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.
Wellington Opera’s Tosca: brilliant casting and gripping pace
Wellington Opera's production of Puccini's Tosca pleased its opening night audience with a brilliant, all-New Zealand cast of singers, gripping momentum and a versatile, stylish design.
NZ Opera’s Le Comte Ory: a comedy of disguises
NZ Opera’s production of Rossini’s Le Comte Ory is a highly entertaining night at the opera for both seasoned opera-goers and those new to the art form.
Orchestra Wellington’s Wozzeck: triumphant capture of Berg’s conception
Orchestra Wellington’s production of Alban Berg’s opera Wozzeck, a New Zealand premiere, was nothing short of astonishing.
Bluebeard’s Castle: a bold, brilliant reimagining of Bartók’s opera
A contemporary reimagining of Bartók’s opera Bluebeard’s Castle is brought to audiences in Wellington and Christchurch by NZSO and NZ Opera.
NZ Opera’s Così fan tutte: sparkling, sophisticated artifice
New Zealand Opera’s sparkling Così fan tutte has an outstanding cast, clever direction, comedic highlights and an increasingly fantastic design. Just what was in those cocktails?
Wellington Opera’s Lucia: all about the singing
Wellington Opera’s Lucia di Lammermoor brings together a consistently fine cast of New Zealand singers, thrilling the opening night audience.
NZ Opera’s Ihitai ’Avei’a - Star Navigator: a journey to understanding
NZ Opera’s production Ihitai ’Avei’a - Star Navigator boldly crosses artistic, cultural and stylistic boundaries while attracting new audiences to the art form.
The Queen’s Closet at the Cloverton Arms
CLOVERTON: In Love & Wine, a modern semi-opera by The Queen’s Closet, with libretto by Dave Armstrong and music by Henry Purcell, is splendid entertainment.
New Zealand Opera’s Macbeth: opening the gates of hell
NZ Opera’s Macbeth - Verdi’s genius, an outstanding cast of singers, innovative and atmospheric design and contemporary themes make for an unmissable production.
Wellington Opera’s La Traviata: moving and poignant
Wellington Opera’s La Traviata brought subtle and complex character development to the stage in a moving production that largely transcended pandemic disruptions.
The Strangest of Angels: a psychological operatic drama
A new opera, The Strangest of Angels, was created by an innovative collaborative process and explores mental health issues.
Who’s afraid of big bad opera?
A new opera for children, RED! by New Zealander Lucy Mulgan, delights the Wellington audience.
Raising the curtain on Wellington Opera
Mozart’s Don Giovanni is the premiere production of a new opera company in Wellington. On opening night the applause was whole-hearted.
New Zealand Opera’s Semele – a sumptuous operatic feast
NZ Opera located its inventive production of Handel’s Semele in a cathedral. The company held its nerve in 2020 and presented a dazzling operatic feast.