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.
SOUNDCATHEDRAL: sonic architecture across time and space
Michael Norris’s SoundCathedral was installed in the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul for premiere during the Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts. Its monumental sonic architecture made a big impact.
Michael Norris and “Rerenga”: an extraordinary journey
The five masterpieces on this new Rattle album, RERENGA, confirm Michael Norris as one of New Zealand’s most significant living composers.
The Jac + Stroma: a wide-ranging musical conversation
Two first-rate ensembles, The Jac and Stroma, get together for A GATHERING to “explore the hinterlands of jazz.” Elliot Vaughan reports from the NZ Fringe.
STROMA: playing with light and colour
An imaginative, superbly played programme from new music ensemble STROMA shows the group is an essential part of our musical fabric.
STROMA: Dream Architects
STROMA’s recent Wellington concert, Dream Architects, featured New Zealand composers in a global context alongside the modernist master Xenakis on the 100th anniversary of his birth.
NZTrio: celebrating a legacy
NZTrio’s splendid Legacy 1 programme in Wellington celebrated the ensemble’s 20th birthday, a proud history of New Zealand commissions and a beautiful piano in a new home.
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.