The final concert of Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's New Zealand Herald Premier series was a night to remember.

Adele sticks with mostly conventional ballads of heartbreak on her third album, but still creates songs of lasting appeal.

Chris Schulz ventures into the wasteland, and likes what he sees.

Put down your Pip-Boy and pick up Rise - you'll like what you see, writes Chris Schulz.

The two most awful people on television were looking a bit green around the gills last night, writes Steve Braunias.

The Block's Brooke and Mitch revealed their unsporting colours when they scored their fellow contestants zeroes, leading Braunias to ask 'are they Australians?'

Reality show Who's Doing the Dishes features contestants that were "too dull and idiotic" to make it onto Come Dine With Me, writes Calum Henderson.

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.

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.

Black Grace founder and director Neil Ieremia has created a new work from sections of what has gone before.

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.

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.

We review new albums by the Chills, Jack White's Dead Weather and many more new releases.

It's one of the biggest game releases of the year, but is Halo 5 living up to its predecessors? Chris Schulz finds it does, for reasons you may not expect.

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.