Young opera singers around New Zealand have spent the past 10 days auditioning for the country's most prestigious song contest.

Auckland's 'Off Broadway' institution puts on a bumper weekend, writes William Dart.

Sixteen figures in flowing cream reclaim the King of Thebes from Freud in this melodic contemporary opera.

Nixon in China, co-produced with Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and New Zealand Opera, cements why John Adams has created an operatic survivor.

An extraordinary international event, John Adams’ Nixon in China is one of the most celebrated operas of our generation. It's an ambitious work on a grand scale.

Sol3 Mio's Pene Pati has come in second in Domingo Placido's prestigious Operalia competition, and won the Audience Award.

Sol3 Mio’s Pene Pati has made it through to the semi-finals of a prestigious opera competition in London.

Michael Fabiano, a rising star in world opera, had almost made it. With only the finale to go before a certain standing ovation, disaster struck.

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

There was an air of ritual about Requiem for the Fallen, the major music commission of the New Zealand Arts Festival.

A UK critic has slammed Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's guest performance on the hit TV drama Downton Abbey.

British theatre mogul Andrew Lloyd Webber has been hospitalised in the UK, where he received his "12th general anaesthetic in 8 months".

Elizabeth Marvelly became a pop opera star at the age of 18. Six years on, though, the Kiwi singer is packing it in, deciding that she no longer wants to sing the classical music that has brought her fame and money.

Danielle Wright finds Wellington alive with art events, food and popular culture this winter.

Bryn Terfel was diligent, young and talented. He was also starting to think he had made the biggest mistake of his life.

Over the next few months children, from tots to teens, can immerse themselves in music, comedy and drama as they like it: loud and boisterous, writes Dionne Christian.

Beachside is best in Sydney, finds Jo Bates.

Zesty performance by Auckland Opera Studio and ACO remains faithful to the spirit of original Cosi fan Tutte.