Auckland Town Hall: New Zealander Simon O'Neill has been hailed as one of the finest tenors on the international stage, frequently performing with the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House and with orchestras all over the world. Now, he joins the NZ Symphony Orchestra to perform Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder, five pieces of music which Wagner wrote to poems by his muse and lover Mathilde Wesendonck while working on his opera Tristan und Isolde. O'Neill has recorded Wesendonck Lieder but never sung the song cycle with an orchestra so these NZ appearances are rare and special performances. It's complemented by the NZSO performing Wagner contemporary Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 4. Known as the "Romantic Symphony", it is one of Bruckner's most popular works and his first symphony to achieve significant public acclaim.
An Evening with Simon O'Neill and the NZSO, Claudelands Arena (Hamilton), Friday and Auckland Town Hall, Saturday
Cross Street Markets: These are steadily becoming one of the best inner-city hotbeats for artists and creatives. The monthly event runs Thursday-Sunday with clothes, food, art, plants, trinkets and a whole array of artisanal goods. Late night Thursdays and Fridays also feature DJs spinning the vinyl. The markets are the perfect opportunity to pick up some independent art, jazz up your wardrobe or buy a gift that's truly meaningful. It's worth stopping by alone just to soak up the vibe and stop for a chat with the interesting stallholders.
Cross Street Markets, Sunset Tattoo, today and tomorrow midday -8pm; Saturday and Sundays, 10am — 5pm
Basement Theatre:
Three of the Comedy Festival's most acclaimed shows have been hand picked for a return season, offering last-ditch laughs just as winter really hits. Brynley Stent & Rhiannon McCall's sex education show
