Festival director Nicholas McBryde was delighted with the announcement. Dame Kiri had performed in Dunedin before, but her performance at the festival would be her first solo recital in Dunedin.
"It's absolutely a coup. Dame Kiri continues to fill concert halls around the world. This year, she will have performed in America, Finland and many parts of the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain," he said.
"Her appearance at the festival is the only performance she is doing in New Zealand this year."
Dame Kiri, who was honoured yesterday with the lifetime achievement award at the Classical Brits, has chosen to perform at the Dunedin Town Hall on October 16 with Dunedin pianist Prof Terence Dennis, a lecturer in piano in the University of Otago music department.
"Terence is world class," she said. "I acknowledge and admire his advice, and his musical integrity is second to none. We work together with great satisfaction."
Mr McBryde declined to name other acts in this year's 10-day festival, which starts on October 8.
The full line-up would be revealed at the festival launch on August 13, he said.
