Elizabeth Kerr
@elizabethxkerr.bsky.social
Music writer, arts lover. I write about music, mostly the so-called classical kind, on my free website www.fivelines.nz and for NZ Listener. 🌈
My profile of cellist Daniel Müller-Schott, who has travelled from teenage prodigy to acclaimed and deeply thoughtful global star, acquiring his 300-year-old Goffriller cello on the way. He's playing in New Zealand very soon-details in the story. www.fivelines.nz/articles/cel...
Cellist Daniel Müller-Schott: sharing music with freedom and love — Five Lines
German cellist Daniel Müller-Schott visits New Zealand in November 2025 to play Schumann’s Cello Concerto with the Auckland Philharmonia and three concerts of Bach’s Suites for Solo Cello .
www.fivelines.nz
November 4, 2025 at 3:40 AM
My profile of cellist Daniel Müller-Schott, who has travelled from teenage prodigy to acclaimed and deeply thoughtful global star, acquiring his 300-year-old Goffriller cello on the way. He's playing in New Zealand very soon-details in the story. www.fivelines.nz/articles/cel...
How far should a performer go to respect the integrity of a composer's work? Or should they make it their own and be as inventive as possible? If an audience is thrilled, is that enough? My review of violinist Pekka Kuuisto's Four Seasons with NZSO. www.fivelines.nz/articles/nzs...
NZSO’s Four Seasons: Kuusisto’s virtuosic showmanship wins the audience prize — Five Lines
Conductor/violinist Pekka Kuusisto entertained the NZSO audience with his inventive performance of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons . Can showmanship go too far?
www.fivelines.nz
October 15, 2025 at 8:53 PM
How far should a performer go to respect the integrity of a composer's work? Or should they make it their own and be as inventive as possible? If an audience is thrilled, is that enough? My review of violinist Pekka Kuuisto's Four Seasons with NZSO. www.fivelines.nz/articles/nzs...
My review of a marvellous concert by NZTrio and Emma Pearson, soprano on tour with Chamber Music NZ. New Plymouth tonight, Hamilton, Christchurch and Nelson in the next few days - one not to miss! This ensemble is hot! www.fivelines.nz/articles/fou...
Four Last Songs: NZTrio and soprano Emma Pearson in marvellous musical accord — Five Lines
NZTrio with guest Emma Pearson delivered a crackling concert of varied repertoire, including Strauss's Four Last Songs arranged by NZ composer Salina Fisher.
www.fivelines.nz
October 14, 2025 at 12:37 AM
My review of a marvellous concert by NZTrio and Emma Pearson, soprano on tour with Chamber Music NZ. New Plymouth tonight, Hamilton, Christchurch and Nelson in the next few days - one not to miss! This ensemble is hot! www.fivelines.nz/articles/fou...
My diary from a fab month of concerts in Europe, from Esa-Pekka Salonen in Berlin to Klaus Mäkelä and Concertgebouw's Mahler 5 and Rite of Spring in Bucharest. András Schiff, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Isabel Faust, Iván Fisher, Budapest Festival Orch, Les Siècles among other highlights. #classicalmusic
A European concert diary: festivals, concert halls, and musical stars — Five Lines
A musical diary of a month in Europe in September 2025, visiting concert halls and festivals and enjoying performances by top conductors, orchestras and soloists.
www.fivelines.nz
October 10, 2025 at 10:20 PM
My diary from a fab month of concerts in Europe, from Esa-Pekka Salonen in Berlin to Klaus Mäkelä and Concertgebouw's Mahler 5 and Rite of Spring in Bucharest. András Schiff, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Isabel Faust, Iván Fisher, Budapest Festival Orch, Les Siècles among other highlights. #classicalmusic
The bold and brilliant composer Victoria Kelly hit it out of the park with her new Stabat Mater for #NZSO - here's my review: www.fivelines.nz/articles/nzs...
NZSO’s Stabat Mater: Victoria Kelly’s profound and moving new work — Five Lines
The NZSO’s recent Stabat Mater concerts presented Rossini’s operatic setting of the text and the world premiere of a new Stabat Mater by Victoria Kelly.
www.fivelines.nz
October 8, 2025 at 8:40 PM
The bold and brilliant composer Victoria Kelly hit it out of the park with her new Stabat Mater for #NZSO - here's my review: www.fivelines.nz/articles/nzs...
In the medieval old town in Braşov in Transylvania - just what is this design on this excellent coffee? Something to do with Dracula?
