Features

We're marking World Day of the Poor in Hymns on Sunday this week. Established in 2017 by Pope Francis, it's a Sunday set aside to reflect on how poverty is at the very heart of the Gospel. This year's theme is "You are my hope". Audio

A set of jazz tunes which remind us that summer is on the way, including Too Darn Hot and the Summer Samba, and three tracks from the Quintet of the Hot Club of France. Audio

German cellist Daniel Müller-Schott talks with RNZ Concert about his affinity with the cello, ahead of his Auckland Philharmonia concert performing Schumann's Cello Concerto. Video, Audio

RNZ Concert's David Morriss talks with Karl Sölve Steven about how he approached composing the score for the Pike River movie. Video, Audio

Band members Mike Hall and Milan Borich say listening to the 20-year-old double-platinum record takes them right back to a slightly turbulent, but joyful time.

Pilgrims and pilgrimage feature in this week’s programme, with hymns including Light of the lonely pilgrim’s heart, The servant song and John Bunyan’s To be a pilgrim. Audio

Nick Tipping celebrates the career of drummer extraordinaire Jack DeJohnette. Audio

Auckland Philharmonia musician John Mietus is preparing to perform the well-known Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto in his own transcription - for double bass. Video, Audio

Music Director Rachel Wilford talks with RNZ Concert's David Morriss about the largest annual event in the South Island dedicated to developing young musical talent. Audio

See some of the pets from around the country that chilled out to the RNZ Concert for Animals last night. The music was all chosen to calm people and pets experiencing the loud noises and flashes of light from Guy Fawkes.

A group of women prisoners in Auschwitz Concentration Camp were formed into a notorious marching band. They played as inmates got off the trains, marched for roll call, and as ash from the crematoriums rained down.

Even on sweeping high notes, the 68-year-old sounded as powerful as ever on Friday. The show also demonstrated how well-structured his songs are, full of subtle details, and his band navigated them skilfully.

Before the White Stripes became one of the biggest bands on the planet, they played a series of small shows in New Zealand due to the tenacity of promoter and musician John Baker and a small group of true believers.

Hymns for All Saints' Day and Reformation Day in this week's programme, and a beautiful arrangement for brass band of Handel Parker’s tune ‘Deep Harmony’. Audio

The British comedian talks with RNZ Concert's Nick Tipping about the universal languages of comedy and music.

The newly-formed piano trio Korimako has its debut concert in Wellington next week. And while the ensemble may be new, the names are familiar - established musicians Helene Pohl (violin), Rolf Gjelsten (cello) and Michael Endres (piano). Audio

New Zealand has a brand new wind band. RNZ Concert speaks with its musical director, Tom Chester. Audio

This week, we’ve some communion hymns from New Zealand and the United States, and we feature hymns by Isaac Watts, who’s sometimes described as ‘the Father of English hymnody’ – he wrote over 700 hymns. Audio

Young composer Estella Wallace talks about her prize-winning piece for string quartet inspired by Shostakovich's final work.   Audio

Jonathan Le Cocq is bringing the theorbo to an imaginative Auckland Philharmonia baroque concert later this month. Audio

Hundreds of people have requested their most loved classical music for broadcast on Labour Day Monday on RNZ Concert. It is going to be wonderful listening. Until then, enjoy some interesting trends drawn from those requests.

Ahead of playing it with the NZSO, cellist Kian Soltani talks about his favourite concerto. Video, Audio

Lawyer and arts supporter Jim Stevenson loved the sound of the tenor voice. Now a trust set up after his death is looking to support talented singers make the leap from study to a professional career. Audio

It's World Mission Sunday. This special day in the Catholic liturgical calendar was created by Pope Pius XI in the mid-1920s as a day of prayer for missions. Audio