Kiri Tekanawa: The Figaro Aria That Stopped Covent Garden | Opera Legend | S1 E5

A single aria in 1971 froze the Royal Opera House in its tracks. What led to that thunderous ovation for Kiri Tekanawa’s Countess in The Marriage of Figaro? From nine Covent Garden auditions to a formative summer in Santa Fe, this episode traces how a “wild, undisciplined” talent became a model of poise. We revisit the night applause wouldn’t end, the last‑minute Met breakthrough as Desdemona, and a luminous Mimi opposite Pavarotti. Along the way: the pivotal guidance of Sir George Scholte, a definitive Figaro recording, and a West Side Story session where Leonard Bernstein set the tempo on the spot. Fame then went global with Let the Bright Seraphim at the 1981 royal wedding, followed by clashes that reveal her steel, a foundation championing young voices, and a playful Downton Abbey cameo. Discover why colleagues still call that sound “creamy” and “immaculate,” and which roles—Mozart to Strauss—fans insist define her legend. Watch to the end for the moment that explains her decision to step aside for “fresh voices.” Watch the full story now and hear the aria that changed everything. #KiriTekanawa #Opera #RoyalOperaHouse #MarriageOfFigaro #Pavarotti #Bernstein #RoyalWedding