William Dart savours the latest release of Schoenberg's Gurre-Lieder.

World's greatest bass-baritones is in NZ to perform a role he says is devilishly good.

Winston Aldworth rounds up the latest kids' picture books for our short takes column.

New Zealand's new poet laureate wants more of us reading and writing poetry.

Chinese telecom giant Huawei is donating 100 pianos to low-decile NZ schools.

NZ actors, comedians and musos are winning friends at the world's largest arts festival

What would you do? Question lies at the heart of superb drama, writes Paul Simei-Barton.

Gow Langsford Gallery draws on experience, an eye for art and a head for a deal.

Theatre maker Julie Zhu is getting 100 Chinese Aucklanders on stage to tell their stories.

Nell Gwynn is a highly recommended night at the theatre, writes Janet McAllister.

Our longest surviving and largest annual art awards mark a major milestone this year.

Artist Mark Wooller's blend of typography and topography is getting worldwide attention.

Otahuhu College art teacher's visit to Cuba leads to an unusual artistic exchange.

Fletcher Christian's story told with intrigue and compassion, says reviewer Siobhan Harvey

Sara Wiseman stars in a string of successful TV shows, now she's going back to the start.

US composer Copland's symphonic masterpiece is gloriously restored, writes William Dart.

Annabel Gooder rounds up the latest sci-fi and fantasy books for our short takes column.

Organisers of National Poetry Day think it's time for the All Blacks to have a team poet.

In town this week, author Elizabeth Kostova shares the secrets of her bookshelves.

What would you have done? Play asks tough questions, says actress Elizabeth Hawthorne.

One of our great cultural chroniclers is now on a musical mission

Matilda - The Musical means a family reunion for one of its star and NZ opera boss.

Actress Robyn Paterson's life-changing injury made her more determined to perform.

NZ conductor is the first in the Southern Hemisphere to receive a European cultural award.

Short takes - top reads for Kiwi teens reviewed by Graham Hepburn

Peter O'Connor teaches theatre in prisons, psychiatric hospitals and dementia wards.

Brian Falkner's Machines of War is a gripping read with equal parts fact and fiction.

Brilliant steampunk adventure a worthy successor to Harry Potter, says Dionne Christian.

Short takes - kids chapter books reviews the latest junior fiction.

NZ's worst road accident to be remembered in a play that finds grief still raw 54 years on