Curtain for a great Dame

She's sung with the luminaries of the world's great opera houses but, when asked to name the greatest singer that ever lived, soprano Dame Kiri te Kanawa responded: "The young Elvis Presley, without any doubt."

Caustic critic Bernard Levin - who'd named a pillow after her - was so enamored at one concert that, by intermission, he'd forgotten the name of his lady companion.

Those with pampered cochlea say the voice is not as creamy as of yore, but Te Kanawa has always been regarded as among the beloved and unassuming of divas, and Saturday's Chan Centre performance (moved from the Orpheum) is a sellout (as was last night's show).