September 25, 2025 at 5:10 PM
In the medieval old town in Braşov in Transylvania - just what is this design on this excellent coffee? Something to do with Dracula?
Visited the Stasi museum in Leipzig today, which was chilling! It explained how the Stasi surveilled and harassed ordinary citizens on the basis of minor negative comments on the regime. Scarily like what’s happening in some so-called democracies today. Dark times revisited.
September 3, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Visited the Stasi museum in Leipzig today, which was chilling! It explained how the Stasi surveilled and harassed ordinary citizens on the basis of minor negative comments on the regime. Scarily like what’s happening in some so-called democracies today. Dark times revisited.
Hanging out in Berlin with my friend Jane - you might like to follow her, she’s new here.
‘Bach’s harpsichord’ at the Musical Instruments Museum in Berlin. Seems like there’s some debate about its authenticity but I’m putting that aside and imagining him composing on it. What a bonus to have my very knowledgeable friend Elizabeth Kerr along at this fabulous museum.
August 30, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Hanging out in Berlin with my friend Jane - you might like to follow her, she’s new here.
Excellent article by Tayla Forward - confirms my gut feeling that increasing unemployment, homelessness and environmental degradation doesn’t make a resilient economy - read to the end.
Fiscal responsibility doesn't mean what Nicola Willis thinks it means
OPINION: “True fiscal responsibility means ensuring government can deliver the public services that underpin a thriving society,” Tayla Forward writes.
www.thepost.co.nz
August 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Excellent article by Tayla Forward - confirms my gut feeling that increasing unemployment, homelessness and environmental degradation doesn’t make a resilient economy - read to the end.
"It reminds us" Simon Rattle said in 2015, "of people making desperate boat journeys..people trying to find their children who are in mortal danger." Ten years later this powerful work has lost none of its global relevance. NZ Opera is bringing The Monster in the Maze to 3 NZ cities - my preview.
The Monster is coming: NZ Opera’s thrilling community opera — Five Lines
NZ Opera’s community production, The Monster in the Maze , brings a Pacific flavour to the ancient Greek story of how Theseus slew the Minotaur and saved the youth of Athens.
www.fivelines.nz
August 21, 2025 at 2:12 AM
"It reminds us" Simon Rattle said in 2015, "of people making desperate boat journeys..people trying to find their children who are in mortal danger." Ten years later this powerful work has lost none of its global relevance. NZ Opera is bringing The Monster in the Maze to 3 NZ cities - my preview.
An outstanding analysis by the remarkable Timothy Snyder. How wonderful (and unlikely) if American politicians, officials and media humbly took note of his important negotiating issues before meeting with Ukrainian and European leaders. open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...
Common Sense about Negotiations
For Americans about Ukraine
open.substack.com
August 18, 2025 at 6:15 AM
An outstanding analysis by the remarkable Timothy Snyder. How wonderful (and unlikely) if American politicians, officials and media humbly took note of his important negotiating issues before meeting with Ukrainian and European leaders. open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...
A great production of Verdi's A Masked Ball by Wellington Opera, the little opera company that can! Great singing by some of our top singers, stylishly simple design, an imaginative production, Orchestra Wellington fine in the pit. My review:
A Masked Ball from Wellington Opera: splendid singing in an imaginative production — Five Lines
Wellington Opera’s A Masked Ball by Verdi featured an outstanding cast of New Zealand singers, inventive and stylish design and direction and fine chorus and orchestral work.
www.fivelines.nz
August 15, 2025 at 2:09 AM
A great production of Verdi's A Masked Ball by Wellington Opera, the little opera company that can! Great singing by some of our top singers, stylishly simple design, an imaginative production, Orchestra Wellington fine in the pit. My review:
A new Music Director for the NZSO is a big deal. André de Ridder is conducting Immerse Festival concerts in Wellington and shortly in Auckland (this weekend). My review of the Wellington concerts, including masterpieces by Stravinsky and the team of Salina Fisher and Jerome Kavanagh Poutama.
Immerse Festival: NZSO’s next Music Director reveals his strengths — Five Lines
André de Ridder conducted the NZSO in its Immerse Festival concerts, including Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Papatūānuku by Salina Fisher and Jerome Kavanagh Poutama.
www.fivelines.nz
August 14, 2025 at 1:58 AM
A new Music Director for the NZSO is a big deal. André de Ridder is conducting Immerse Festival concerts in Wellington and shortly in Auckland (this weekend). My review of the Wellington concerts, including masterpieces by Stravinsky and the team of Salina Fisher and Jerome Kavanagh Poutama.
