New Zealand Festival 2018
Peter and the Wolf reimagined
A lineup of talented narrators including Wellington’s mayor Justin Lester and RNZ’s Kim Hill, lend their voices to the retelling of Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf at New Zealand Festival… Audio
Upbeat for Friday 16 March
Modern technology jazzes up Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf at NZ Festival. Max Richter on why he wants his audiences to go to sleep. We give away his CD’s to help you doze off. And the most famous of…
Review: Swan Lake/Loch Na hEala
Irish choreography Michael Keegan-Dolan takes the title Swan Lake from the classic Tchaikovsky ballet but does his contemporary interpretation follow the original folk tale in other ways? Jennifer… Audio
Upbeat for Thursday 15 March
Auckland Writers Festival announces its programme for the May Festival; Jennifer Shennan reviews the Irish Swan Lake, but not as you know it and we bring you another concerto that you have to hear. We… Video
Review: Cécile McLorin Salvant
Grammy award winning American jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant brought her unique sound to the Michael Fowler Centre last night as part of the New Zealand Festival. Does she live up to being… Audio
Upbeat for Wednesday 14 March
Opera’s joined the #metoo movement; American jazz vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant brings her unique sound to the capital; Dunedin Symphony Orchestra launches its 2018 season and we play another…
NZ Fest's Field of Poppies
The newly-reopened Gothic Revival church of St Mary of the Angels is the venue tonight for a NZ Festival concert featuring internationally renowned Wellington organist Paul Rosoman and the Monarch… Audio
Review: NZSO plays Star Wars
Star Wars fans from around NZ flocked to the capital to see the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra perform the score of Star Wars A New Hope, with the film playing on a big screen behind the musicians. So… Audio
Upbeat for Tuesday 13 March
Was the force with the NZSO in its Star Wars performances at NZ Festival? Paul Rosoman brings Fields of Poppies alive at St Mary of the Angels tonight. Then the second of our famous five concertos you… Video
Upbeat for Friday 9 March
We take a glimpse at the Readers and Writers fest; then we discover what opera ballet is, and did NZ Opera’s Tosca impress Christchurch crowds? We also play music that brings a smile to your dial.
Review: Bless The Child
A death of a child throws a family into turmoil. The mother is accused of the death, but she seeks help to prove herself innocent. Lynn Freeman reviews the play about privilege, life, death and… Audio
Upbeat for Friday 2 March
Justin Gregory reviews the new look Giselle, Lynn Freeman faces the hard truths in Bless The Child, Tim Dodd explores how Phil Dadson is starting From Scratch & we celebrate past Concerto competition…
Trailblazing Orava Quartet & their colourful socks
Australia’s Orava Quartet makes its New Zealand debut today. The four young men have close family connections which means they don’t hold back in rehearsals. Brothers Daniel and Karol Kowalik, with… Audio
Upbeat for Thursday 01 March
It’s autumn and St David’s Day. We have a selection of music to see in the new season, along with a new release of Beethoven’s piano sonatas and discover who the first transgendered leading operatic…
Hemingway’s first novel and decadent lifestyle on stage
John Collins, founder and director of experimental theatre group Elevator Repair Service, talks about The Select (The Sun Also Rises). It’s a unique adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s classic first… Audio
Upbeat for Wednesday 21 Feb
Hemingway comes to the New Zealand Festival with The Select (The Sun Also Rises). New York director John Collins explains how he’s bringing Hemingway’s world alive & violinist Amalia Hall plays her…
Upbeat for Tuesday 20 Feb
Today is all about celebrating Kiwi composers. Pianist Stephen De Pledge brings alive seven pieces written by Kiwis inspired by Bach’s Partita & composer John Young’s new commission for the…
Jordi Savall’s musical time machine
Viol player Jordi Savall is taking the audience time travelling during the New Zealand Festival. He explains how he bridges the gap between old and new and how music is capable of transcending… Audio
Expect an Odyssey
The New Zealand Festival 2018 is going to be an odyssey of epic proportions. Waka Odyssey is the centre piece involving waka from around the Pacific descending on Wellington with much fanfare. Shelagh… Audio