Kiri Te Kanawa coming back to NZ for arts fest

  • 22/10/2015
Kiri Te Kanawa (3News)
Kiri Te Kanawa (3News)
For the first time in two decades, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is heading back to Kiwi shores.

She will be headlining the 30th NZ Festival which will take over Wellington for three weeks from February 26 next year.

There will be 53 shows across the city including performances by local act The Chills, jazz icon Wynton Marsalis, indie band Calexico, cabaret by Hawksley Workman and Swiss-based Compagnia Finzi Pasca who is bringing the work of Salvador Dali to life through acrobatics.

Dance buffs might be more interested in performances by late choreographer Pina Bausch's company Tanztheater Wuppertal, or the Royal Ballet's contemporary dance medley Speed of Light.

The free-to-attend Contact Festival Playground in Frank Kitts Park is also sure to delight, hosting the parent-powered junkyard fairground Arquitecutra de Feria.

The playground features vintage motorbikes seats on a merry-go-round and toilet bowl seats on a Ferris wheel.

Go to festival.co.nz for the full schedule.