Classical
A Kiwi collaboration
New Zealand Festival tonight hosts a special collaboration, between the NZ String Quartet and Taonga Pūoro player Rob Thorne. It includes works by Gareth Farr, Gillian Whitehead, and Salina Fisher… Audio
King’s Singers 50 years young
The King’s Singers are celebrating 50 years with performances in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland this week. The Grammy award winning choir is joined by Voices New Zealand, celebrating their 20th… Audio
Upbeat for Monday 5 March
Men’s voices are today’s feature. We find out how you condense Don Giovanni into a solo show with singer Stuart Coates. Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Simon O’Neill talk Tosca, we celebrate 50 years of the…
Upbeat for Friday 2 March
Justin Gregory reviews the new look Giselle, Lynn Freeman faces the hard truths in Bless The Child, Tim Dodd explores how Phil Dadson is starting From Scratch & we celebrate past Concerto competition…
A feast of music making in Christchurch
Tony Ryan looks at the first in this year’s Christopher’s Classics chamber music series at The Piano, with violinist Natalia Lomeiko and pianist Kirsten Robertson in action. Having just heard Lomeiko… Audio
Trailblazing Orava Quartet & their colourful socks
Australia’s Orava Quartet makes its New Zealand debut today. The four young men have close family connections which means they don’t hold back in rehearsals. Brothers Daniel and Karol Kowalik, with… Audio
Eight classical pieces to give you chills
Upbeat listeners shared the music that brings on the chills. Video
Upbeat for Thursday 01 March
It’s autumn and St David’s Day. We have a selection of music to see in the new season, along with a new release of Beethoven’s piano sonatas and discover who the first transgendered leading operatic…
How to fire cannons during the 1812 Overture
The 1812 Overture is being performed with real cannons this weekend in Porirua. How do you get the timing right and do they use real cannon balls? Gunner from the Wellington Cannon Society explains… Audio
Upbeat for for Wednesday 28 Feb
We explore music that gives you chills, finds out how to time the firing of cannons to the 1812 Overture, Eva Radich speaks to a new duo giving recitals of Italian flute and piano music, and we…
Review – RNZB’s The Piano
The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s take on Jane Campion’s iconic film The Piano opened in Wellington on Friday. Jennifer Shennan asks whether the stage adaptation into a full length ballet works is a… Audio
Upbeat for Tuesday 27 Feb
Did The Royal New Zealand Ballet bring Jane Campion’s iconic film The Piano to life as a dance work? Jennifer Shennan reviews the new production that opened at New Zealand Festival. William…
Upbeat for Monday 26 Feb 2018
Was the NZ Festival opening weekend a “spectacular”? Lynn Freeman shares her thoughts & Tony Ryan review the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s 60th anniversary season opening concert. We also explore…
Upbeat for Friday 23 Feb
We celebrate Wellington Film Society’s 2018 season launch with some cinematic story telling through music with Chris Hormann, then Love, Longing, Loss and opera at the Auckland Art Gallery.
Upbeat for Thursday 22 Feb
Today marks seven years since the devastating Christchurch Earthquake. We turn out attention to the Garden City, first celebrating the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s 60th anniversary with violinist…
Virtuosic Amalia Hall takes on a violinist’s challenge
Amalia Hall is playing all six of Ysaye's virtuosic solo violin sonatas this Saturday as part of the Auckland Fringe Festival. She plays some of her favourite music, talks about her solo work overseas… Audio
Upbeat for Wednesday 21 Feb
Hemingway comes to the New Zealand Festival with The Select (The Sun Also Rises). New York director John Collins explains how he’s bringing Hemingway’s world alive & violinist Amalia Hall plays her…
Composer John Young brings Spirit to CSO
Electroacoustic New Zealand composer John Young has written a fanfare to open the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s 60th birthday season on Saturday. His new work Spirit tells a true story of love and… Audio
A New Zealand Partita
Pianist Stephen De Pledge brings alive new pieces written by seven Kiwi composers who were inspired by JS Bach’s Partita no. 3 in A minor. He discusses how this 18th-century musical form has been… Audio
Upbeat for Tuesday 20 Feb
Today is all about celebrating Kiwi composers. Pianist Stephen De Pledge brings alive seven pieces written by Kiwis inspired by Bach’s Partita & composer John Young’s new commission for the…