Five Lines is a collection of writings about music in Aotearoa New Zealand by Elizabeth Kerr. It features short articles, artist profiles and reviews of concerts, operas and albums. You can subscribe - it’s free - at the bottom of any story.
Four Last Songs: NZTrio and soprano Emma Pearson in marvellous musical accord
NZTrio with guest Emma Pearson delivered a crackling concert of varied repertoire, including Strauss's Four Last Songs arranged by NZ composer Salina Fisher.
NZSO’s Four Seasons: Kuusisto’s virtuosic showmanship wins the audience prize
Conductor/violinist Pekka Kuusisto entertained the NZSO audience with his inventive performance of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Can showmanship go too far?
A European concert diary: festivals, concert halls, and musical stars
A musical diary of a month in Europe in September 2025, visiting concert halls and festivals and enjoying performances by top conductors, orchestras and soloists.
NZSO’s Stabat Mater: Victoria Kelly’s profound and moving new work
The NZSO’s recent Stabat Mater concerts presented Rossini’s operatic setting of the text and the world premiere of a new Stabat Mater by Victoria Kelly.
The Monster is coming: NZ Opera’s thrilling community opera
NZ Opera’s community production, The Monster in the Maze, brings a Pacific flavour to the ancient Greek story of how Theseus slew the Minotaur and saved the youth of Athens.
A Masked Ball from Wellington Opera: splendid singing in an imaginative production
Wellington Opera’s A Masked Ball by Verdi featured an outstanding cast of New Zealand singers, inventive and stylish design and direction and fine chorus and orchestral work.
Immerse Festival: NZSO’s next Music Director reveals his strengths
André de Ridder conducted the NZSO in its Immerse Festival concerts, including Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Papatūānuku by Salina Fisher and Jerome Kavanagh Poutama.
The Ghost Piano Trio: subtlety and musical rapport
The Ghost Piano Trio, on tour for Chamber Music New Zealand, brought a thoughtfully curated programme to Waikanae Music Society.
Gillian Whitehead’s Mate Ururoa: powerful storytelling with aroha and pride
Gillian Whitehead’s opera Mate Ururoa tells a powerful story of a Māori Captain in the 1st World War, entwining taonga pūoro, western instruments and voices in a moving production.
NZSO National Youth Orchestra: energy and passion in outstanding performances
This NZSO National Youth Orchestra offered fine performances of lush music by Strauss and Rachmaninov and the premiere of glacier, a work of complex textures and timbres by Luka Venter.
Shostakovich: music for troubled times
Marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Shostakovich, New Zealand musicians are playing his music. Does it provide the greatest insight into a major 20th century composer?
The Night Watch: exploring the intimate beauty of darkness
Wellington-based specialist early music ensemble The Night Watch presents “in Darknesse”, the second of a 2025 triptych of concerts exploring the themes of darkness and the human voice.
Anemic Cinema @ the Roxy: Stroma goes to the movies
Contemporary ensemble Stroma has created an adventurous programme of experimental black-and-white film with new and colourful soundtracks for the Lōemis Festival.
Pianist John Chen on tour: French masterpieces played with formidable dynamism
John Chen’s CMNZ tour is bringing a recital programme of French masterpieces from the 19th century to 13 New Zealand centres. His playing is highly accomplished and marvellously expressive.
NZ Opera’s new La Bohème: what’s the enduring appeal of Puccini’s masterpiece?
Why is Puccini’s La Bohème still one of the world’s favourite operas, long after its première in 1896? And why should you not miss NZ Opera’s new production? NZ Opera’s Brad Cohen offers some answers.
Reuben Brown’s journey to the podium: learning from the best
Conductor Reuben Brown is en route to a career on the podium, driven by talent, determination and charm. His mentors include Ken Young, Gemma New, Hamish McKeich, James Judd and Giordano Bellincampi.
The remarkable Amalia Hall: star soloist, concertmaster and chamber musician
Violinist Amalia Hall will join the NZSO for Bartók’s 2nd Violin Concerto. But she’s equally at home as concertmaster or chamber musician and she’s playing all three roles at home and internationally.
NZSO ‘Legends’: Masaaki Suzuki reveals new magic in beloved classics
For the ‘Legends’ concert, the NZSO stayed with the safest of popular programming, but conductor Masaaki Suzuki revealed something special and new about the music.
NZTrio’s Magnifique: variety and virtuosity
NZTrio’s ‘Magnifique’ programme is currently on tour, a wonderful debut for the ensemble’s new line-up. Their winning mix of adventurous repertoire and splendid performances is set to continue.
Maestra Shiyeon Sung: conducting as a transfer of energy
Shiyeon Sung, Principal Guest Conductor of the Auckland Philharmonia, talks about becoming a conductor, her teachers and role models, and her upcoming Auckland concert.