmas carols. Her performance is perfection.

[@johnschuh8616]

She remembers it is a hymn! Lovely woman,

[@garethifan1034]

A glorious God exalting carol gloriously sung by the great Kiri..

[@munequitodeebano3920]

She is one of my favorite lyrics sopranos of all times. What a beautiful voice.

[@natalieborino9813]

I’m singing this tomorrow at Christmas Eve service at our church and stumbled across her rendition as I search for inspiration. Gorgeous singing and reaffirms for me to perform it with minimal ornamentation. It’s so gorgeous just as is.

[@IvanIvanov-vy7pt]

Pls tell us how it went?

[@robjordan872]

What a great voice for a great hymn❤

[@shin-i-chikozima]

Her beautiful and graceful and wonderful and gorgeous singing voice is out of this world. Her sacred song will quench and moisturize your parched soul and heal sorrow and bring immeasurable pleasure and profound impression and unlimited admiration

[@pmajudge]

SUPER GREAT !!! DAME KIRI TE KANAWA . SPOT ON !!!!! THANKS FROM U.K. (2022).

[@esmihijo17]

Such a beautifully controlled rendition of this oft-sung carol. No flamboyance, no unwanted riffs, just wonderful and reverential. Thanks Kiri

[@spikespa5208]

Controlled. Really could not have said it better. Straight forward and true to the piece.

[@kylehancock1458]

Actually, she scoops fairly often.

[@the1992mercedes]

In one of my comments on another piece by Dame Kiri I noted that I saw her the night she won the Mobil Song Quest when she was only 19.The most wonderful performance of hers that I have ever seen.Perhaps you will now understand why we New Zealanders are so proud of Dame Kiri and the Maori people.

[@dalman82]

Sung with reverence as it should be not as many others who just want to showcase their voices. Thank you Dame Kiri.

[@trudidolder6122]

Fred Dalkeith Many singers have the need to make it better then the composer wrote it. That upsets me greatly.

[@kalchgrubernorma]

​@@trudidolder6122😮

[@roscomeon3965]

What a stupid ignorant comment

[@essychoi9953]

One of my favourite Christmas songs is O Holy Night. Kiri’s voice is creamy and velvety and beautiful. Her “spinto“ voice, that the pronunciation and voice is focused and forward, is excellent. I love her voice dearly. Many people complemented me that my voice is similar like hers. It is God’s blessing to hear her singing. Simply fantastic!

[@davegreene8588]

One of the _purest_ spinto soprano voices since Tebaldi's.

[@mari3489]

Ah Kiri, thank you for the music 🎉🎉

[@delilahscott5753]

Thus was a perfect rendition of the O Holy Night. She hit the 2nd high note perfectly. Sent chills up my spine. So beautifully done.😮 4:49

[@thedolphin5428]

She didnt actually hit it -- she slid up to it very slightly.

[@vocalpianist]

My very favorite christmas song, ever. Sung beautifully. Thank you so so so much. Really, she is glorious.

[@gaylegerard3734]

My favorite Maori. My favorite soprano. A beautiful woman and an amazing voice.

[@soulmach]

I cannot understand anyone discounting this performance on a basis of emotion. The warmth within this musical composition is emotional enough itself, and perhaps Kanawa is letting the music do the talking. The pure tone in her voice, the music, and the way this traditional composition is being performed so elegantly and perfectly should be enough. I am listening to the wholeness of the music instead of scrutinizing her emotions.

[@martythetickler]

I'm not surprised I've got goosebumps. I'm listening to the greatest singer ever to come out of New Zealand.

[@te_piriti9220]

BrokenWolf - I am pleased that you get so much pleasure from Dame Kiri (as do I) but she is not indisputably "the greatest singer" to come out of New Zealand. She is undoubtedly "a great singer" from New Zealand but there are others. Dame Malvina Major is a contemporary of Kiri and it is no accident she is also a Dame. If you want to hear a truly great female voice from New Zealand however listen to Frances Alda singing O Mio Babbino Caro recorded in 1919. Even through the poor recording of the time her voice absolutely stuns. Then listen to Dame Malvina and Dame Kiri singing the same part recorded with all the benefits of modern technology in comparison.