The headlines somewhat disguise the fact that the govt plans to change the Conservation Act to allow more tourism, more agriculture and more infrastructure on conservation land. Our environment is again under attack from Luxon’s “growth”! www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
'Wave' of Conservation Act concessions, foreign visitor charge for high-volume DOC sites
The government plans to make it easier to get a concession to operate on Conservation land.
www.rnz.co.nz
August 2, 2025 at 6:37 AM
The headlines somewhat disguise the fact that the govt plans to change the Conservation Act to allow more tourism, more agriculture and more infrastructure on conservation land. Our environment is again under attack from Luxon’s “growth”! www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Congratulations Wellington Opera and Stroma for this important premiere. It's hugely important that the strong, distinctive strands of our cultures be carefully and gently entwined with aroha and pride, as demonstrated by one of our finest composers. Ka rawe, Dame Gillian Whitehead!
Gillian Whitehead’s Mate Ururoa: powerful storytelling with aroha and pride — Five Lines
Gillian Whitehead’s opera Mate Ururoa tells a powerful story of a Māori Captain in the 1st World War, entwining taonga pūoro, western instruments and voices in a moving production.
www.fivelines.nz
July 14, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Congratulations Wellington Opera and Stroma for this important premiere. It's hugely important that the strong, distinctive strands of our cultures be carefully and gently entwined with aroha and pride, as demonstrated by one of our finest composers. Ka rawe, Dame Gillian Whitehead!
There was something especially cheering about a brilliant performance by the 74 young musicians of the 2025 NZSO National Youth Orchestra. "The atmosphere in the hall during the prolonged ovation was electric. Bravi tutti!" My review: #NZSONYO #romanticmusic #newmusic #orchestralmusic
NZSO National Youth Orchestra: energy and passion in outstanding performances — Five Lines
This NZSO National Youth Orchestra offered fine performances of lush music by Strauss and Rachmaninov and the premiere of glacier , a work of complex textures and timbres by Luka Venter.
www.fivelines.nz
July 10, 2025 at 5:49 AM
There was something especially cheering about a brilliant performance by the 74 young musicians of the 2025 NZSO National Youth Orchestra. "The atmosphere in the hall during the prolonged ovation was electric. Bravi tutti!" My review: #NZSONYO #romanticmusic #newmusic #orchestralmusic
I'm attracted by good concert curation and, if your name is The Night Watch, darkness seems a good theme. Here's my profile of this splendid Wellington ensemble, combining Australasia's finest early music specialists in a concert called "in Darknesse" next week - details in the story.
The Night Watch: exploring the intimate beauty of darkness — Five Lines
Wellington-based specialist early music ensemble The Night Watch presents “in Darknesse”, the second of a 2025 triptych of concerts exploring the themes of darkness and the human voice.
www.fivelines.nz
July 2, 2025 at 10:43 PM
I'm attracted by good concert curation and, if your name is The Night Watch, darkness seems a good theme. Here's my profile of this splendid Wellington ensemble, combining Australasia's finest early music specialists in a concert called "in Darknesse" next week - details in the story.
Love the music of Shostakovich? I wrote this article about his life and work to mark the 50th anniversary of his death, to support New Zealand organizations performing his orchestral and chamber music this year, and to illustrate his contemporary relevance. #shostakovich #Stalinism #dictators
Shostakovich: music for troubled times — Five Lines
Marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Shostakovich, New Zealand musicians are playing his music. Does it provide the greatest insight into a major 20th century composer?
www.fivelines.nz
July 2, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Love the music of Shostakovich? I wrote this article about his life and work to mark the 50th anniversary of his death, to support New Zealand organizations performing his orchestral and chamber music this year, and to illustrate his contemporary relevance. #shostakovich #Stalinism #dictators
Len Lye, Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dali, Luis Buñuel - contemporary ensemble Stroma has put together some remarkable early films with more recent new music including two premieres. Have a read of my review of their adventurous programme 'Anemic Cinema'. #Dadaism #Surrealism #Pacificdrums #newmusic
Anemic Cinema @ the Roxy: Stroma goes to the movies — Five Lines
Contemporary ensemble Stroma has created an adventurous programme of experimental black-and-white film with new and colourful soundtracks for the Lōemis Festival.
