Kiri Te Kanawa, Ulster Hall

This year's Belfast Festival reached its climax last night with an evening of class.

New Zealand-born soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa joined the Ulster Orchestra at the Ulster Hall for a two-hour extravaganza.

The veteran musicians, conducted by Julian Reynolds, prepared the stage for Dame Kiri with the overture from The Magic Flute.

Then the lady herself swept out, resplendent in a coral pink ball gown and looking rather pleased with herself.

Turns out she's a rugby fan, and had delayed her departure from her homeland until the All Blacks had triumphed in the World Cup.

“I'm sorry you lost,” she added with a giggle.

Consequently, from the hectic travel arrangements, she was suffering from “a small infection”.

You wouldn't have noticed.

As Te Kanawa unleashed her 67-year-old vocal cords on a Mozart aria, the room was rapt.

The chanteuse's trademark clear diction was in effect, though her projection was |perhaps not what it once| was. Still, the near-capacity |audience revelled in her warm tones.

Te Kanawa was then joined by Newry baritone Ben McAteer, the winner of NI Opera's inaugural vocal competition. The pair – who will present an opera masterclass at the Elmwood Hall today at 10am – sang a duet from The Magic Flute.

Renditions of George Gershwin's Summertime and By Strauss ended the night on a high.