Upbeat Podcast Options

2:15 PM.The Aroha Quartet will be spending Labour Weekend rehearsing, recording, and performing seven New Zealand works. Violinist Haihong Liu and cellist Robert Ibell tell Eva's what's on offer. Audio

2:45 PM.UK-based New Zealand conductor Rachel Young will lead the Orquesta Sinfonica de Chilé this weekend in performances of music by Tchaikovsky and Dvorak. She tells Eva how this came about. Audio

2:25 PM.David looks at some goings on in the arts world, including exhibitions, funding issues, and allegations of forgery. Audio

2:00 PM.German jazz pianist Benny Lackner is in the country with his trio to perform at the Auckland Jazz Festival. Eva chats to Benny about his playing and aesthetic. Audio

2:45 PM.Claire Mabey has a busy few weeks ahead of her; she's in charge of both the Tauranga Arts Festival and Wellington's LitCrawl writers and readers events. Audio

2:25 PM.Dunedin violinist Tessa Petersen has just been named Concertmaster of the Southern Sinfonia. She talks to Eva about what the new job involves. Audio

2:00 PM.'Lost Oscillations' is a contribution to the Audacious Festival in Christchuch from sonic artists Dugal McKinnon and Jim Murphy. They tell Eva how it works, and what was involved in its creation. Audio

2:40 PM.Dialogos is the latest release from the Chris Mason-Batley Group, based on improvisations on the music of John Psathas. Audio

2:25 PM.Elizabeth reviews the Wellington performance by the Vienna Piano Trio, who are touring the country with Chamber Music New Zealand. Audio

1:59 PM.The Royal New Zealand Ballet has announced the 2016 season; the first to be fully programmed by Artistic Director Francesco Ventriglia. Audio

2:39 PM.Irish musicians Stephen Doherty and David Doocey preview their New Zealand tour with the Australian singer-songwriter Roesy. Audio

2:01 PM.Organist John Wells is the adjudicator for this year's Rönisch Auckland Secondary Schools Piano Competition. He tells Eva what he'll be looking for in a potential winner. Audio

2:40 PM.Guitarist Graham McLeod and bass player Holly Downes are two thirds of The String Contingent. The Australian folk trio are touring the country at the moment. Audio

2:20 PM.Gillian Ansell is the viola soloist and Holly Matheson is the conductor for this Sunday's St Matthew's Chamber Orchestra concert. They talk about repertoire, career developments, and auditioning a… Read more Audio

2:01 PM.The Christchurch Orchestra anticipate the Douglas Lilburn Centenary with a concert and lecture with his biographer: Philip Norman. Audio

2:46 PM.Drew James is the Senior Producer for the Performing Arts Network of New Zealand's touring agency. He talks about their first year of operation. Audio

2:25 PM.Bronwyn Holloway-Smith is both a visual artist and director of the Creative Freedom Foundation: an advocacy organisation for arts and artists. Now that the Trans-Pacific Partnership has been signed… Read more Audio

2:02 PM.Chief Executive Peter Walls has programmed his first season for Chamber Music New Zealand. He tells Eva what they have on offer in 2016. Audio

2:40 PM.Mezzo-soprano Sarah Court is one of the soloists for this weekend's Bach Musica performance of the Steffani 'Stabat Mater'. She tells Eva about the piece. Audio

2:00 PM.The Vienna Piano Trio are Ensemble-in-Residence at the Vienna Konzerthaus: one of the finest chamber music venues in the world. They're touring New Zealand at the moment, and they tell Eva what… Read more Audio

2:35 PM.Ionesco's 1962 absurdist comedy 'Exit the King' opens in Christchurch's Court Theatre this week. Eva talks to director Ross Gumbley. Audio

2:22 PM.Jacquetta Bell looks after the Readers and Writers portion of the Nelson Arts Festival. She tells Eva what they have planned. Audio

2:07 PM.Jan Preston has developed her autobiographical theatre piece 'Adventures in Pianoland' along with her sister, Gaylene, who directs it. Read more Audio

2:39 PM.As well as a violinist in the world-renowned Tetzlaff Quartet, Elisabeth Kufferath also plays viola. She's in Auckland this week, playing concerts with Deirdre Irons and Edith Salzmann, and working… Read more Audio

2:22 PM.Simon looks at a few rarely heard opera singers. Audio