Dame Kiri wins axed concerts case

Dame Kiri withdrew from three concerts in 2005

Opera star Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has won a court case in Australia after she cancelled a 2005 tour because of fears she would be bombarded with underwear.

The 63-year-old singer cancelled shows with Australian rock star John Farnham after seeing a concert DVD where he caught underwear thrown by fans.

The concert promoter sued for A$2m (£815,000), claiming it had lost money on publicity costs and ticket sales.

A judge rejected the claim saying no contract had been finalised.

The opera star and Farnham had been scheduled to perform together in 2005 at three concerts, dubbed Two Great Voices.

Following Dame Kiri's withdrawal, promoters Leading Edge Events sued the singer, her former agent Nick Grace and his company for breach of contract.

But New South Wales Supreme Court Judge Patricia Bergin ruled that while there were emails in which venues, fees and air tickets for the proposed concerts were discussed, no firm commitment was made.

Embarrassed

Dame Kiri previously told the court that footage of Farnham's 2003 farewell tour had left her shocked and embarrassed.

The DVD showed Farnham collecting the knickers thrown at him by fans and holding them up like some sort of "trophy".

"How could I, in my classical form, perform in this way?" Dame Kiri told the court in February.

Leading Edge said it had spent more than A$380,000 (£155,000) on preparations for the concerts, only to find that Dame Kiri's agent former, Mr Grace, knew the singer was wavering on the performances but had failed to pass on the information.

Judge Bergin ordered Mattane, the company that employed Dame Kiri, to pay Leading Edge A$128,063 (£52,000) for costs incurred.