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.
APO and Cresswell’s Dragspil: a concerto comes home
Classical accordionist James Crabb performs the New Zealand premiere of Lyell Cresswell’s Dragspil with the APO, a work written for Crabb to play at the 1995 BBC Proms.
Victoria Kelly’s Requiem: stretching time
As composer Victoria Kelly prepares for the world premiere of her major work, Requiem, she talks about the personal losses, and the poetry, that were her inspiration.
Psathas’ Leviathan: steel, drums and determination
Humanity’s race to disaster is captured in John Psathas’s high-impact, visceral Leviathan, which will have its NZ premiere with soloist Alexej Gerassimez and Orchestra Wellington this month.
Barley and De Pledge: Dream team
Matthew Barley and Stephen de Pledge are currently touring Aotearoa for Chamber Music New Zealand with a programme of Beethoven, Brahms and other “interesting stuff”.
Hilary Hahn with the NZSO - taking time
Celebrated American violinist Hilary Hahn talks about her early influences, JS Bach and her upcoming concertos with the NZSO.
Lexus Song Quest: celebrating young singers
With the much-anticipated return of the Lexus Song Quest this week after a four year wait, some previous winners recall what the prestigious and career-changing contest meant to them.
Giuseppe Verdi: magical and timeless
Verdi’s “furious and glorious music” will delight many New Zealand audiences and radio listeners with its beauty and contemporary relevance this month. Why is Verdi still so popular?
NZ String Quartet: Into the light
The New Zealand String Quartet is on the road again around New Zealand, presenting the imaginative programmes of its First Light tour in sixteen concerts.
Andrew Beer in Whitehead premiere - going with the tide
Dame Gillian Whitehead’s new work, Tai timu, tai pari, is premiered by the Auckland Philharmonia with their concertmaster Andrew Beer as soloist. It’s not a typical concerto.
Voice of the Whale
Voice of the Whale is an online concert in the 2022 Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts. It includes a performance of Vox Balaenae, a tribute to composer George Crumb who died in February 2022.
21 x 21: not such a “crazy idea”
Soprano Jenny Wollerman commissioned 21 songs from female composers of New Zealand, setting texts by female poets, and will premiere the set with pianist Jian Liu in a recital in the Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts.
Jonathan Cohen: playing music from a time of turmoil
Jonathan Cohen, the Auckland Philharmonia’s principal clarinettist, will play Danish composer Carl Nielsen’s Clarinet Concert with the APO this week.
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”.
Stars align
Gareth Farr is enormously proud of his new work for the NZSO, Ngā Hihi o Matariki (The Rays of Matariki).
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.