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.
Orchestra Wellington and Marc Taddei: a story that ends in triumph
Orchestra Wellington and conductor Marc Taddei offered Beethoven’s triumphant 9th Symphony in a programme with context, novelty, and brilliance.
NZSO: large and small ensembles on the road
The NZSO is on tour with its Setting up Camp project and programmes for full orchestra and string quartet.
NZSO and conductor André de Ridder: total immersion
The NZSO’s three-concert Immerse Festival offered three very different concerts under the baton of boundary-crossing conductor André de Ridder.
NZSO’s Emperor – Beethoven rules
Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto, in a stunning performance by pianist Paul Lewis and the NZSO under conductor Eduardo Strausser, was the show-stealing centrepiece of a recent concert.
Barley and De Pledge: Dream team
Matthew Barley and Stephen de Pledge are currently touring Aotearoa for Chamber Music New Zealand with a programme of Beethoven, Brahms and other “interesting stuff”.
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.
Violinist Wilma Smith - chamber music with friends
Violinist Wilma Smith is in New Zealand for a chamber music tour and the annual Martinborough Music Festival. The Delta outbreak has her plans in flux but she’s still smiling.
A tale of two pianists
Two very different piano recitals by exciting young New Zealand pianists recently offered thought-provoking contrasts.
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.
Beethoven, again!
Is it possible to have too much Beethoven in concert programmes in this musical giant’s 250th birthday year?
RATTLE ECHO: re-discovering the past
Steve Garden is launching Rattle Echo, revisiting and re-imagining sounds recorded in the past.
Riffing like Beethoven
Poet Anne Kennedy wrote Thirty-three Transformations on a Theme of Philip, “riffing like Beethoven” on one of her brother’s poems. Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations were her inspiration.
Happy birthday, Ludwig!
Celebrating the birthday of a towering music figure during a global pandemic - and why I revere Beethoven.
Houstoun plays the seducer
Alfred Brendel called Beethoven's monumental Diabelli Variations "the greatest of all piano works". It may not yet be your favourite but be warned, you could be seduced by this persuasive release.