[@joyciejd9673]

And the world thanks New Zealand for the gift of Dame Kiri

[@davegreene8588]

Of a different "fach", there's also the great pop bass, John Rowles (qv.)

[@martythetickler]

@Scott Purcell They don't sing opera.

[@davidallen508]

That was Mina Foley according to Dame Sister Mary Leo who told me so herself.

[@jamesings]

Stunningly beautiful and this is a spiritual song so does not need to show off the voice like others. Her voice gave me tears.

[@김현애-w4u]

❤❤❤

[@peterlarsen1000]

What a great and charming lady and absolutely one of my most favorite singers. Mrs. Rosa Larsen

[@brendajordan178]

A beautiful singer with every word clear & understandable which is unusual now

[@mhwharp]

Dame Kiri is a treasure and people can say anything that they wish about her singing, regardless of how stupid it is. It does not change one single note that comes from that beautiful voice.

[@saxamaphoneguy1]

This is so incredible, I'm so thrilled I could see this. Never before have I heard this song done so truthfully and sincerely, exactly sang like it should be sung. Dame Kiri is an incredible woman with an extraordinary talent

[@markherron1407]

Happy Birthday to Adolphe Adam REST IN POWER Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

[@russiawlove33]

So smooth. She doesn't need to crescendo the high notes because she has the power to back the notes up, which is more than I can say for others. One of my favorite Christmas songs and singers.

[@mickey1849]

What "Power"? This song sounds better when the tempo is picked up and the diction is super clear. Try Mario Lanza's version, if you really want to know what "power" is.

[@christina1597]

Troll. 😂 You’re confusing emotional power created through the singer’s technique with physical power, but as I said, you’re a troll, so what would you know? Didn’t see you comment on any other equally complimentary comments.

[@mickey1849]

@@christina1597 I'm not a troll, knucklehead. Why would a troll be here vetting an extremely old recording by a retired singer? I'm highly educated and have an experienced ear. Let's analyze the above sentence we are discussing carefully. Here it is: "She doesn't need to crescendo the high notes because she has the POWER (emphasis added) to back the notes up, which is more than I can say for others." You then claim I'm a troll, and make the specious claim that I am confusing emotional power with physical power. Here, we see the word "crescendo" and then the "power to back the notes up." I've never heard of backing notes up with emotional power. If @RussiaWLove was really making such a claim I believe she would have made that clear in her statement. Instead, what she is saying is Ms. Te Kanawa doesn't need to push the note unusually hard with a physical crescendo because the physical power she is holding the note with is already impressive and enough. What you are doing, is instead of making a reasoned argument you are arbitrarily changing the subject to some crackpot theory of your own making, then excoriating me because apparently I'm just too dumb and a troll to grasp your crackpot, made-on-the-fly, jive-ass excuse for a "theory." In a nutshell, you represent everything that is going wrong in this country at the moment. You think you can be anybody's intellectual equal by changing the subject on the fly and then jumping around like you're in a game of dodge-ball. You are a simple-minded cretin, is what you are. Throwing out a hocus-pocus lie and then defending it with more ridiculous lies. Bravo!👏 I never said the rendition of the song was bad. I just questioned, where's all the so-called "power"? Again, if you really want to hear this song sung with physical power, I highly recommend you listen to Mario Lanza's version. Now that's power!👋

[@christina1597]

