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.
TOWARDS MIDNIGHT: Percussionist Justin DeHart explores our unknown future
Percussionist Justin DeHart worked with five New Zealand composers for his second Rattle volume of New Zealand percussion music, TOWARDS MIDNIGHT.
Somi Kim’s Pictures: virtuosity on full display
Somi Kim’s new album Pictures at an Exhibition pairs Mussorgsky’s piano masterpiece with a new work, Aotearoa Pictures, by New Zealand composer Janet Jennings.
Suite Aotearoa: magic woven from our natural world
Pianist Sharon Joy Vogan conceived, commissioned and performed the new works for the magical album, Suite Aotearoa, collaborating with taonga pūoro specialist Horomona Horo.
New Zealand piano music: walking with the birds
Pianist Jian Liu’s playing on his new 3-disc album of New Zealand piano music is lyrical and luminous, and full of respect for the music.
Beneath the trees: voices of women of Aotearoa
Beneath the trees: 21x21 is a new album of songs by 21 women composers of Aotearoa, setting words by our female poets. It’s an invaluable addition to the canon of New Zealand song.
Brahms, Hristova and Houstoun: magical unanimity
Pianist Michael Houstoun and violinist Bella Hristova bring their effortless rapport to a new album of Brahms Violin Sonatas.
NZ String Quartet: Unique counterpoints of Aotearoa
In their new album Notes from a journey ll, Te Haerenga, the New Zealand String Quartet continues its journey through the music of Aotearoa.
Anthony Ritchie’s Symphony No 6: love, death and the afterlife
Anthony Ritchie’s Symphony No 6, performed by the NZSO, is released by Rattle. The composer reflects on personal and global events in a dark-hued work full of deep emotions.
Bolcom’s Cabaret Songs by a brilliant New Zealand double-act
The essence of cabaret is captured with delicious ease by singer Stephanie Acraman and pianist Liam Wooding in a new album of The Complete Cabaret Songs by American composer William Bolcom.
1919 Coda: Janáček, Boulanger, Debussy, Elgar - expressive accord
Music by composers working during World War 1 features on “1919 CODA: Janáček, Boulanger, Debussy and Elgar”, beautifully played by violinist Benjamin Baker and pianist Daniel Lebhardt.
Confronting the Modern Gods: John Psathas and Fabian Ziegler
The album Modern Gods, music by composer John Psathas performed by percussionist Fabian Ziegler and pianist Akvilė Šileikaitė, confronts the relationship between people and the “modern gods” of technology.
Force of Nature: Forest & Bird’s clarion call
A musical project celebrating the centenary of Forest & Bird brings nine new compositions to life and sounds a clarion call about conservation of Aotearoa’s native habitats and species.
The Earth Child: A Mansfield centenary tribute album
Composer Janet Jennings has curated a brilliant album as tribute to Katherine Mansfield, marking the centenary of the writer’s death and including her own setting of Mansfield’s Earth Child poems.
Soprano Morag Atchison’s debut album: The Distance
Morag Atchison’s debut album features the songs of composer David Hamilton in a beautifully performed recital.
Michael Houstoun plays Brahms: miniature marvels
Pianist Michael Houstoun marks his 70th birthday with an album from Rattle of Brahms’ intermezzi. He says this introspective music “fits with an older player’s psyche.”
Bartók - a musical colour-burst
A new album of Bartók’s music for violin and piano by violinist Monique Lapins and pianist Jian Liu has energy, momentum and a forthright passionate approach.
Moonstone: music from Aotearoa for viola and piano
Moonstone, a new album from Robert Ashworth (viola) and Sarah Watkins (piano) explores many voices and styles in music of Aotearoa.
Gunter Herbig: seductive landscapes for guitar
Guitarist Gunter Herbig’s transition from classical to electric guitar filled him with a renewed sense of musical adventure.
David Long: Ash and Bone
David Long’s new album, Ash and Bone, offers multi-coloured, many-layered music with his unfailing sense of pace and momentum.
Portrait with Piano: Jenny McLeod
An 80th birthday tribute album shines a light on 50 years of piano composition by New Zealand composer Jenny McLeod