Music

Ka Pō Ka Ao: Rob Ruha and the Auckland Philharmonia

20:00 pm on 23 June 2022

To celebrate the first Matariki public holiday in June 2022, the Auckland Philharmonia put on this very special concert with Māori singer-songwriter Rob Ruha.

Rob Ruha with band and APO Photo: screenshot

Ruha (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou) performed with his own band and a range of backing vocalists including Ka Hao – a vocal group he collaborated with on the Silver Scroll-winning te reo Māori song ‘35’.

Listen to the Ka Pō Ka Ao performance (recorded by RNZ on 23 June 2022)

This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

This RNZ Concert recording was awarded GOLD for 'Best Live Sound' in the prestigious New York Festivals Radio Awards 2023, and Best Music Feature at the 2023 NZ Radio Awards.

Recorded by: Darryl Stack, Blair Stagpoole

Mixed and mastered by: Adrian Hollay

The performers: Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (conducted by David Kay), Rob Ruha (vocals)

The band: Thabani Gapara (saxophone), Sam Nakamura (guitar), James Illingworth (keyboards), Johnny Lawrence (bass), Darren Mathiassen (drums)

The backing vocalists: Kaaterama Pou, Marley Sola, Pere Wihongi, and Whenua Patuwai, along with the vocal group Ka Hao

Orchestrations by Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper

The waiata:

RUHA, MAXWELL orch Bridgman-Cooper: Aue Wairua
RUHA orch Bridgman-Cooper: I te pō
RUHA orch Bridgman-Cooper: 120
RUHA, NOBLE orch Bridgman-Cooper: Lost in the Q (Weekend)
RUHA, KEELAN orch Bridgman-Cooper: Taka Rawa
RUHA, NOBLE orch Bridgman-Cooper: Taera
RUHA, KEELAN orch Bridgman-Cooper: Kalega
RUHA orch Bridgman-Cooper: Alamein
RUHA ET AL orch Bridgman-Cooper: 35
RUHA orch Bridgman-Cooper: Papa
RUHA orch Bridgman-Cooper: Tonight

If you like this, you might also enjoy:

  • Louis Baker live with the Auckland Philharmonia
  • Benee live with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
  • APO: Best of Beethoven - The Revolutionary
  • Backing vocalists Pere Wihongi, Kaaterama Pou, Marley Sola, and Whenua Patuwai Photo: screenshot

    Members of Ka Hao Photo: screenshot

    Rob Ruha with band and APO Photo: screenshot