Features

Your new downloadable classical podcast for July is Violin Concerto No 2 by Béla Bartók. It's beautifully played by Amalia Hall with Orchestra Wellington, conducted by Marc Taddei.

White Star Station is home to sheep, Hereford cattle and beehives. Zane and Ngaire Evans also provide homestays and horsetrekking for tourists heading north. Audio, Gallery

Taut, concentrated and overwhelmingly powerful, Otello lays bare the extremes of human emotion. This Auckland performance is fronted by Simon O'Neill and Maria Luigia Borsi. Audio

Stellar Bennett (aka Benee) couldn’t have appeared more at ease in front of a sold-out crowd at the Powerstation on Friday night, writes Waveney Russ.

Widescreen - Director Andrew Peat (his real name) lovingly traces the history and culture of Scottish whisky in this delightful low-budget documentary.

It’s the season of Matariki where we celebrate rising stars including the NZSO National Youth Orchestra and the New Zealand Youth Choir. Listen from 12 noon on RNZ Concert.

"We're reusing everything [when we make poi] 'cause I don't want to make a big footprint on the world right now" – Georgia Tiatia Fa'atoese Latu of Pōtiki Poi. Audio

Listen again to Chris Bourke's audio history of popular music recorded in New Zealand in the 1950s and early 1960s.

'Blue Smoke' was masterminded by Dannevirke man Ruru Karaitiana in 1940, before Pixie Williams' 1949 rendition became an instant hit. The pair were remembered at a music-filled ceremony in Wellington this week.

Week in Politics - The prime minister plays it safe with her reshuffle while the future of David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill remains uncertain, writes Peter Wilson.

Warm your voices on these cold winter mornings with some singing! We've supplied the words ... Audio

The findings of a new Harvard University study point to the powerful protection of the "old boys network", says Paul Healy, a New Zealander and Harvard professor. Audio

Tonight, Sound Lounge includes music for Matariki such as Leonie Holmes' 'Solstice'.

Orchestra Wellington is conducted by Marc Taddei in concert of music that wants to dance!

At The Movies - Film programmer Sandra Reid joins Simon Morris to discuss this year's astonishing mix of riches. Video, Audio

Elric Hooper brings a theatre expert's eye and ear to the operas based on Shakespeare plays, including Verdi's Otello. Audio

What happens to your body when you sit or stand under artificial lights for eight hours without much of a break? Audio

The New Zealand String Quartet are currently on their annual national tour. Here they are at St. Andrew's in Wellington in 2018 with some of their favourite music by Mozart, Webern and Beethoven.

Video - Jon Toogood, Liam Finn and Samuel Flynn Scott will celebrate 40 years since the release of Neil Young's album Live Rust with a special tour this August. We get a sneak peek at their first rehearsal.

Australian popstar and LGBTQI icon Troye Sivan tells Jim Mora how he stays true to himself. Audio

Widescreen - Harrison Ford's brief cameo is the best thing for grown-ups in this sequel – otherwise, it's a run of easy gags with diminishing entertainment value.

New Zealand needs to up its game in agriculture, tourism and bioresources manufacture, according to energy futurist Michael Liebreich. Audio

Employment law expert Max Whitehead gives us tips and tricks. Audio

Join two 'new kids on the block': three-piece Nomad and emo-popsters Openside, both performing live in session at RNZ.