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.
Salina Fisher: personal music for a worldwide audience
Composer Salina Fisher is composer-in-residence at the inaugural At the World’s Edge Festival in Central Otago. Five of her compositions feature in Festival programmes.
Julien van Mellaerts - home and away
Baritone Julien van Mellaerts includes a song cycle commissioned from Gareth Farr and Bill Manhire in his new album of art songs called Songs of Travel and Home.
John Psathas: Voices at the End
John Psathas wrote Voices at the End for six grand pianos to communicate a heartfelt message about our world. For the premiere he had a “dream team”.
Violinist Wilma Smith - chamber music with friends
Violinist Wilma Smith is in New Zealand for a chamber music tour and the annual Martinborough Music Festival. The Delta outbreak has her plans in flux but she’s still smiling.
Tony Yan Tong Chen - Homecoming
Young New Zealand pianist Tony Yan Tong Chen displays his range and virtuosity on a new album of music by Liszt, Mozart, Tan Dun, John Psathas and Prokofiev.
Call of the Huia - old songs made new
A rediscovery project by Michael Vinten collecting previously unavailable New Zealand art songs is attracting the attention of singers and teachers.
Stroma celebrates its 20th anniversary
An interview with composer Michael Norris, co-director of Stroma, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a concert of music from Aotearoa New Zealand and the world.
Who’s afraid of big bad opera?
A new opera for children, RED! by New Zealander Lucy Mulgan, delights the Wellington audience.
A tale of two pianists
Two very different piano recitals by exciting young New Zealand pianists recently offered thought-provoking contrasts.
Bells and whistles
LANDFALL, a new Rattle album of New Zealand percussion music performed by Justin DeHart, is curated for variety and contrast.
Musical soulmates
Melanie Lançon, Bede Hanley and Stephen de Pledge are on a ten-centre tour for Chamber Music NZ with a trio programme called “Fantasy and Romance”.
Jazz oasis
Sanctuary by saxophonist/composers Jasmine Lovell-Smith and Jake Baxendale is a recent jazz release that shows off their fine rapport and different compositional flavours.
The conductor’s art
Gemma New visited New Zealand recently to conduct the NZSO and National Youth Orchestra in music by Gareth Farr, Stravinsky and Shostakovich. She brought both musical understanding and composing skill to the podium.
RNZ Concert’s new Manager: passion for music and radio
RNZ Concert’s new Manager has a passion for New Zealand music and radio. She wants more people to enjoy what Concert has to offer.
Inspired by a frozen continent
Composer Ihlara McIndoe’s new work for the NZSO NYO, Ephemeral Bounds, was inspired by the sounds she found in Antarctica.
When the curtain suddenly falls
What does it really mean to the performing arts when the curtain comes down without notice?
Richard Nunns - breathing life into singing treasures
A personal tribute to Richard Nunns, pioneering specialist in performance on taonga pūoro, who died this month.
Stars align
Gareth Farr is enormously proud of his new work for the NZSO, Ngā Hihi o Matariki (The Rays of Matariki).
Artistry in virtuosity
Amalia Hall dazzled the audience with her performance in Paganini’s 2nd Violin Concerto with Orchestra Wellington. It was much more than virtuosity.
Taking us to New York City
Pianist Somi Kim makes her Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra debut this week in George Gershwin’s jazz-infused Piano Concerto in F.