Features

Listen to these popular recordings of three finalists under the age of 25 performing a piano concerto of their choice with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, recorded by RNZ Concert.

Summer Hymn Requests gets off to great start this week with Charles Wesley's well-loved hymn, And can it be. Audio

One of the most recognizable lullabies, ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ has been adapted and performed by parents and professional musicians including Nicki Minaj, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, The Supremes and Louis Armstrong.

RNZ Concert celebrates New Zealander's most-loved classical music of 2025 with an encore broadcast of audience requests from 6am on New Year's Day. Find out more about your choices here.

One of the highlights of 2025, the Big Sing Finale brought together 24 top secondary school choirs, with nearly 1000 young singers gathering in Dunedin to sing their hearts out. Catch up on the performances here.

Hymns on Sunday Summer Requests starts today – throughout January you can hear listener choices. Favourite hymns in this week’s programme include Be thou my vision, Stuart Townend’s setting of Psalm 23 The Lord’s my shepherd, and Guide me, O thou great redeemer. Audio

Acclaimed Australian conductor and trumpeter Yoram Levy showcases the power and precision of the NZSO brass and percussion musicians in music to stir the soul and ignite the holiday spirit.

Celebrate Christmas Day with an ecumenical service of readings, reflections and prayers brought to you by representatives of some of Wellington's central city churches, and carols sung by Porirua choir Pacific Connection. Video, Audio

Edith Salzmann, Music Director of the Akaroa Music Festival, talks to RNZ Concert.  Audio

Porirua choir Pacific Connection caps off a stellar year with its debut album. Audio

Orchestral ornaments: Ensembles from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra perform seasonal songs including 'The Nutcracker', 'The First Noël' and 'Adorar al Niño' (Adore the Child). (VIDEO)

This music-rich, six-part audio series offers an overview of the many roles or manifestations of David Bowie's personality, as conveyed through the instant medium of rock & roll. Perfect summer listening, whatever the weather! Audio

Hear much-loved songs from The Sound of Music, The Snowman and The Polar Express as well as 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing', 'Silent Night' and 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'... A great way to celebrate the festive season. Audio

Sing along to favourite carols including Hark! The herald angels sing, O holy night, and Joy to the world. Audio

Nick Tipping celebrates Christmas with classic tracks from Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Bill Evans, and a new NZ Christmas album by Hawkes Bay-based David Selfe and His Elves. Audio

How to choose favourites from the millions of songs, albums and musical experiences of the past year? RNZ's music experts do their best to narrow it down.

Handel’s ‘Messiah’ is a treasured part of the musical calendar. Clarissa Dunn explores some of the many ways the masterpiece has been performed from its triumphant Dublin premiere to a Grammy winning gospel interpretation. Audio

One of New Zealand’s premier chamber choirs perform a concert filled with carols ancient and modern celebrating Christmastide. There is the opportunity to sing along with some well-known carols.

LISTEN: NZSO percussionist Sam Rich gives a live performance showcasing the many kinds of triangles he plays, as well as some surprising information about the instrument. Audio

The Graduate Choir New Zealand and the Auckland Philharmonia perform a concert of beloved seasonal music including Ave Maria, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Christmas Lullaby and more in Auckland's Holy Trinity Cathedral.

RNZ Concert gives you the gift of music from around the world to soundtrack your summer festive season. Listen to classical concerts celebrating Christmas and the New Year in New Zealand. Here is what you can listen to, and when:

Coming up this weekend, the Auckland Philharmonia gets audiences in the yuletide mood with a festive blend of modern Christmas favourites, orchestral classics and traditional seasonal carols. Audio

LISTEN: Signature Choir and the NZSO perform songs from Tonga, Samoa, Niue, Tokelau, Fiji and the Cook Islands - popular songs of love, of faith, of Pasifika pride, songs that will bring a tear to your eyes, and make you want to move. Audio

Hymns for the Third Sunday in Advent (Gaudete Sunday) include John Rutter's Angels' Carol, Rejoice! Rejoice at Christmas time by New Zealand hymn writer Bill Wallace, and Tell out, my soul, which is a paraphrase of the Magnificat. Audio