Dame Kiri to receive Lifetime Achievement award

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Photo / Martin Sykes

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Classical Brits.

The 65 year-old soprano, who has been entertaining audiences for more than 40 years, told the Daily Telegraph she was "honoured and delighted" to receive the award.

Mark Wilkinson and Barry McCann, co-chairmen of the Classical Brit Awards Committee, said it was a "fitting tribute to one of the greatest sopranos of our time".

The 11th annual Classical Brit Awards will be held on May 13 at the Royal Albert Hall.

Dame Kiri is also due to launch a "reality radio" BBC show in a bid to find up-and-coming opera stars.

- NZHERALD STAFF