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.
Cellist Matthias Balzat: representing the music with an open heart
Cellist Matthias Balzat is returning to New Zealand for a concert tour, including three concerto appearances with Opus Orchestra. He talked to Five Lines about his musical upbringing.
Kodály Reframed: crossing boundaries with imaginative ease
Polish cellist Suzanne Szambelan and saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist Hayden Chisholm offer a new view of Kodály’s Sonata for solo cello Opus 8.
Personal stories: the NZSO’s Bloch & Shostakovich
The common thread binding the works in the NZSO’s “Bloch and Shostakovich: Enduring Spirit” was, Donald Runnicles told us, a “strong personal identification” between each composer and his music.
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”.