Martin Rummel and Eric Lamb from ensemble paladino discuss their "(re)invention" series where they take music written for a particular set of instruments and re invent it in another guise. The ensemble perform their latest project of Bach (re)inventions this Sunday in Auckland.

Dominic Groom reviews a rare performance of Messiaen's last major orchestral work Illuminations of the Beyond. This was a landmark performance for several reasons: the debut here of British maestro Sir Andrew Davis and the first time the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra had performed together: the work is a monster requiring over 120 players.

The Absurdity of Humanity is the latest work from The New Zealand Dance Company. The double bill show brings together works from Ross McCormack and Lina Limosani, both with an absurdist view on the world. McCormack's piece Matter combines belonging, love and failure while Lomosani's work has both Kill Bill inspired fight scenes and Elizabethan costuming. NZDC artistic director Shona McCullagh explains more.

Orchestra Wellington continues its final masterpieces series later this month concentrating on music by Richard Strauss. Music Director Marc Taddei discusses Capriccio as well as the other works that complement it: Festmusik Der Stadt Wien for Brass and Timpani and Metamorphosen: Study for 23 Solo Strings

Playing one instrument can be daunting enough, but for New Zealand Symphony Orchestra percussionist Lenny Sakofsky, he'll be playing 12 - including the Thai nipple gong and a xylorimba. He's just one of the 128 musicians from the combined talents of NZSO and the National Youth Orchestra playing Messiaen's Illuminations of the Beyond

The Christchurch Youth Choir is warming up the city with a cozy night of choral delights with their mid-winter Christmas concert Adeste Fideles. Music Director Grant Bartley and choir member Caitlin Godfrey discuss the choir's growing strength and the music by Bach and Haydn they will perform this weekend.

The Melbourne Youth Orchestra is back to perform with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. The groups will present Mahler's First Symphony, The Titan. Also on the bill is a trans-Tasman clarinet trio including Andrew Uren, Richard Haynes and CSO principal clarinetist Ellen Deverall, performing New Zealand composer Eve de Castro Robinson's Triple Clarinet concerto.

How many of us are actually tone deaf? What is it? And can it be cured? Dr Nicola Swain from The University of Otago has just arrived back in the country after presenting some interesting findings in Europe on tone deafness.

Aucklanders are in for a treat over the next few months as they have an opportunity to pick and mix performance arts experiences. The Pick and Mix festival brings together a number of acts, from clowning, to improv - along with workshops to give the public a taster of being in the audience, and being a participant.

The New Zealand Youth Choir has won four categories and the Grand Prix prize at the International Festival of Academic Choirs in the Czech Republic. Music Director David Squire is thrilled with the result; which included five trophies and a cash prize of $4000nzd.