Peter Mechen

Designer Raymond Boyce made a huge contribution to ballet, opera, puppetry and straight drama after he first came to New Zealand in 1953. In 2015, Peter Mechen talked to Raymond and others who worked… Audio

Peter Mechen reviews pianist Lars Vogt who has taken on the Mozart challenge of directing from the keyboard with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

  Audio

Pianist Simon Trpceski returns to New Zealand for a national tour with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra to perform Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor. He performed at the Michael Fowler Centre on… Audio

We mark the passing of influential drummer and teacher Roger Sellers, Kiwi Baritone Jarvis Dams wins a major international competition and Peter Mechen reviews the NZSO with Simon Trpceski

Last weekend the NYO had its Firebird concerts in Wellington and Auckland. The group performed Suites 1 and 2 from De Falla’s The Three-Cornered hat, André Jolivet’s Bassoon Concerto featuring Todd…

We mark the passing of contemporary composer Oliver Knussen, Peter Meechen reviews of the NYO’s Firebird performance, and we continue to celebrate the cello.

The King’s Singers celebrate 50 years with performances in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. The group was joined by Voices New Zealand who are marking 20 years. How did the two choirs combine… Audio

It’s that time of year again when Handel’s Messiah is performed everywhere. The NZSO set the ball rolling with their Wellington performance conducted by Brett Weymark with three Australian soloists… Audio

Orchestra Wellington closed its 2017 season with Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Conducted by Marc Taddei the Orchestra offered up a dramatic performance that pleased the crowd. Peter Mechen was at… Audio

Internationally renowned pianist Joyce Yang opened her tour of the country with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington on Friday night. She performed the… Audio

Vivacious American wind quintet Imani Winds conclude the Chamber Music New Zealand 2017 season. Peter Mechen attended their performance at the Michael Fowler Centre last night, which featured works… Audio

Orchestra Wellington’s Invitation to the Dance concert on Saturday continued Music Director Marc Taddei’s focus on Ballet’s Russes impresario Sergei Diaghilev’s commissions with several waltzes by… Audio

Sarajevo, a new release by Wellington pianist Jian Liu features a collection of New Zealand piano works from some of the country’s most eminent composers. The album features two contrasting works by… Audio

Michael Houstoun played for a marathon 90 minutes, performing two concertos with Orchestra Wellington on Friday night. Peter Mechen reviews Houstoun’s performance of two concertos in D Minor: Mozart’s… Audio

Peter Mechen reviews Orchestra Wellington’s opening concert for 2017, Firebird. The programme featured great early works by not just Stravinsky but also Beethoven’s first symphony and the premiere of… Audio

The Michael Fowler Centre was packed to the brim for last night’s New Zealand Symphony Orchestra at 70 anniversary celebration. The three hour extravaganza featured works by Dvorak, Strauss, Brahms… Audio

Peter Mechen reviews the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Handel’s Messiah, featuring New Zealand soprano Madeleine Pierard and three Australian soloists with the Tudor Consort and… Audio

Peter Mechen goes on an interstellar adventure through Orchestra Wellington’s performance of Gustav Holst’s The Planets. He reviews two new works written by Orchestra Wellington's Composers in… Audio