Revealed: New Zealand's favorite classical music of 2024

An anti-war work is Aotearoa’s favorite piece of classical music for 2024, as voted by RNZ Concert listeners.

Welsh composer Karl Jenkins’ ‘The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace’ topped the list of the year’s 30 most popular classical works.

‘The Armed Man’ was commissioned by the Royal Armories Museum in 2000.

It is based on texts from a range of religions and words by writers including Rudyard Kipling.

The three thousandth live performance of ‘The Armed Man’ took place in March, conducted by Karl Jenkins, on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

Beeteven’s piano concerto number five, ‘The Emperor Concerto’, came second in the poll and Vaughan Williams’ ‘The Lark Ascending’ came third.