www.fivelines.nz
June 20, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Len Lye, Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dali, Luis Buñuel - contemporary ensemble Stroma has put together some remarkable early films with more recent new music including two premieres. Have a read of my review of their adventurous programme 'Anemic Cinema'. #Dadaism #Surrealism #Pacificdrums #newmusic
A 'good news' music story to brighten your day! Conductor Reuben Brown's journey to a career on the podium has been supported by Aotearoa's professional conductors, our orchestras and his own talent and determination. #classicalmusic #conducting #orchestralmusic #mentoring
Reuben Brown’s journey to the podium: learning from the best — Five Lines
Conductor Reuben Brown is en route to a career on the podium, driven by talent, determination and charm. His mentors include Ken Young, Gemma New, Hamish McKeich, James Judd and Giordano Bellincampi.
www.fivelines.nz
May 27, 2025 at 9:24 PM
A 'good news' music story to brighten your day! Conductor Reuben Brown's journey to a career on the podium has been supported by Aotearoa's professional conductors, our orchestras and his own talent and determination. #classicalmusic #conducting #orchestralmusic #mentoring
For my preview of the NZ seasons of a new La Bohème by Puccini, I talked to Brad Cohen, NZ Opera's General Director and conductor of the Auckland performances. Have a read. You might agree with Brad - and me - that you shouldn't miss this production of one of the most popular operas ever. #opera
NZ Opera’s new La Bohème: what’s the enduring appeal of Puccini’s masterpiece? — Five Lines
Why is Puccini’s La Bohème still one of the world’s favourite operas, long after its première in 1896? And why should you not miss NZ Opera’s new production? NZ Opera’s Brad Cohen offers some answe...
www.fivelines.nz
May 27, 2025 at 12:47 AM
For my preview of the NZ seasons of a new La Bohème by Puccini, I talked to Brad Cohen, NZ Opera's General Director and conductor of the Auckland performances. Have a read. You might agree with Brad - and me - that you shouldn't miss this production of one of the most popular operas ever. #opera
You can read about - and listen to - the latest re-imagining of internationally-acclaimed Kiwi composer John Psathas' Voices at the End, a collaboration with London-based pianist Dawn Hardwick, in this Five Lines album review by Raf Hosking. www.fivelines.nz/articles/joh...
John Psathas’ Voices at the End — an impressive reimagining — Five Lines
Raf Hosking reviews a new album that reimagines John Psathas’ work Voices at the End with pianist Dawn Hardwick.
www.fivelines.nz
May 15, 2025 at 12:36 AM
You can read about - and listen to - the latest re-imagining of internationally-acclaimed Kiwi composer John Psathas' Voices at the End, a collaboration with London-based pianist Dawn Hardwick, in this Five Lines album review by Raf Hosking. www.fivelines.nz/articles/joh...
My review of the NZSO's recent concert with conductor Masaaki Suzuki - or, how a "quietly compelling conductor...sculpted a transparent and shapely performance." Sometimes the novelty is in the repertoire - in this concert, it was the performance that shone like new. #Bach #Mozart #Beethoven
NZSO ‘Legends’: Masaaki Suzuki reveals new magic in beloved classics — Five Lines
For the ‘Legends’ concert, the NZSO stayed with the safest of popular programming, but conductor Masaaki Suzuki revealed something special and new about the music.
www.fivelines.nz
May 14, 2025 at 2:59 AM
My review of the NZSO's recent concert with conductor Masaaki Suzuki - or, how a "quietly compelling conductor...sculpted a transparent and shapely performance." Sometimes the novelty is in the repertoire - in this concert, it was the performance that shone like new. #Bach #Mozart #Beethoven
This busy Kiwi musician is playing the roles of concerto soloist, concertmaster and chamber musician in Aotearoa and around the world. Have a read - and subscribe (it's free) for more artist profiles, concert and album reviews and previews. Three new stories today!
The remarkable Amalia Hall: star soloist, concertmaster and chamber musician — Five Lines
Violinist Amalia Hall will join the NZSO for Bartók’s 2nd Violin Concerto . But she’s equally at home as concertmaster or chamber musician and she’s playing all three roles at home and internationall...
www.fivelines.nz
May 13, 2025 at 3:28 AM
This busy Kiwi musician is playing the roles of concerto soloist, concertmaster and chamber musician in Aotearoa and around the world. Have a read - and subscribe (it's free) for more artist profiles, concert and album reviews and previews. Three new stories today!