From the start, New Zealand Opera's Don Giovanni presented the mix of tragedy and comedy stipulated in the opera's description as "dramma giocoso" (playful drama).

Michael Hurst, ONZM — actor, director, stage and screen veteran — is starring in Trees Beneath the Lake at Auckland’s Maidment Theatre.

Auckland opera audiences have become accustomed to having Verdi and Puccini presented through the eyes of female directors from across the Tasman.

Goethe was outraged by the suggestion that Mozart merely composed Don Giovanni "as if it were a piece of cake or biscuits stirred together out of eggs, flour and sugar!"

Thousands of Kiwis will witness the dazzling performers in Cirque du Soleil's Totem in its five-week Auckland season.

After the disappointment of the NZ Symphony Orchestra's last visit, its Friday concert was a welcome return to form, writes William Dart.

Johan Kobborg's Les Lutins, still in classical mode, cavorts and struts its sweetly saucy stuff to the live virtuoso violin of Benjamin Baker and Michael Pansters on piano.

Rising Kiwi piano star Sylvia Jiang will soon be the toast of New York - but not before she wows Kerikeri.

Claire McCall talks to an Auckland teen about her starring role as orphan Annie.

Dozens of dancers, music and a couple of young lovers - the ballet's come to town.

First it was the Aotea Centre, then The Edge. Now the organisation is changing again. But can a new name and logo bring more big entertainment acts to Auckland?

Until now, the two NZ festivals have co-existed - Auckland on the odd years, Wellington the even. But from 2016, Auckland goes annual for the first time, writes Brian Rudman.

Dionne Christian previews May's big fat helping of music for Auckland's children.

Almost 600 children were at The Civic in Auckland to vie for the roles of the von Trapp kids in the Lloyd Webber production.

Indian Ink Theatre's Jacob Rajan returns to Southern India and is thrilled by his company's historic first.

What's a bit Dumpy, a bit Grumpy but has a real Buzz about it?

The first instalment of Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's Remembering World War I series drew a large, appreciative audience, keen to hear Li-Wei Qin in Elgar's Cello Concerto.