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NZSO’s Stabat Mater: Victoria Kelly’s profound and moving new work — Five Lines

Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · 3d

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...

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.

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Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you for doing this!

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Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · 5d

Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · 16d

In the medieval old town in Braşov in Transylvania - just what is this design on this excellent coffee? Something to do with Dracula?

Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · 25d

I’d go for all the slow movements!

Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · 27d

And where is the funding for our own arts sector? Let’s attract tourists with our own cultural creativity.

Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Sep 3

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.

Fiscal responsibility doesn't mean what Nicola Willis thinks it means

Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Aug 30

Hanging out in Berlin with my friend Jane - you might like to follow her, she’s new here.

Jane Connor @janebconnor.bsky.social · Aug 30

‘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.

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Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Aug 24

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.

OPINION: “True fiscal responsibility means ensuring government can deliver the public services that underpin a thriving society,” Tayla Forward writes.

www.thepost.co.nz

The Monster is coming: NZ Opera’s thrilling community opera — Five Lines

Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Aug 21

"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.

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.

Common Sense about Negotiations

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Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Aug 18

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...

For Americans about Ukraine

open.substack.com

A Masked Ball from Wellington Opera: splendid singing in an imaginative production — Five Lines

Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Aug 15

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:

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.

Immerse Festival: NZSO’s next Music Director reveals his strengths — Five Lines

Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Aug 14

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.

André de Ridder conducted the NZSO in its Immerse Festival concerts, including Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Papatūānuku by Salina Fisher and Jerome Kavanagh Poutama.

Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Aug 6

Hobson’s Pledge should do much more than that! A public apology and possibly compensation for the kuia whose image they used so disgracefully without permission. This should encourage everyone to vote “yes” to Māori wards - it shows we need the voices of tangata whenua at the table!

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Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Aug 2

Media probably just published a press release - it’s the weekend. Luxon was explicit-“more tourism, more agriculture (!), more infrastructure.”

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Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Aug 2

On the whole I find them more balanced than some print media. Maybe not Morning Report but elsewhere.

'Wave' of Conservation Act concessions, foreign visitor charge for high-volume DOC sites

Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Aug 2

Well, they broadcast his statement at the conference which was explicit about the”more tourism, more agriculture (sic!)…”. That alerted me. It’s the online summary that shifts the story to fees for overseas visitors - and most media have picked that up, probably repeating media release?

Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Aug 2

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...

The government plans to make it easier to get a concession to operate on Conservation land.

www.rnz.co.nz

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Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Jul 14

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.

NZSO National Youth Orchestra: energy and passion in outstanding performances — Five Lines

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Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Jul 10

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

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.

The Night Watch: exploring the intimate beauty of darkness — Five Lines

Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Jul 2

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.

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.

Shostakovich: music for troubled times — Five Lines

Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Jul 2

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

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?

Anemic Cinema @ the Roxy: Stroma goes to the movies — Five Lines

Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · Jun 20

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

Contemporary ensemble Stroma has created an adventurous programme of experimental black-and-white film with new and colourful soundtracks for the Lōemis Festival.

Reuben Brown’s journey to the podium: learning from the best — Five Lines

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Elizabeth Kerr @elizabethxkerr.bsky.social · May 27

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

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.