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.
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.