Star Wars fans from around NZ flocked to the capital to see the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra perform the score of Star Wars A New Hope, with the film playing on a big screen behind the musicians. So did it live up to the hype?

The newly-reopened Gothic Revival church of St Mary of the Angels is the venue tonight for a NZ Festival concert featuring internationally renowned Wellington organist Paul Rosoman and the Monarch Brass Collective. Fields of Poppies is a reflection on conflict and peace through music, either as a call to war or a lament for the fallen.

Michael Parmenter’s new opera ballet OrphEus opened at the Auckland Arts Festival on Friday. It traces the love story Orpheus and Eurydice through the music of many composers, with a cast of 58 including dancers, opera singers and live musicians. Justin Gregory was in the audience.

The King’s Singers celebrate 50 years with performances in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. The group was joined by Voices New Zealand who are marking 20 years. How did the two choirs combine their voices? And was it a performance worthy of a celebration? Peter Mechen was there.

Candide stars one of Australia's real living legends, Reg Livermore. A star there for more than 60 years, is best known as one of the first Frank N Furters in The Rocky Horror Show.

Laurie Anderson, pioneer of electronic music, inventor, visual artist, and wife of the late Lou Reed has just released an album with The Kronos Quartet, inspired by the objects she lost in Hurricane Sandy.

The New Zealand Festival is in full swing. Standing Room Only’s Lynn Freeman reflects on NZ Festival performances in Wellington this week, and turns the page to the Readers and Writers Festival.

The love story of Orpheus and Eurydice is at the heart of Michael Parmenter’s new opera ballet Orpheus, which brings a cast of 58 to the stage. We meet U.S.tenor Aaron Sheehan and Ex Wellington harpsichordist Donald Nicholson, who wrote the score inspired by baroque music.

Mainlanders Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Simon O’Neill perform together in Christchurch for the first time in 20 years for NZ Opera’s Tosca. But did the leading men of opera in NZ shine? Tony Ryan was at opening night.

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s principal harpist Carolyn Mills discusses female representation in orchestras, teaching the next generation of girls how to play the harp and whether performing Star Wars is empowering for her.