Music can set a scene. In the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s case, it will set many scenes, as they explore the score from the short film Flying South which takes audiences through the beauty of New Zealand’s wilderness. Los Angeles based Kiwi composer Mark Smythe reveals how he’s broken into the Hollywood scene and the secrets of writing for film and television.

Auckland’s youth theatre company Massive are preparing to take their show The Wholehearted on the road. Under the helm of co-directors Sam Scott and Scotty Cotter, the show explores the "extreme power of love" across generations, genders and cultures. At its heart is the simple question: “What is it to live a wholehearted life?”

The PumpHouse Theatre on Auckland’s North Shore is celebrating its 40th anniversary this weekend. Business Manager James Bell talks about the breadth of work that the theatre hosts and why community theatres are so important across New Zealand.

Wellington choir Nota Bene is featuring the music of Jack Body and Benjamin Britten in its Kindred Spirits programme this Sunday. Music Director Peter Walls sees an affinity between the music of the two composers and even discussed it with Jack.  The concert is timed to coincide with the publication of some of Jack’s choral scores by Waiteata Music Editions.

Renowned New Zealand period flautist Melissa Farrow is home for NZ Barok’s Autumn Notes season. The leading historic flute and recorder player is based in Sydney where she’s the principal flutist for the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. She’s performing works by Carl Friederich Abel, Haydn, WF Bach, Boyce and Sammartini in the baroque orchestra’s first performance for 2017.

Grammy Award winning British pianist Kathryn Stott started her tour here last night with a performance of Rachmaninov’s 4th piano concerto with the APO; to be repeated this evening in Takapuna with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. Then Kathryn is straight into Chamber Music New Zealand's tour with the New Zealand String Quartet. She’s also famous for her relationship with cellist Yo Yo Ma with whom she discovered tango and other Latin dance music, winning a Grammy for her South American CD Soul of the Tango.

Tonight APO guest conductor Rumon Gamba gives the first Australasian performance of a recently rediscovered work by Igor Stravinsky. Funeral Song was written by the young composer just before he became famous, but was presumed lost during the Russian Revolution. Re-discovered last year in St Petersburg Funeral Song made an emotional impact on Rumon Gamba.

Dancers, like athletes, put their bodies through challenging circumstances and are susceptible to injury.  Physiotherapist Susan Simpson knows all too well the rigors the body goes through on stage.  The former dancer has transitioned from on stage to off, now being hands on with the students at the New Zealand School of Dance. She discusses what’s happening in the world of performance arts physiotherapy and how performers can minimise their risk of injury.

The University of Auckland presents the 10th anniversary of its Graduation Gala Concerto Competition tomorrow night.  Sara Lee (piano), Joella Pinto (violin) and Julie Park (viola), will each perform a concerto with the University of Auckland Symphony Orchestra. School of Music Head Martin Rummel and guest Judge violinist Helene Pohl from the New Zealand School of Music discuss the current pressure being put on music schools and whether we have too many.

New Zealand composer Garth Farr's Cello Concerto Chemin des Dames marks the 100th anniversary of one of the bloodiest battles of the first world war. It’s been written for young French cellist Sébastien Hurtaud. The work has its premiere with the NZSO in Wellington on Friday before being performed in France. Sébastien discusses what it means to have a piece written for him about a military error so serious it caused many French divisions to openly mutiny in protest.