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.
Tenor Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono: taking flight to the opera stages of the world
NZ tenor Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono is off to San Francisco and London to pursue his opera dreams at prestigious training programmes.
100 Winds Taupō Hau Rau: musicians and dancers breathe together
100 Winds Taupō Hau Rau is a compelling work, Inspired by the shifting winds of Lake Taupō, performed by the NZ String Quartet and dancers from the NZ Dance Company.
Diedre Irons at 80: “I just play the piano…”
Diedre Irons is one of New Zealand’s most outstanding musicians. She talked to Elizabeth Kerr about a lifetime of performance and her love of playing the piano.
NZSO Pictures at an Exhibition: opening the season with a sense of occasion
The NZSO’s first main series concert of 2025 had a great sense of occasion and a world premiere co-commissioned by four international orchestras.
The Night has a Thousand Eyes: Borderline Arts Ensemble’s nocturnal magic
The Night has a Thousand Eyes is a stunningly beautiful show, created by artists in in music, dance, and lighting to take us to a magical world.
NZSO Timeless Beauty: Baroque sensibility and stylish flair
The NZSO’s Timeless Beauty: Handel and Telemann is the most successful Baroque music concert the NZSO has presented in recent years.
The Marmen Quartet: an outstanding debut album
The Marmen Quartet’s debut album of music by Ligeti and Bartók confirms their reputation as crack musicians and courageous risk-takers.
Chopin’s Nocturnes: Piers Lane’s voyage of musical discovery
Pianist PIers Lane is taking his recital of the complete set of Chopin’s Nocturnes to 13 New Zealand centres. In the first concert in Wellington, a sold-out audience was entranced.
The Jac + Stroma: a wide-ranging musical conversation
Two first-rate ensembles, The Jac and Stroma, get together for A GATHERING to “explore the hinterlands of jazz.” Elliot Vaughan reports from the NZ Fringe.
Bryony Gibson-Cornish and her Amati: the viola of her dreams
For New Zealander Bryony Gibson-Cornish, violist of the Marmen Quartet, finding and eventually acquiring her Amati viola was a dream come true.
“The First Smile”: sweet gamelan sonorities evoke other worlds
A just-released album, The First Smile, named after a gamelan ensemble brought to Aotearoa by Dr Allan Thomas, captures beautifully its sweet sonorities.
Michael Houstoun and “the 48”: insight into Bach’s genius
Pianist Michael Houstoun’s new album of the 48 Preludes and Fugues of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier is a magnificent achievement and a great insight into the Baroque master’s genius.
In praise of CDs
With the arrival of digital downloads and music streaming, the death of CDs was predicted. But CDs, like vinyl, are having a renaissance - and many purchasers are from Gen Z.
Orchestra Wellington: a memorable performance of Britten’s War Requiem
Orchestra Wellington’s performance of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem will remain in the memories of those present for a long time.
Composer Eve de Castro-Robinson: premieres, a revelation and a touch of defiance
Composer Eve de Castro-Robinson has had two major premieres in the past two months. She’s also had a revelation about how and why her composing has changed over her career.
Morton Trio chooses Brahms for a splendid debut album
The Morton Trio - husband and wife duo Alex and Arna Morton, with pianist Liam Wooding - have chosen music for horn, violin and piano by Brahms and Arna Morton for their debut album.
Liszt’s Transcendental Études: Luu Hong Quang’s magnificent piano marathon
Prize-winning pianist Luu Hong Quang is in impressive command of the piano and the music in this new album of Liszt’s complete Transcendental Études.
Gemma New: conducting with artistry
Gemma New talked to Five Lines about an epiphany, collaborating with a super-star violinist, meeting Saariaho, conducting The Planets and taking up boxing.
NZTrio: passionate music from “uncommon” composers
In NZTrio’s touring programme, “Untamed Hope”, they’ve chosen exhilarating repertoire to makes a telling point that no-one in the delighted audience can miss.
Aotango: shall we dance?
Aotango combines the word ‘Ao’, meaning ‘world’ in te reo Māori, with ‘tango’. This quintet of musicians who call Aotearoa home is presenting three concerts for International Tango Day 2024.