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: 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.
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.
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.
Madeleine Pierard: “sumptuous singing” at home and away
After singing Strauss’s Four Last Songs for English National Ballet, soprano Madeleine Pierard is back in Aotearoa for two operatic roles and an NZSO tour. She talks about vocal fitness and the young stars of TANZOS..
(m)Orpheus: death and dreams in a stunning dance-opera
(m)Orpheus by NZ Opera and Black Grace is a stunning fusion of opera, dance and storytelling, in “a world where dreams can conquer death”.
(m)Orpheus: grief, art and truth
NZ Opera and Black Grace Dance have an outstanding creative team to reimagine Gluck’s masterpiece Orpheus and Eurydice. (m)Orpheus, combining Greek myth with Pasifika storytelling, opens this week.
John Psathas The All-Seeing Sky: the inspiration of friends
Orchestra Wellington’s “Circle of Friends” includes their composer-in-residence John Psathas and his percussionist friends Fabian Ziegler and Luca Staffelbach from Switzerland. Psathas’ new double percussion concerto may be one of his finest compositions.
Artistry in virtuosity
Amalia Hall dazzled the audience with her performance in Paganini’s 2nd Violin Concerto with Orchestra Wellington. It was much more than virtuosity.