Arts and culture in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Erin Harrington reviews The Monster in the Maze, music by Jonathan Dove, libretto by Alasdair Middleton, directed by Anapela Polata'ivao ONZM, conducted by Brad Cohen, presented by NZ Opera, at the Isaac Theatre Royal, Friday 5 September 2025. It’s an impressive feat to make the wide, deep stage at the Issac Theatre Royal feel claustrophobic.… Continue reading Review: The Monster in the Maze – a stylish contemporary opera that pairs community with pros
Steph Walker reviews Gioachino Rossini's Le comte Ory, presented by NZ Opera with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, directed by Simon Philips and conducted by Brad Cohen, at the Isaac Theatre Royal, Thursday 27 June, 2024. Rossini’s Le comte Ory. As an arts lover but opera casual I wasn’t super familiar with it, but Rossini’s famous… Continue reading Review: Le Comte Ory – a joyful, very funny localisation that scores big
Erin Harrington reviews E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial in Concert, performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Benjamin Northey, at the Douglas Lilburn Auditorium, the Christchurch Town Hall, 24 February 2024. Few films define the 1980s more than Steven Spielberg’s E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), which centres on the relationship between 10-year-old Elliot (Henry Thomas) and a… Continue reading Review: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial in Concert – a transformative ride
Chris Archer reviews Noteworthy: Celebrating 150 Years of University of Canterbury, presented by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in conjunction with UC, conducted by Mark Menzies, MCed by Oscar Days and Alexandra Watson, Saturday 26 August 2023 at the Christchurch Town Hall. This concert, described by one of the UC student MCs as a ‘concert featuring… Continue reading Review: Noteworthy – 150 Years of UC – a celebratory smorgasbord of music
Erin Harrington reviews the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra's concert Matariki Around the World, led by creative director Juanita Hepi and conductor Nathaniel Griffiths, at the James Hay Auditorium, Wednesday 5 July 2023. There is something very moving about the way that Matariki is being enthusiastically embraced on a national scale as something unique to this place,… Continue reading Review: Matariki Around the World – musicial storytelling about the things that connect us
Erin Harrington reviews Back to the Future: In Concert, presented by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra under Chief Conductor Benjamin Northey, at the Christchurch Town Hall, Saturday 4 March, 2023. Some incontrovertible facts about the 1985 time travel film Back to the Future: it smashed that year’s box office, it made the DMC DeLeorean a pop… Continue reading Review: Back to the Future In Concert – A 1.21 jigawatt experience
Flat City Field Notes 