Classical

Famed Kiwi actor Mark Hadlow is taking a step off the screen and into the concert hall. He joined David Morriss to talk about Opus Orchestra and his favourite pieces of classical music. Video, Audio

Famous Italian Conductor Riccardo Muti wins big at Japan’s Praemium Imperiale awards, Jonny Greenwood releases a new composition and Mark Hadlow plays Five Faves.

The Wallace International Piano Festival opens tomorrow with a recital from young Canadian pianist Avan Yu. Avan came to international attention when he won the Sydney Piano Competition in 2012, and… Audio

France might be leading at the Football World cup, but they’ve got a long way to go in music, how much is a manuscript of Elgar’s Enigma Variations worth, and pianist Avan Yu on the upcoming Wallace…

We mark the passing of contemporary composer Oliver Knussen, Peter Meechen reviews of the NYO’s Firebird performance, and we continue to celebrate the cello.

New releases for the start of the week, Steve Garden – the man behind New Zealand’s pre-eminent art music label, Rattle Records, and we celebrate the cello

Rae de Lisle is well known as both a pianist and teacher; also as a teacher of teachers, and an expert in the treatment of performance related injuries such as focal dystonia. Rae is Director of the… Audio

Piano virtuoso Lang Lang comes back after injury, we preview NYO’s weekend performance of The Firebird, Rae de Lisle gives us an insight into the Wallace National Piano competition and we discover new…

Orchestra Wellington is playing Dvořák’s 6^th Symphony, Britten’s Piano Concerto and Janáček’s Taras Bulba, telling the story of a Cossack warrior who prophesies of the rising of a Tsar against whom no… Audio

We bring you an update from the School of music at the University of Auckland and the Royal Philharmonic appoints a new MD and Orchestra Wellington tells of The Prophecy

Australian-born New York-based pianist Andrea Lam is back in New Zealand to perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto no 17 with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra tomorrow. She talks to Upbeat about her… Audio

New research into sexual harassment in the music industry across Australasia is to be conducted, pianist Andrea Lam explores the hidden depth of Mozart in her upcoming APO gig and we continue…

We mark the passing of West End choreographer Gillian Lynn, discuss Kauri dieback, and New Zealand bassoonist Todd Gibson-Cornish gives us an insight into his brilliant career.  

How fantastic would it be to travel from Wellington to Sydney in just 20 minutes? We’ve put together four well-known classical pieces that match the future travel time to Sydney. Video

Sir Simon says farewell to the Berlin Phil, we discover how repetition can make sounds into music, and Vincent O’Donnell heads to Paris to meet Kiwi sculpture Marian Fountain.

We have an update on the restructure of the University of Auckland’s School of Music, conductor Riccardo Muti stops the Chicago Symphony Orchestra mid-performance and Chamber Music New Zealand’s Peter…

The Heath Quartet, one of Britain’s most exciting chamber ensembles, performed Gareth Farr’s new commission Te Kōanga, meaning Spring or planting season last night at the Michael Fowler Centre… Audio

Mozart and Māori waiata are to be used to calm mistreated Elephants in Thailand. Audio

We bring you an update on the happenings at University of Auckland’s School of Music, Wellington Cathedral gets a new organ, we discover why saxophones aren’t in the orchestra, Elizabeth Kerr reviews…

Tui bird calls heard in the Marlborough Sounds were the inspiration behind Gareth Farr’s new string quartet Te Kōanga premiered by the touring Heath Quartet this week. Audio