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.
Music at the Festival: do venue acoustics matter?
An opinion piece about venue acoustics, exploring issues in concert settings used during the 2026 Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts, while reviewing concerts by NZTrio and NZ String Quartet.
Karen Grylls: celebrated musical storyteller steps off the podium
Choral conductor Dr Karen Grylls leads Voices NZ in a tribute concert in the Aotearoa NZ Festival before stepping down as Music Director. She talked to Five Lines about her long and successful career.
NZSO’s Stabat Mater: Victoria Kelly’s profound and moving new work
The NZSO’s recent Stabat Mater concerts presented Rossini’s operatic setting of the text and the world premiere of a new Stabat Mater by Victoria Kelly.
Making waves
“A love song to the oceans” is how choral conductor Karen Grylls describes Taonga Moana. Now the concert is coming to the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts in Wellington..