With the classic Viennese triumvirate of Beethoven, Mozart and Brahms on offer, one might have hoped for a full house at the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's Saturday concert.

Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837) is a fascinating case history; a composer trapped in a no man's land between the classical and romantic ages.

Smart series tackles big issues but never forgets it's a comedy, writes Karl Puschmann.

British band Mumford and Sons returned to Vector Arena last night with a very different show to their last visit.

87-year-old songwriter Burt Bacharach makes his last visit to Downunder.

Why are couples dressing up in animal costumes and fighting in a forest? Calum Henderson investigates.

A night of telling tales lay ahead when Eckehard Stier took the podium on Thursday for his penultimate appearance as Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's music director.

The first episode of the Kiwi-made designed-for-Oz dramedy about a Sydneysider shifting to smalltown New Zealand was enjoyably forgettable.

Assassin's Creed has had a terrible year. Unity, the series' much-heralded entry into the next generation console market was an unmitigated disaster.

With his long dark hair tied back into a bun and a casual nature about him, Hozier took to the stage of Auckland's Vector arena last night.

The camera makes these puppets seem strangely more human than ever before. Kermit even makes some squirmy allusions to his sex life, writes Alex Casey.

Calum Henderson reviews Amazing Spaces: Shed of the Year and likes what he sees.

This production, like a couple of other traditional-style Auckland Theatre Company shows this year, falls rather flat - and it's not just the off-key singing.

While some firebrands mellow with age, the revolutionary Beethoven fought with ever-increasing fervour and focus as he struggled through life.

If Ray McVinnie's next cookbook is a weirdly Elvis-themed mish-mash of traditional Italian, Jamaican and Ashkenazi Jewish dishes, at least now we'll understand why: it's all in his DNA.

TV3 debuted its new local comedy offering last night, led by an all-female line up. But is it any good?

Bays sees the seven-piece outfit more focused and dynamic than ever.

The official announcement for The Muppetscame back in May and since then we've only had teasers and trailers to watch, rewatch and get excited about.

Performance poet Grace Taylor has created a boldly experimental fusion of theatre and verse that offers a fresh perspective on the sprawling contrasts of Auckland City.

Seventies rock troopers Kiss are old enough to know better - and so were their fans who dressed up in customary face paint and glam-rock getup for last night's show.

Television's recent embrace of the anthology as a viable format is either a liberating act of creative genius or a certifiably bonkers act of sheer hubris.

Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk is lying at the bottom of a halfpipe in a crumpled heap.

Russell Brand swaggered, thrusted, probed and taunted his way through a 90 minute set, pointed out the absurdities of the world, and of human nature, and left the 4000 strong audience in a daze.