What the critics say

Five young singers have been picked for a year's immersion in the operatic arts under the guardianship of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists scheme.

The singers are Seamus Casey, of Christchurch, Carla Parry, of Waiuku, Sarah McOnie, of Auckland, Stephanie Bain, also of Auckland, and Elaine Wogan, of Cambridge.

The emerging artist system aims to give promising young singers a solid start in the early days of their professional career. As well as fulltime coaching in vocals, language, grooming, stagecraft and involvement in NBR New Zealand Opera's school programme, the singers each receive $12,000 and may be cast in the company's first production of the year, Boris Godunov, with Russian bass superstar Vladimir Matorin. That production comes to Auckland in late March.

The Mozart Effect:

Scientists, teachers and musicians have been arguing for years about the "Mozart Effect", the belief that listening to the composer's work boosts the intellect and reduces stress.

Texan Don Campbell has made a career and a fortune out of the "Mozart Effect", which he has trademarked. Campbell has published numerous best-selling books on the subject of music as a healing tool, as well as multiple units of CDs and videos. Campbell lectures extensively on the subject, and his theories have been adopted in some American state policies, including Georgia and Tennessee where every newborn baby is given a free Mozart CD.


But is the Mozart Effect really, er, effective? As a bizarre adjunct to last month's Mannheim Mozart festival in Germany, a local egg factory played Mozart to its 3000 chooks non-stop for 14 days to see if it affected numbers. The results were: no change. But the eggs, handed out to festival goers during concert intervals, "definitely tasted better", according to a spokesperson quoted in the Guardian.


Yolks aside, all sorts of claims have been made about the efficacy of Mozart's work. The Guardian says a Welsh science teacher reports the symphonies soothe disruptive students, and a Yorkshire primary school claims Mozart + math = better results. Edmonton in Canada has Mozart muzak in the main streets, allegedly reducing "jostling" and drug dealers, while some animal shelters use it to relax dogs.


In a local context, we occasionally hear news anecdotes about farmers who say classical music (not specifically Mozart) seems to benefit their stock.


The way to test the theory on humans is via live performance. There's virtually nothing happening on the concert scene at this time of year but there are quite a few Mozart moments to look forward to.


The NZSO's performance of the Piano Concerto No 21 does not come until October, but the St Lawrence String Quartet, courtesy of Chamber Music New Zealand, perform his string quartet in E flat here in March, with CMNZ guests the Leopold String Trio and the Southern Cross Soloists carrying the flag later in the year. The Auckland Philharmonia holds off until September with the Jupiter Symphony. Bach Musica is performing Mozart in May, June, August and December. Will we be wiser, calmer, better for the experience? When it comes down to it, music brings a quality of pleasure which cannot be measured.

Waiheke wins:

The $10,000 inaugural Sculpture on the Gulf Premier Award has been given to Waiheke artist Lyndal Jefferies with her large aluminium sound pool, The Cymatic Field. Three awards of $1500 were also made: the Lou and Iris Fisher Charitable Trust Emerging Artist Award, to Auckland artist David McCracken; the Creative Arts Trust Site Specific Award to Waiheke artist Kazu Nakagawa and the Cable Bay Vineyards Waiheke Artist Award to Aiko Groot.


Our Waiheke writer Janet Hunt reports that Gregor Kregar and Glen Spencer's knitted jumpers on live sheep "installation" got wet on Thursday's opening night and instead of shrinking as you might expect, stretched so much they fell off. However, there were 12 contented-looking sheep in their lovely white picket-fence enclosure on the night and the jerseys will reappear.

- LINDA HERRICK

Mainly Monochrome, Judith Anderson Gallery:

First show of the year and the title says it all: paintings, drawings and photographs by some big names including Greer Twiss, John Reynolds, Laurence Aberhart, Pat Hanly and Peter Peryer, whose photo of artist Edward Bullmore's boat the Honeypot on Lake Tarawera is pictured. Coincidentally, the same image will be on a banner for Rotorua Museum's Floating History photographic show, which opens on February 14; Bullmore's delightful boat is still moored on the lake. The MM show opens Wednesday until February 21.


Arcadia/Antipodea, George Baloghy, Artis Gallery:


Baloghy's "enhanced realism" records aspects of Auckland where the eye is drawn to natural landmarks such as Rangitoto through man-made structures such as motorways and bridges. Often the artist includes his own presence, driving along in his car; note the memorial stone to Grafton, many aspects of this view already radically changed. Runs from Wednesday until February 23.

- LINDA HERRICK