@@mickey1849 Aww, right back at you, knucklehead, since you want to call people out of their names. I’m a simple-minded, jive-ass cretin, a knucklehead, a crackpot, and a liar who thinks she’s smarter than everyone else (I’m definitely not, but I hope I’m smarter now than I was a decade ago) who is creating theories about a comment I myself made on a video 11 years ago with my other KZbin account (@Russiawlove) and I’m the reason or cause for what’s wrong in this country (assuming you mean the US, but I could be wrong). You got a lot of out one comment! Impressive. And no, before you say it, calling you out as a “troll” isn’t calling you out of your name. It’s calling you what you are because I sense that you really enjoy responding to old comments on old videos and getting to show off your superior knowledge, probably because on the inside you’re a hurt little boy and no one else will listen to you (their loss - sounds like you have a lot to share with the world. I’d be interested to hear more) and it’s easy to tear people down on the internet. After all, you don’t have to actually interact with them, so it gives you a nice platform to let off steam, say nasty things to them that you wouldn’t say to their face for fear of exposing your own vulnerabilities, AND you get to hide behind a screen name so no one knows who you really are! It makes me feel quite sad for you 😖 Anyways, to the matter at hand. Lovely response - well written and thought out, especially with the attack about obfuscation, theorizing about what I meant in my comment, because Lord knows I’m too stupid and uneducated to know what I meant, and changing the subject, etc. - but with all that vitriol and belligerence (not necessary, by the way, but I hope it made you feel good) all you did was make yourself sound like a sad, pompous jerk who is upset that I won’t kowtow to his immense intelligence, as we should, that he’s so willing to parade in front of everyone, even more so because you’re responding to a comment I made 11 years ago on my old account when I knew far less about music than I do now! Now I still like Kiri Te Kanawa. I still think she has great skill - skill that I will never have as a singer, no matter how much I study or try to hone my craft, but I know my limitations and I have a great deal of respect and admiration for her as an artist. I’m actually more familiar with Mario Lanza, since you want to compare things that aren’t quite “apples to apples,” as they say, and I enjoy his work and have a great deal of admiration for him as well, although he’s not a favorite. To each their own. However, it sounded like you didn’t understand what I was saying at the time, so apologies for not being clear enough for you and using poor vocabulary, as well as for my comment being too ignorant for someone with your refined taste and level of intelligence. I am, as you say, a jive-ass knucklehead-crackpot-liar who comes up with theories about what I meant when I commented on a video years ago after all, so what else would you expect? 🤷🏻‍♀️ I hope you continue to have a happy Christmas season, and a very Happy New Year! I wish you the best! PS - you didn’t need to edit your comment at the end to make it sound like you’re actually trying to helpful. It takes all the sting out of your insults!

[@mickey1849]

@@christina1597 Good grief. I just couldn't read all of that. YOU WIN!🏆

[@michaelbolstridge1300]

Wonderful version my equal favourite with Jussi Bjorling. This is definitely the best Female performance. Beautifully sung xxx

[@russmaleartist]

So glad that I had the opportunity to hear her in concert and to meet her in person. I told her that she was greatly blessed by the Lord with a great gift, and I told her how much I enjoyed hearing her.

[@lialiniawatychristian.]

Merry Christmas brothers and sisters, remain joyful and grateful in this time of the pandemic. God bless us all.

[@ThomasBias]

Probably the finest lyric soprano of her generation. And she's my favorite singer. Not my favorite opera singer, not my favorite soprano, she's my favorite SINGER.

[@lauracastrosaavedra8089]

Me too, 🙏💞

[@justynakoniuszenna7939]

Amazing voice so gently clearly...

[@marilenabiolcati9589]

An angel. Only an angel can sing this song so sweetly! Only an angel 😇

[@christyvolosin6795]

I absolutely love Dame Kiri's voice. She's a Mezzo Soprano like me, and hearing her technique for high notes is helping me hit mine correctly. I had lost some of my range due to not using it for many years, and am now finally getting it back.

[@shin-i-chikozima]

Her Holly Night is beyond description, unfathomable and off the charts , and full of acclaim , emotion and comfortable to the ear, the mind and the soul

[@alex21081977]

Belíssima interpretação; domínio total da voz. Magnífico. Esta é uma das minhas canções preferidas de Natal, porém, nos últimos anos tem me feito chorar, principalmente pelo fato de ver tantas pessoas queridas que fizeram parte da minha, e que partiram desta vida…

[@tommyarthurso3785]

