Upbeat

Christina Conrad is a New Zealand born feminist, outsider artist, filmmaker, poet and performer was always way ahead of her time in her exposure of convention, prejudice, injustice and the chauvinism… Read more Video, Audio

This year we explored the etiquette of the arts in The Art of Etiquette; from where to look in a life drawing class, to what to wear to the opera or ballet. Today we look back at the etiquette of… Read more Audio

European philosophy, Japanese culture, modernist architecture and New Zealand Landscapes run deep in the work of the late potter, James Greig. A retrospective of his work is on display at the Dowse… Read more Audio

Global adventurer German-Canadian cellist Johannes Moser spends his time playing with some of most renowned symphony orchestras internationally. But he also has his feet on the ground, realizing just… Read more Audio

Back in August, US trumpet virtuoso Allen Vizzutti toured the country with the Roger Fox Big Band and NZSO. He can play anything being equally at home in classical and jazz work. Allen talks about how… Read more Audio

Before reality shows like Masterchef, New Zealand’s own Hudson and Halls were whipping up very questionable cooking and making audiences around the country laugh. Considered trailblazers, Peter Hudson… Read more Audio

Cynthia Morahan takes us on a journey through a five DVD collection by British documentary maker Phil Grabsky where he sets out to discover what made great composers Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and… Read more Audio

There’s no business like show business. Just ask playwright Roger Hall who released his latest comedy outing Last Legs in September, 40 years on from his very first play. The season at Circa went so… Read more

Earlier this year violinist Nicola Benedetti and cellist Leonard Elschenbroich played the Brahms double concerto with the NZSO round the country. Upbeat spoke to the couple about the joys and… Read more

One of the world’s most famous mezzo sopranos is coming to teach at the New Zealand Opera School in Wanganui in the New Year. Della Jones will spend two weeks passing on her knowledge to the next… Read more Audio

Wellington based composer and pianist Norman Meehan traveled the length and breadth of the country collecting stories from kiwi jazz musicians for a new book New Zealand Jazz Life. It delves into what… Read more Audio

UK based Australian Annie Sloan is described as one of “Britain’s most influential female designers” by the Telegraph. She’s printed more than 26 books about painting and designing, and has created… Read more Audio