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.
Orchestra Wellington and some thoughts on virtuosity
Orchestra Wellington’s concert ‘Virtuosi’, in collaboration with the New Zealand String Quartet and cellist Inbal Meggido, explored different approaches to virtuosity in music by Elgar and Bartók.
NZSO’s Four Seasons: Kuusisto’s virtuosic showmanship wins the audience prize
Conductor/violinist Pekka Kuusisto entertained the NZSO audience with his inventive performance of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Can showmanship go too far?
Pianist John Chen on tour: French masterpieces played with formidable dynamism
John Chen’s CMNZ tour is bringing a recital programme of French masterpieces from the 19th century to 13 New Zealand centres. His playing is highly accomplished and marvellously expressive.