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night Of the dear Savior's birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till he appear'd and the soul felt His worth A thrill of hope The weary world rejoices For yonder breaks A new and glorious morn! Fall on your knees Oh hear the angel voices Oh night divine Oh night when Christ was born Oh night divine, oh night, oh night divine Chains shall He break For the slave is our brother And in His name all oppression shall cease Sweet hymns of joy In grateful chorus raise we Let all within us praise His holy name Christ is the Lord, let ever ever praise Thee Noël, Noël Oh night, Oh night divine Noël, Noël Oh night, Oh night divine Noël, Noël Oh, oh night, oh night divine

[@terrycoogan9604]

Dame Te Kanewa's voice never fails to transport me to a place of great serenity. Listening to her sing is a prayer in and of itself, whether she is singing sacred or secular music.

[@AllenOstrom]

A diva without being a "DIVA". A beautiful voice perfect for this beautiful carol

[@rocklandrockland2680]

What beauty! The song, the singer and the singing. Bless you you Lord Jesus.

[@albertwalsh3536]

The most glorious rendition ever! Sweet straight forward and from the heart! Brava!

[@danielaalexandra5503]

Absolutely gorgeous and wonderful

[@johndavy2762]

Dame Kir sings this carol with such reverence.

[@maureenmccarthy1059]

Brava Dame Kiri

[@elizabethbrown2960]

So beautiful Heaven suddenly stops to hear then focuses even more on increasing Mankind's faith in the Almighty thank you God for the gift of music from your Blessed Holy Spirit

[@octaviaeleonoracosma2353]

Superba şi inegalabila Kiri.....divin cântă...foarte frumoooos...

[@shin-i-chikozima]

3年にも満たない宣教で亡くなっイエスキリストの教えと生誕を2000年に わたって受け継ぎ祝ってきた凄まじい信仰力に感激し打ち震えるばかりです。 クリスマスが来るたびに凄まじい祝福の熱気に圧倒されています。 歴史的な イエスキリストには大変興味を持っています。 亡き大江健三郎さんが歴史上の人物の誰に会いたいか聞かれてイエスキリストだと答えた心がよくわかります。

[@sirgalahad9888]

Wonderful sound, brilliant singing.

[@ЭллаОдариченко]

В Вашем голосе я услышала умиротворение, безграничную нежность и душевную теплоту. Вы прекрасны, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, благодарю Вас сердечно! С любовью к Вашему таланту, Элла.

[@allenmurray7893]

Beautiful rendition, and a fantastic singer.

[@kattyfanclub]

Wonderful singing by SE 0:03 / 4:48 Wonderful singing by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. And Wellcome to Katty Fanclub.

[@andrewrobertson1465]

This makes the hairs on my neck stand. Simply superb!!!

[@PeterSoeWynn]

Just beautiful. Thank you.

[@davidallen508]

Kiri produces a lovely creamy sound but I just don’t feel anything ; Leontyne Price transports me to Heaven every time I listen to her singing O Holy Night ,or indeed anything.

[@tenorlovesasoprano]

yes, Dame Kiri is probably the best of the best. Her voice floats with ease whether it be low, mid, or upper register.

[@benedictdsilva3954]

She's good..in the original key Eb major. But hear Joan Sutherland in Gb major. A bit fast but totally superb

[@johnruggeri843]

Brava I love the silvery tone and even execution.

[@jeanremy5036]

Magnifique 😍

[@suzyroses43]

Sa voix coule comme une source vive , cet air pourtant si difficile pour les soprani et qui met en valeur celle des ténors ( ceci dit sans morgue ni dédain , bien au contraire car je les adore aussi), est ici chanté avec une douceur et une facilité déconcertante.... Merci Dame Kiri Te kanawa vous êtes une pierre précieuse, une véritable lady.

[@RaiKap-qf3jx]

Beautiful.Sung with such reverence.

[@gstammiller5001]

Very tender and devine voice

[@williamdthomas1]

Dame Kiri Te Kenawa is as beautiful as her voice, what a "Darling!"

[@jamesb3699]

Beautiful.

[@illukka]

@damekirilover absolutely stunning performance of an all time great song!

[@JWP452]

Oh God! Kiri's voice is just transcendent!

