Features

Cynthia Morahan offers the perfect overture to your day on RNZ Concert's weekday breakfast programme. You can check the schedules and even the bird-call here.

Following their 2017 collaboration Clear Stones, Berlin-based kiwi producer Fis & taonga pūoro player Rob Thorne are about to play their first shows in Aotearoa. Audio

Two survivors recall the horrifying night of 10 June 1886, when the eruption of Mount Tarawera killed up to 150 people and destroyed many settlements. Audio

The final in this year's season from the Metropolitan Opera is Massenet's gorgeously French take on Shakespeare's tragic love-story. From 6pm on RNZ Concert .

“[When I first heard the song 'Free Nelson Mandela'] I had no idea who Nelson Mandela was, but I knew by the end of the first chorus that I wanted him to be free" – UK musician and writer Dave Randall.  Video, Audio

William Dart looks over the career of American country-folk singer Mary Gauthier, leading up to her recent release Rifles & Rosary Beads. Video, Audio

Justine Murray visits the Rotorua tattoo studio of Richard Francis, who is also a teacher, painter and carver. Audio

Drummer Myele Manzanza shares his most influential tunes and finds more positive reasons to make music. Video, Audio

Every year there are calls for Matariki to be turned into a public holiday. Soon they will be too loud to ignore, writes Alex Braee of The Spinoff. Audio

Queenstown singer-songwriter Holly Arrowsmith chats to Wallace Chapman and plays us a couple of songs from her upcoming album A Dawn I Remember. Video, Audio

This week, The New York Times reported Facebook has allowed dozens of phone handset makers (including Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Apple) to access personal information about its users. Peter Griffin has the latest tech news. Audio

He says he admires Trump and that slavery ‘sounds like a choice’. Does Kanye West’s new album shed any light on his controversial stances? Nick Bollinger has a listen to Ye.

Tonight in Auckland the Kiwi tenor is on stage with the NZSO performing songs by Wagner. During the week, Eva Radich caught up with him to talk about his international career. Audio

Nick Bollinger listens to the international debut of formerly Wellington-based soul singer Deva Mahal. Audio

American chef, author and TV presenter Anthony Bourdain (1956-2018) spoke to Kim Hill back in 2010. Video, Audio

Nick checks out the finalists and winner of the 2018 NZ Jazz Artist of the Year award, including music from Umar Zakaria, Lucien Johnson, and Norman Meehan, Hayden Chisholm & Paul Dyne. Audio

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (1971 - 2017) overcame his blindness to push Aboriginal music into mainstream consciousness. His personal minder Michael Hohnen reflects on the man and work with Trevor Reekie. Audio

Ocean's Eight could have been great, writes Megan Whelan, but it ends up just being good. Video

Sax quartets are always fun and this lively group from the UK is no exception. Pieces by Françaix, Farkas and Bach are here for your entertainment!

Berlin-based Kiwi producer Fis and taonga pūoro player Rob Thorne are about to play their first shows in Aotearoa. Audio

  Audio

The best way for today's teenagers to learn about the environment is to be in the environment, say Errol Wood and Kelvin Nicolle. The Canterbury pair teach students about water quality and freshwater ecosystems. Audio, Gallery

We discuss the political power of music with UK musician Dave Randall who's released a book on the topic; Anna  Coddington drops in to perform a classic te reo song we all know and love; we chat to Drax Project fresh off the stage in the UK; Nick Bollinger reviews Kanye West's latest album; and heaps more!

What are the most popular classical albums at the moment? Find out which are in this week's top ten on RNZ Concert at 12 noon.