Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s principal percussionist Eric Renick will perform Einojuhani Rautavaara’s spell-binding percussion concerto Incantations with the APO this week. RNZ’s Adrian Hollay went to the APO rehearsal space to talk with Eric about his percussion setup and to hear excerpts of the piece.

Wellington ensemble Druz’ya Quartet has won the NZCT Chamber Music Contest with their performance of Shostakovich’s String Quartet no. 8. The players talk with Clarissa Dunn about the difficult work they chose and how their other talents add to their musical performances. Judge pianist Stephen de Pledge explains how the strong competition is a positive thing for chamber music in New Zealand.

University of Auckland celebrates the appointment of new flute lecturer Eric Lamb to the School of Music. American born, Eric has an ongoing performing career working at a top level with Sydney's Omega Ensemble and as principal flutist of the Chineke! Orchestra London, Europe's first Black and minority ethnics orchestra. Eric gives his recital on Wednesday with colleagues Marin Rummel and Kent Isomura.

Considered to be chamber music “royalty” the Takács Quartet held court over the weekend in Wellington and Auckland. Elizabeth Kerr was in the crowd to hear the dynamic group perform Haydn, Webern, Dvořák and a quartet by New Zealand composer Anthony Ritchie.

Composer Gareth Farr is In The Wars. He’s writing the music for a new show written by acclaimed Paris-based kiwi Juliet O’Brien. The show is premiering at BATS theatre next week and tells different stories from conflict areas, from a mother trying to delay the birth of her baby in a warzone, to an Afghan bomb-sniffer dog who now requires a psychologist.

Two pianos are better than one! Audiences lap up the fun, and quite a few pianists and composers as well judging from the music that’s been written for piano duo. Putting that philosophy to the acid test is the Silver Garburg Piano Duo who are back playing with the CSO this weekend Poulenc’s vivacious Concerto for Two Pianos.

The Piano is hosting a special concert to raise funds for several young Christchurch musicians who are studying  overseas: pianist  Bradley Wood, and tenor Oliver Sewell, Lyric soprano Anna Hoetjes is joining the concert to support her friends and will sing several arias with Oliver Sewell as part of the fundraiser. Anna and Oliver discuss why overseas study is still a must for aspiring classical musicians, whether the scene in NZ is able to meet demand and their hopes for their respective careers.

The Proms is underway in the UK, with RNZ Concert broadcasting many concerts over the next six weeks. BBC Proms Director David Pickard talks to us during a rehearsal from the Royal Albert Hall about this year’s programming, why he included Welsh pop singer Tom Jones in the line-up, and the fallout the BBC has faced since conductor Daniel Barenboim’s speech on the need for European unity.

Takács Quartet is known for its unique blend of drama, warmth and humour in its performances. The quartet is here for a flying visit playing Wellington and Auckland this weekend. Violist Geraldine Walther and violinist Edward Dusinberre discuss their unique combination, why they put a NZ composer on the programme and whether the quartet is “chamber music royalty”.

Sex and politics go hand in hand in Mozart’s opera The Marriage of Figaro. Mozart played fast and loose with censorship rules in in writing an opera about the right of the lord of the manor to have sex with every new bride on his estate. Kate Lineham who plays the Countess in Eternity Opera’s new production talks with director Alex Galvin about how Mozart’s sublime music allowed him to get away with discussing the controversial European practice in one of his most popular operas.