[@damekirilover]

I just can't wait to share these christmas carols with you! Sung by Dame Kiri, always so beautiful.....though a little bit too early...... Dame-Kiri-Lover

[@angelanoble3050]

The best version by the best suprano❤

[@markyeeee]

so beautiful

[@suver1able]

Goosebumps, every time!

[@brianswanson9881]

Gave me goosebumps. Wonderful.

[@kiwikjk]

Ravishing; blessings on your head for sharing this divine offering!

[@Tracey-v4q]

Such beauty. Clear as a bell. Complete control. Love you forever, Same Kiri.❤

[@tazzie7777]

thoroughly enjoyed this version......go Kiri, you look so gorgeous.

[@johnpage4581]

Many years ago I saw her at the Cliffs pavilion Southend ,she just had a pianist with her ,she was superb.

[@pascalcorazza9972]

I have not heard much of Kiri Te Kenawa, but i found this recording very pleasant. I can see why she is so highly praised. She was actually not bad looking either.

[@wotan10950]

Heavenly! I had the good fortune to see Kiri onstage in New York in some of her great roles: Rosenkavalier, Traviata, Marriage of Figaro, Cosi fan tutte, and a few others. I closed my eyes and thought to myself, you will never hear another sound as beautiful. The only other voice that category was Renee Fleming.

[@emilysheldon2]

You are lucky! I’ve seen her in concert twice, but never in an opera except on video. I just love the creaminess of her voice. It’s never rough.

[@shin-i-chikozima]

Her song brings me comfort and ease and relaxing feelings and unlimited joys

[@brucepowell9252]

Bravo, just bravo.

[@robertomarcucci9876]

Charming!!!

[@lynstoneham]

So beautiful to listen to

[@itslaura1988]

Kiri sounds like an angel.

[@hamefurgid]

Just gorgeous.

[@flyby4u2]

Best O holy night on entire you tube library Deserves millions of views. Liberate the world “ and the soul felt it’s worth”

[@OgemaryNweke]

Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful!!! 💙💙💙💙💙

[@papermason]

Beautiful!

[@aandy51x]

Adore Dame Kiri and what a beautiful rendition of this festive song, love it but also adore the versio by Charlotte Church when she was about 14, its an incredible version please listen to ti im sure you would also like that version as well

[@MrHeesbeen]

When you think that there are only twelve notes in a octave and somebody can take those twelve basic notes an create something beautiful out of them and a few extra ones either side.

[@Fanfanbalibar]

no, an octave includes EIGHT notes , from octavo in latin! Think a lot before writing bullshit

[@joangunning7573]

Brilliant!

[@vocalpianist]

this is my favorite christmas piece of all time. Thank you thank you thank you. Also one of my favorite to sing ;)

[@suegiddins5139]

Praise be to God

[@Loree5669]

@damekirilover Dame Kiri is still my fav opera singer.Ilove Renee Fleming also,"The Dame" send me chills when she sings that voice!

[@janettrzaska7382]

Perfection.

[@goluckysenior8344]

Most bfull Diva and very talented . My favorite .

[@elizabethwallace6856]

What a soloist absolutely brilliant

[@reginaltedbrown]

VERY GOOD !I LOVE HER VOICE !

[@melissagahn]

My father loved her. Rest In Peace Daddy.

[@theblueangel28]

this is perfect

[@ericpatterson6031]

Dame Kiri ... Angel of Music.

[@tonyhibbs1600]

She much more than that. Incredible voice

[@Bulree1]

this is awesome loud..............what a voice....so beautifullllllllllllllll.........opera's back in the 20 th century.....wow

[@saulomatias7811]

Divine.

[@sasaritavigna]

I agree with Urcheon, I love her voice is. Lovely Song. O Holy Night, Santa Noche, referida al nacimiento del niño Jesus. Sarita Vigna Buenos Aires, Argentina

[@sylviawurtz1119]

Very nice and magic !

[@choo1945]

Wonderful !!!

[@sfopera]

What an artist! There's been none greater since her.