Madam, - I was disappointed with Kiri Te Kanawa's performance at the National Concert Hall last Tuesday. She was tired, the voice sounded jaded, and the evening was generally boring. The performance began at 8pm, the interval was at 8.45pm and the programme finished at 9.30, to the surprise of the audience. After a little coaxing, Kiri returned to sing Danny Boy, and a few more arias. There was little warmth between the opera singer and her audience. Towards the end of the show, she mumbled a few words of endearment. I got the impression that the end of the performance couldn't come fast enough for her.
I attend most of the Opera Gala performances in the NCH during the year, and they are usually wonderful, with great artists from all over the world performing superbly. I felt this was a disappointing evening, with a hurried performance. - Yours, etc,
MARY TOBIN, Kew Park Avenue, Lucan, Co Dublin.