24 May 2018

Upbeat for Thursday 24 May

From Upbeat, 11:36 am on 24 May 2018

 

Noon

The new Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Jacinda Ardern gives her first big speech on why arts and culture is important across all aspects of NZ society, but especially for childhood development.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Photo: VNP / Phil Smith

1pm The opera that will have you laughing (and falling in love)

Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love opens next week in Auckland. The charming, funny opera is being performed by New Zealand Opera. Conductor and Musical Director Wyn Davies, and baritone Morgan Pearse give us the lowdown on Love.

The Elixir of Love

The Elixir of Love Photo: Jeff Busby

1.30pm Dancing with Mozart

Some of Mozart’s most stunning tunes have been used for ballet, thanks to a bevy of talented choreographers including Stephan Zeromski, for the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Dancing with Mozart opens next week in Wellington, before heading to seven other centres.

The Australian Ballet Petite Mort with dancers Alice Topp and Christiano Martino

The Australian Ballet Petite Mort with dancers Alice Topp and Christiano Martino Photo: Supplied

2pm

Today’s feature music is an all-Russian Affair and concludes with Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto no. 1 performed by Maxim Vengerov with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Dmitri Shostakovich in 1950

Dmitri Shostakovich in 1950 Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0