Crump's Classical Conversation

Music is the best medicine? The New Zealand Doctors' Orchestra thinks so. We speak to Rural GP and piano soloist Dr Ben Booker. More about the NZ Doctor’s Orchestra and its concerts here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Ariana Tikao talks about the many strands of her musical life; from Kapa Haka to western classical music, from Taonga Pūoro to the Appalachian Dulcimer.Watch a performance of Manaaki here.Watch He Poroporoaki hereGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Sam Auger, from the Wellington International Ukelele Orchestra, helps the Martinborough Music Festival with a songwriting project for the district's school children. Relive a bit of Wellington Ukelele joy here.Martinborough Music Festival’s school outreach programme.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Tongan New Zealand star tenor Filipe Manu is back in New Zealand to sing in Bizet's The Pearl Fishers with NZ Opera. But he's also got a date with his old Dilworth School choir, where his singing career began. Watch Filipe Manu singing the beautiful Tongan song “Efiafi peau ongo’i vale”.Filipe rocking Bizet’s big number from The Pearl Fishers. Watch Dilworth’s school choir Fortissimo.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

George Wills introduces us to his theorbo; the grand-daddy of the lute family. Unpacking a theorboWatch a bit of Kapsberger here!Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Chinese-New Zealand pianist Tony Chen-Lin is back in the country, and he's brought a cellist friend with him, Hungarian Balázs Dolfin. Together they are the Dolfin-Lin Duo. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

NZSO principal clarinet Patrick Barry is coming down to the front of the stage to play Copland's Clarinet Concerto.Watch a performance of Copland’s Clarinet Concerto here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Christchurch's All Girl Big Band is ten years old. We celebrate with its founder Lana Law. Watch the All Girl Big Band in action here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Kate Goldstone, musician and a cardiac anaesthetist, talks about the link between music, emotion and the heart. The heartbeat opening of Mahler’s 9th symphonyGo to the ten-minute spot to hear the fading heartbeat of Tchaikovsky’s 6thMore on the Hush Music label.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The movie music of John Williams is a film star in its own right. Stéphane Denève is in the country to conduct the Auckland Philharmonia in two concerts of film scores by the great composer, who just happens to be a friend as well. Renaud Capuçon plays the main theme from Schindler's List here.Stéphane Denève in conversation with John Williams Watch Stéphane Denève conduct Bernard Herrmann’s Vertigo score here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It's over a decade since Chinese composer Gao Ping returned home after teaching at Canterbury University, but his ties with Aotearoa remain strong. He was back in the country recently for the release of a new album of his piano music recorded by Michael Houstoun. Michael Houstoun plays a track off Gao Ping’s new album.Michael Houstoun plays another track off Gao Ping’s new album.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

He cut his musical teeth in Columbian street bands. These days Christchurch Symphony Orchestra principal bass trombonist Pablo Ruiz Henao is happy to take a back seat mostly, but this year he's getting a solo role out front. Watch Pablo performing here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Tongan violinist Peau Halapua's love of classical music hasn't overshadowed the love she has for her own culture.Listen to the violinist who captivated a six-year-old PeauWatch Peau performing with Gevena Am. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Orchestra and chorus members agree; Romain Dumas is a lovely conductor to work with. We were charmed too when we spoke with him during his stint directing Wellington Opera's Manon. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

One of America's finest youth choirs comes to sing with some of our best. Between gigs Bryan catches up with the Cameron LaBarr, music director of the Missouri State University Chorale, and tour manager Destiny Romero.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Composer Keith Moss talks to us about his big break, getting to write an opera for Vienna's Summer Music Festival. Listen to Keith's Overture for an Unwritten Opera here.Listen to Keith's "Chamber Dances".Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A billion streams and counting. Pasifika composer Opetaia Foa'i talks about the phenomenal success of his Moana hit 'We Know The Way'.Watch a video of "We know the Way". Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

After spending most of this century working with some of the best orchestras in Europe, Australian cellist Martin Smith is back down under with the NZ String Quartet. Check out NZ String Quartet gigs here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It's been a busy 11 years since former NZSO music director Pietari Inkinen was last with the band, including directing Wagner's Ring Cycle at Bayreuth, and getting a house in the shadow of the Matterhorn. Check out Pietari's home base here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Norman Meehan has been setting the poetry of Bill Manhire to music for vocalist Hannah Griffin to sing since 2010. Their fifth and latest collaboration; Little Prayers is out now. Listen to Hannah Griffin sing HuiaHannah Griffin sings Little PrayersGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

He's one of four opera singing brothers from the Hastings suburb of Flaxmere taking on the world. We speak with baritone Faamanu Fonoti-Fuimaono before he leaves Aotearoa to study singing in London. Faamanu and his brother Jordan knock the big duet from Bizet's Pearl Fishes out of the park.All four of the opera singing Bros in the one video.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Darrell Daglish is an alphorn fanatic - all three and half metres of it. This is the story of how he realised the dream of bringing his own Swiss made Alphorn home to Aotearoa, and we're dropping it just in time for Swiss National Day, August 1st. Watch a whole lot of alphorns here.Watch Fabian Jud play the Leopold Mozart alphorn piece hereGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Wellington Central Library has a new concert series for lovers of music and literature. We spoke to librarian and organiser Corrina Connor about "Between the Lines".Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

He's from Hawkes Bay but he lives in Wales, he likes playing bad guys but off stage he's trying to be the best dad he can. We speak to Kiwi baritone Phillip Rhodes. Watch Phillip Rhodes play the ultimate operatic bad guy here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

