News that Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is to retire from the opera stage after her final performance as the Marschallin in Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier in Koln April 2010 will be met with understanding by opera-lovers - albeit, tinged with some sadness. She herself, at 65 years young admits that opera is exhausting work.

For the last 40 years, her glorious voice has delighted audiences worldwide and we're happy to know that she will still be giving recitals and touring.

Her public also will be reassured to hear that she intends to continue with her work in training the opera stars of tomorrow through the Solti Academy and the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation.

Here she presents one of our favourite performances of one of our favourite pieces: Nell by Fauré: