Foundation launched in London
Posted on 6 March 2004
An exclusive recital and dinner at Marlborough House marked the UK launch of the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation and helped celebrate Dame Kiri’s 60th birthday as well. One hundred invited guests thoroughly enjoyed the evening, hosted by the Rt Hon Don McKinnon, Secretary General of the Commonwealth.
Marlborough House is the home of the Commonwealth headquarters in London and provided a sumptuous setting for the evening. The lyricist and composer Charles Hart introduced the recital part of the evening and, in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal and HRH Princess Alexandra, Dame Kiri performed a short recital accompanied by Julian Reynolds and with special guest artist Jonathan Lemalu. Video screens then relayed the six messages of support recorded by absent friends of the Foundation (Placido Domingo, Sir Jackie Stewart, Dame Joan Sutherland, Neil Finn, Sir Edmund Hillary and HRH The Prince of Wales) which proved such a highlight of the Auckland Gala Concert.The evening ended with an auction of three special items, which raised nearly £20,000.The event as a whole raised over £80,000.