Classical
Upbeat for Monday 11 June
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa receives a British Queen’s Birthday honour, Renee Fleming is up for a Tony, the APO goes disco and we celebrate rising stars for the start of Matariki.
Review: Classical music for Radioheads
Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood’s compositions came to life thanks to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Shed Six on Wellington’s waterfront was heaving with people, and music this weekend for the NZSO's… Audio
Upbeat for Wednesday 6 June
Orchestra Wellington’s concert master Amalia Hall discusses travel and Bartok, Hadyn Green reviews NZSO’s take on Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood and we continue celebrating classical music patrons.
Amalia Hall explores the passion of Bartók
Orchestra Wellington’s concert master and soloist Amalia Hall discusses working in foreign countries and learning the music of Bartók. Audio
Tecwyn Evans: Conductor on the rise
There's been a lot of change in Kiwi conductor Tecwyn Evans' life. He discusses his new role at the Danish National Opera, working with the next generation at the University of Auckland and gives an… Audio
Upbeat for Tuesday 5 June
Conductor Tecwyn Evans discusses changes in the music courses offered at the University of Auckland, we tinkle the ivories with the BBC, we celebrate people who commission music and we mark World…
Review: NZO's The Elixir of Love
Husband and wife tenor Pene Pati and soprano Amina Edris brought their real-life love to the stage for New Zealand Opera’s performance of Donizetti’s bel canto comedy The Elixir of Love. Peter Hoar… Audio
Review: RNZB’s Dancing with Mozart
The Royal New Zealand Ballet opened its nationwide tour of Dancing with Mozart last night in Wellington. The programme included works from George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián and the world premiere of Kiwi… Audio
Upbeat for Friday 1 June
The world premiere of Corey Baker’s The Last Dance with the RNZB, NZO’s The Elixir of Love opens in Auckland, City Choir Dunedin members jet to London to perform a New Zealand oratorio and we round…
Sarah Watkins says farewell to NZTrio
NZTrio pianist Sarah Watkins is performing for the last time with the trio this week. She was one of the founding members along with Ashley Brown and Justine Cormack. Sarah reflects on her time with… Video, Audio
Upbeat for Thursday 31 May
NZTrio pianist Sarah Watkins says farewell; the restored National War Memorial Carillon is unveiled in Wellington; and today’s featured choral works is by Bach.
Cat reacting to classical music goes viral
Choco the cat has shot to fame on Twitter after his un-fur-getable reaction to the fourth mew-vment of Mahler’s Symphony No. 9. Video, Audio
How quiet classical music can help your waistline
Researchers have discovered listening to quiet classical music can help you make better diet choices. Video, Audio
NZSM & Orpheus work together for the first time
NZSM Orchestra is working with the Orpheus Choir for the first time this weekend to give a performance of the full orchestral version of the Duruflé Requiem, a piece that has been an obsession for… Audio
Upbeat for Friday 25 May
A piano playing burglar, a successor for King’s Choir, and a collaboration between the New Zealand School of Music and Orpheus Choir make up today’s show.
Dancing with Mozart
Some of Mozart’s most stunning tunes have been used for ballet, thanks to a bevy of talented choreographers including Stephan Zeromski, for the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Dancing with Mozart opens next… Audio
Upbeat for Thursday 24 May
The Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage gives her first speech about the importance of art in NZ, we get the lowdown on The Elixir of Love and RNZB’s new show Dancing with Mozart exploring the…
Coming up
Classical music critic joins NZ artists on stage
Normally it’s New Yorker classical music critic and author Alex Ross putting the spotlight on performers, but Upbeat’s Tim Dodd turns the spotlight on Ross, discussing his performance with Kiwi… Audio
Upbeat for Wednesday 23 May
Royal wedding music composer Paul Mealor, the New Yorker classical music critic Alex Ross, what music looks like when painted and another stunning violin concerto.
Review: Alex Ross with Stroma
Alex Ross, author and music critic for the New Yorker, is touring New Zealand with the group Stroma and singer Bianca Andrew for Chamber Music New Zealand. Peter Hoar has been in the crowd. Audio