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.
The Tudor Consort and Palestrina: joyous and atmospheric
The Tudor Consort’s performance of Palestrina’s masterpiece, Missa Papae Marcelli, within a liturgical reconstruction offered high quality music-making, thoughtful curation and a joyous spirit.
John Psathas The All-Seeing Sky: the inspiration of friends
Orchestra Wellington’s “Circle of Friends” includes their composer-in-residence John Psathas and his percussionist friends Fabian Ziegler and Luca Staffelbach from Switzerland. Psathas’ new double percussion concerto may be one of his finest compositions.
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.
Gareth Farr premiere: Where Will They Bury My Bones
A moving new work, Where will they bury my bones? by Gareth Farr and Paul Horan, had its premiere as a film with ex-patriate New Zealanders in the chamber ensemble.
NZ String Quartet: subtlety and flair
The New Zealand String Quartet’s National Tour 2021 took two well-crafted programmes around the country, sharing the variety of contrasting characters the ensemble can play.
A tale of two pianists
Two very different piano recitals by exciting young New Zealand pianists recently offered thought-provoking contrasts.
The conductor’s art
Gemma New visited New Zealand recently to conduct the NZSO and National Youth Orchestra in music by Gareth Farr, Stravinsky and Shostakovich. She brought both musical understanding and composing skill to the podium.
Artistry in virtuosity
Amalia Hall dazzled the audience with her performance in Paganini’s 2nd Violin Concerto with Orchestra Wellington. It was much more than virtuosity.
Nocturnal pleasures
In pianist Jian Liu’s touring recital “Nocturnes” the choice of music is as well-judged as his fine playing.
Transfigured Night – from saucy games to passionate desire
Chamber Music New Zealand’s Transfigured Night tour with the New Zealand String Quartet and BalletCollective Aotearoa is not your average chamber music concert.
Inside, outside and not about gender
A review of a recent concert, “Inside-Out”, by the SMP Ensemble and a postscript about “music by women” in concert programmes.
Love Triangle - the “new” NZTrio on tour
The “new” NZ Trio is touring New Zealand with a programme called InterFusions. Love Triangle, the title of one of the works, sums up their musical approach.
A deep dive into Beethoven’s String Quartets
In spite of the challenges of 2020, the New Zealand String Quartet has been able to celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday with a major series of concerts.
Music ‘up close’ in a new Wellington venue
Amalia Hall and Stephen de Pledge performed in a new Wellington venue on their recent tour of twelve cities. Did the venue bring us the intimate ambience we seek in chamber music?
Outstanding young talent takes the stage
After 55 years, CMNZ’s Chief Executive Catherine Gibson was determined this Contest would happen in 2020 in spite of the pandemic. The winning ensemble was a string quartet - but all finalists were polished performers.
Beethoven, again!
Is it possible to have too much Beethoven in concert programmes in this musical giant’s 250th birthday year?
Mozart live – nourishing the invisible
Orchestra Wellington was quick off the mark with one of the first live concerts in New Zealand after lockdown.
The virtual concert hall
With audiences and musicians in lockdown during the COVID-19 crisis, musicians resorted to the virtual concert hall to bring their music into our homes.
Quite doodling fashion
A Listener review from 1988 of a concert at Wellington’s Downstage Theatre by the live electronic group, Free Radicals.