He's still got a year and a half of school to go, but the 16 year old Auckland pianist Shan Liu already has a gig with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Watch a very young Shan Liu play a bit of Gershwin here.Here's Shan playing Prokofiev's 3rd Piano Concerto with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

She's one half of New Zealand's opera power couple, and soprano Amina Edris is back in Aotearoa with her husband Pene Pati to sing the title role in Massenet's Manon. Watch Amina singing Puccini here.With her hubby singing a little more Puccini.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Composer, singer and conductor Luka Venter is one of only two people to make it into the Royal Academy of Music's postgraduate conducting programmeGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

She was drawn to his writing because it's intelligent and silly; like her music. Eve de Castro Robinson's first work as 2026 composer in residence at Douglas Lilburn's old home is a collaboration with Wellington poet Nick Ascroft. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Back in the UK, English born organist Catherine Anderson met a Timaru organ builder. Now she's a force of nature in the South Canterbury music scene.Check out Catherine's organ credentials here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

He's one of New Zealand's finest guitarists, but these days you're just as likely to hear David Long's music on the screen - large and small. In fact, the former Muttonbirds guitarist recently traveled to the USA to pick up an Emmy award for one of his latest TV scores.Watch the trailer to Secrets at Red Rocks hereGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

American opera singer Frederica Von Stade is the star judge for this year's Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest. Ahead of the big night she shared a sparkling conversation with my RNZ Colleague Clarissa Dunn. Watch Frederica sing Rossini hereFrederica wears the trousers hereFrederica sings to the moon hereGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Mataatua wharenui, the stolen meeting house. Ngāti Awa built it in the 1870s in Whakatāne, then lent it to the Crown for an exhibition in Australia. It took a century to get it back. Composer Gillian Whitehead and collaborator Tessa Peterson talk about the true story that inspired an opera. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The 2026 NZSO National Youth Orchestra dazzled audiences in Auckland and Wellington this month. Bryan spoke to couple of the crew, sisters Portia and Indiana Bell. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Kiwi baritone Julien Van Mellaerts has an album out, "Dialogues" singing Schubert along with music by his friend (and current Master of the Kings Music) Errollyn Wallen.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Apart from the odd stay in a transit lounge, American violinist Gil Shaham's never visited New Zealand. We spoke with Gil ahead of his New Zealand debut playing Beethoven with the Auckland Philharmonia. Watch Gil Shaham play Beethoven here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This year's Mt Eden Chamber Music Festival is a tribute to two leading lights of New Zealand classical music who've died this year; violinist Mary O'Brien and pianist Katherine Austin. Festival director Simeon Broom tells us why and how. Watch a beautiful performance of Schubert's String Quintet here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Peter Hobbs has been making music with bees. The Auckland sound artist and composer tells us how he used recordings of the insects as the raw material for his latest album, Bee Sides. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

American conductor Mark Russell Smith is the leader of probably the largest band coming to Aotearoa this year; the 126 strong Greater Twin Cities Youth Orchestra from Minnesota. Watch that bit of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Bryan and Mark were raving about.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Young Dunedin violinist Skyla Murray decided to do her university study in Finland and it's paying off. She spoke to us about all day sun, saunas, Finnish small talk (they don't do it) and making wonderful music. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Tui Mamaki shares her love of Bulgarian song with her all female choir Medena, recorded in RNZ's Auckland studio. Medena sings a song of Bulgarian independence here.Medena performs a song about getting married here.Medena sings to the mountains here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Australian baritone James Clayton is a jack of all trades. He took time out from opera to drive a truck during the Covid pandemic. Luckily for opera lovers he's back singing, including performing the title role in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, with NZ Opera.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New York pianist Kelly Moran sometimes performs on a "prepared" piano. That's when you put nuts and bolts on the strings to change the sound. She's no slouch with digital pianos either. Kelly spoke to us ahead of her tour of New Zealand. Listen to Kelly's music and check out tour dates hereGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Sensors that transform chemical changes in rotting fruit into sound and recordings of birdsong made with machines used in mineral prospecting are part of the latest exhibition at New Plymouth's Len Lye Centre. Anna Briers is the curator.Read more about the exhibition here.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In late 2024, the New Zealand music scene mourned the death of Hamilton composer Martin Lodge. Eighteen months later, his partner Dr Gail Pittaway talks about the tribute album, Aeon, featuring music by his composing friends. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Li Wei Qin was born in China, grew up in Australia and now lives in Singapore. He took time out from a tour of Aotearoa to tell us how living in different cultures has broadened his approach to music making. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Much of the music our orchestras play is by men, but that's changing - slowly. Yvonne New tells us about the balance of male verses female composers in the programming of two of our top orchestras, from 1980 to 2024.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Electricity sparked up the career of the originally acoustic musician Jess Chambers. Now the Arts Foundation's provided her with a springboard to move into the musical world of TV and film. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

War is making a comeback, but Little Bushman guitarist Joe Callwood is taking a stand with his latest project, an online "politics free" musical collaboration dedicated to peace. You can get on board Joe Callwood's Peace Ensemble here. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Tane Upjohn-Beatson is a composer and arranger turning Shayne Carter's rock songs into orchestral masterpieces. Shayne Carter plays Crystalator live at Wellington's Bodega Bar. Listen to Tane's arrangement of Shayne Carter's Crystalator.The NZSO plays Tane's arrangement of Waiting Game.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Officially retired from teaching music at Otago University, Anthony Ritchie has no plans to stop writing it. Finishing his seventh symphony is one of his projects. He'll also have time to exercise his other great skill, playing croquet. Anthony's a former NZ representative. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details