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.
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.
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.
Giuseppe Verdi: magical and timeless
Verdi’s “furious and glorious music” will delight many New Zealand audiences and radio listeners with its beauty and contemporary relevance this month. Why is Verdi still so popular?
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.