Arts

The latest album from the former Cat Stevens brings his 50-year music career full circle. Yusuf Islam speaks to Bryan Crump about The Laughing Apple, his eventful life and his influences. Audio

Michael Houstoun is about to play a new piano concerto, written for him by Lyell Cresswell, working with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Lyell turned 70 in 2014 and is busier than ever writing… Audio

Wellington-based poet Hera Lindsay Bird says she was shocked to get a phone call saying she had won a $25,000 arts prize. Audio

Soon - depending on whether your idea of hell or heaven is hundreds of kids performing musical theatre - the Aotea Centre in Auckland will either be an incredibly joyous place to be, or the place to… Audio, Gallery

Recently Java Dance Company violinist Tristan Carter has been travelling around the world, visiting among others places India, Georgia, and Iran. Audio

Pianist Jonathan Crayford is gearing up to hit the road with a Steinway D concert grand; not the usual way of doing things as a pianist but then Mr. Crayford has a fondness for being unique. And when… Audio

This week is the third New Zealand Chinese Language Week. Eva Radich is joined by the co-chairs of the week Jo Coughlan and Raymond Huo. Audio

Justin Gregory reviews Auckland’s Tempo Dance Festival shows Limbs@40, Java Dance's The Wine Project, Orchids, and "a world with your wound in it". Audio

Mezzo Soprano Catrin Johnsson and pianist Rachel Fuller hit the road this Labour weekend with Voices NZ for three concerts to celebrate Spring and Love. Audio

Maximum Minimalism is the paradoxical title of Stroma’s concert at Wellington’s City Gallery featuring the hypnotic, looping sound worlds of composers Steve Reich, Julia Wolfe, Alison Isadora and… Audio

Dan Slevin says two shows from HBO prove television is tackling the biggest themes in very interesting ways.

GALS, the Auckland Gay and Lesbian choir is celebrating its 25th anniversary with an event that highlights an important issue for Auckland: homelessness. The choir will perform The Street Requiem… Audio

Tony Ryan joined the sold out crowd at Wigram Airforce Museum on Saturday for the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s Ode to Joy featuring Beethoven’s famous 9^th Symphony and his less well known Violin… Audio

In the 1860s Richard Burgess and his outlaw gang roved the West Coast, robbing and murdering dozens of people. Black Sheep investigates his life story and what drove him to a life of crime. Audio

 Based on a story of feuding Scottish families by Sir Walter Scott, Donizetti's opera has become a bel canto classic. Video

Thomas Goss discusses composer-film specialist Ken Russell & his penchant for over-the-top portrayals, and reviews other films in which hysteria trumps drama. Audio

Alex Taylor is the music director and writer of the show The Winterreise Project. He's also a multi-instrumentalist, composer, critic, lecturer, conductor, singer and impresario. Lynn Freeman first… Audio