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.
Brahms, Hristova and Houstoun: magical unanimity
Pianist Michael Houstoun and violinist Bella Hristova bring their effortless rapport to a new album of Brahms Violin Sonatas.
Anthony Ritchie’s Symphony No 6: love, death and the afterlife
Anthony Ritchie’s Symphony No 6, performed by the NZSO, is released by Rattle. The composer reflects on personal and global events in a dark-hued work full of deep emotions.
Michael Houstoun plays Brahms: miniature marvels
Pianist Michael Houstoun marks his 70th birthday with an album from Rattle of Brahms’ intermezzi. He says this introspective music “fits with an older player’s psyche.”
Bartók - a musical colour-burst
A new album of Bartók’s music for violin and piano by violinist Monique Lapins and pianist Jian Liu has energy, momentum and a forthright passionate approach.
Moonstone: music from Aotearoa for viola and piano
Moonstone, a new album from Robert Ashworth (viola) and Sarah Watkins (piano) explores many voices and styles in music of Aotearoa.
Gunter Herbig: seductive landscapes for guitar
Guitarist Gunter Herbig’s transition from classical to electric guitar filled him with a renewed sense of musical adventure.
David Long: Ash and Bone
David Long’s new album, Ash and Bone, offers multi-coloured, many-layered music with his unfailing sense of pace and momentum.
Jenny McLeod at 80: “to me I’m always me…”
Composer Jenny McLeod died on 28 November 2022. In a birthday tribute in 2021 I wrote about the life and work of this brilliant and mercurial composer.
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.
Bells and whistles
LANDFALL, a new Rattle album of New Zealand percussion music performed by Justin DeHart, is curated for variety and contrast.
Optimistic notes
Composer Anthony Ritchie’s 5th Symphony, “Childhood”, looks forward with optimism. It’s now on a beautifully packaged CD.
The song of the whale
Why do whales sing? A review of Panthalassa by Al Fraser, Sam Leamy and Neil Johnstone, released by Rattle Records in 2019.
The Gristle of Knuckles
Eve de Castro-Robinson’s The Gristle of Knuckles won the Classical Tui at the 2018 New Zealand Music Awards. And there’s not a genre category in sight in this inventive release.
Houstoun plays the seducer
Alfred Brendel called Beethoven's monumental Diabelli Variations "the greatest of all piano works". It may not yet be your favourite but be warned, you could be seduced by this persuasive release.