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.
Shostakovich: the musical legacy of a humanitarian artist
Reviewing 6 concerts by Orchestra Wellington and the NZ String Quartet, writer Elizabeth Kerr finds some answers to big questions about Shostakovich’s artistic and personal role in Soviet Russia.
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.
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.
NZSO Immerse: Vengerov plays Sibelius
Violinist Maxim Vengerov’s Sibelius Violin Concerto was a highlight of the NZSO’s Immerse Festival, under the sensitive baton of André de Ridder.
NZSO: large and small ensembles on the road
The NZSO is on tour with its Setting up Camp project and programmes for full orchestra and string quartet.
Chamber ensembles on tour in Aotearoa
Three recent concerts by touring New Zealand chamber ensembles have brought a broad range of repertoire to audiences around the country.