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Upbeat for Friday 15 July 2016

  • The Little New Zealand Mermaid

    1:45 PM.The story of the Little Mermaid is being retold in a new way at the Court Theatre these school holidays. Playwright Allison Horsley has intertwined the Maori myth Pania of the Reef with Hans Christian… Read more Audio

  • Is it worth giving up everything for love?

    1:22 PM.New Zealand Opera's La traviata opened last night in Christchurch. Francis Yapp critiques the story of love, sacrifice and heartbreak, with soprano Madeleine Pierard making her debt as courtesan… Read more Audio

  • Throwing caution to the wind

    1:01 PM.Wairua Sinfonietta Conductor Elizabeth Lau draws on old friends and new for a Winter Soirée Fundraiser Concert. Yuka Eguchi and Matthew Cave are guest Concert Master and Double Bass soloist for this… Read more Audio

1 pm Throwing caution to the wind

Concert Master Yuka Eguchi

Concert Master Yuka Eguchi Photo: Supplied

Wairua Sinfonietta Conductor Elizabeth Lau draws on old friends and new for a Winter Soirée Fundraiser Concert. Yuka Eguchi and Matthew Cave are guest Concert Master and Double Bass soloist for this special event. Yuka is used to throwing herself into new situations: she's one of the leading Concert Masters in Japan but has left her comfortable life behind to become assistant Concert Master of New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

1.20 Is it worth giving up everything for love?

Phillip Rhodes and Madeleine Pierard in La Traviata

Phillip Rhodes and Madeleine Pierard in La Traviata Photo: Neil MacKenzie

New Zealand Opera's La traviata opened last night in Christchurch. Francis Yapp critiques the story of love, sacrifice and heartbreak, with soprano Madeleine Pierard making her debt as courtesan Violetta,  Enea Scala as Alfredo and baritone Phillip Rhodes as his father Giorgio Germont.

1.30 Three's company

Calvino Trio: Alexandre Foster, Sini Simonen and Jun Bouterey-Ishido

Calvino Trio: Alexandre Foster, Sini Simonen and Jun Bouterey-Ishido Photo: Susanna Drescher

Young New Zealand pianist Jun Bouterey-Ishido talks about his busy life since winning the Kerikeri International Piano Competition in 2008. Now he's touring the world as part of the Calvino Trio, presently playing New Zealand.

1.45 The Little New Zealand Mermaid

Jane Leonard in The Little Mermaid at the Court Theatre

Jane Leonard in The Little Mermaid at the Court Theatre Photo: supplied

The story of the Little Mermaid is being retold in a new way at the Court Theatre these school holidays. Playwright Allison Horsley has intertwined the Māori myth Pania of the Reef with Hans Christian Andersen’s story to create something with a uniquely New Zealand flavour. It features original music performed by three actors, including Jane Leonard.