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.
Tararua: Bird Like Men
Bird Like Men, the debut album from new ensemble Tararua, draws on personal inspiration to tell our stories.
At the World’s Edge Festival: intimacy, awe and connection
This week violinists Justine Cormack and Ben Baker will realise their dream of a new chamber music festival in Central Otago.
Salina Fisher: personal music for a worldwide audience
Composer Salina Fisher is composer-in-residence at the inaugural At the World’s Edge Festival in Central Otago. Five of her compositions feature in Festival programmes.
John Psathas: Voices at the End
John Psathas wrote Voices at the End for six grand pianos to communicate a heartfelt message about our world. For the premiere he had a “dream team”.
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.
RNZ Concert’s new Manager: passion for music and radio
RNZ Concert’s new Manager has a passion for New Zealand music and radio. She wants more people to enjoy what Concert has to offer.
Dame Gillian Whitehead at 80: weaving the threads together
Dame Gillian Whitehead is 80 years old. Now living in New Zealand, she has woven together the threads of her Māori and pākeha heritage in recent works.
Singers surviving in a pandemic with London whānau
Singers Madeleine Pierard and Julien van Mellaerts have led New Zealand opera singers in London in a Royal Albert Hall recital to raise spirits and funds during pandemic disruptions.
Fragments: music from New Zealand for classical guitar
Recordings of New Zealand music for classical guitar played by Matthew Marshall have been extracted from RNZ’s archives and given new life by this Rattle Echo release, Fragments.
A psychiatrist, a composer and a string quartet
Composer Louise Webster was by herself for the recent world premiere of her string quartet, This memory of earth.