Leo's Pride

Dame Sister Mary Leo was short in stature but a giant in training some of the world's most famous opera singers. This TV One documentary covers her early life as a fun-loving woman, who at the age of 28, joined the Sisters of Mercy, dedicating her life to the Catholic faith. Sister Mary took on a teaching role and turned St Mary's College in Auckland into a hotbed of operatic talent. Former pupils discuss her exacting methods and her fascinating mix of steel and compassion. Dames Kiri Te Kanawa and Malvina Major are interviewed extensively about their first formative singing teacher.

Sister had a brilliant ear for sound. She had a concept of what the sound should be and she would work towards that, and her way of doing it was to draw the voice out of a person, it was just so extraordinary...

– Former St Mary's pupil Luisa Shannahan talks about Sister Mary Leo's teaching techniques

Key Cast & Crew

Catherine Wilkin

As: Sister Mary Leo

Malvina Major

Subject

Yvonne Mackay

Director

John Bach

Narrator

Kiri Te Kanawa

Subject

Rosemary Fullerton-Smith

Producer