Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is to retire from giving operatic performances after 40 years.
She has told British newspaper the Daily Telegraph she finds performing too exhausting and believes opera is mainly for younger people.
Dame Kiri, 65, will take on the role of the Duchess of Krakenthorpa, in Donizetti's La Fille du Regiment, at New York's Metropolitan Opera in February.
Her swansong will be in the German city of Cologne, in April next year, where she will play the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier by Strauss.
Opera magazine editor John Allison told Morning Report the role is one Dame Kiri made her own and is both challenging and apt.
Dami Kiri will not give up singing altogether and will continue to tour.
She has shows planned for later this year in Sydney, Beijing, Spain and the United States.
