New podcast explores Wellington’s “Magpie House”

A new podcast series on a modernist black and white house in Wellington has been released.

SOUNZ Center for New Zealand Music said The magpie’s house tells the story of the house at 22 Ascot St in the suburb of Thorndon where composer Douglas Lilburn lived for over 40 years.

Lilburn was the father of classical music composition in Aotearoa and today the house is a residence of composers.

In the four-part series, music journalist and former RNZ producer and host Kirsten Johnstone weaves colorful stories from seven decades into the Magpie House creating a saga of Forrest-Gump war and music, espionage and persecution. of the cold war, the search for identity and a home.

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Episode one, Landing in unknown seas, focuses on the Czech-Austrian architect of the house and other refugees, who fled the Nazis but were persecuted in their adopted homeland during and after World War II.

Episode two, The vegetable club, tells the story of a veritable vegetable cooperative in which the first owner of the house, senior diplomat Richard Collins and his friends, were targeted by the special branch of the New Zealand police during the height of paranoia of the cold war.

Episodes three and four explore the end of Lilburn’s life, her pioneering work in electronic music, her relationships with friends and community and her enduring legacy, as well as the present and future of Little House of Ascot St.

The series is created and hosted by Johnstone, who recently produced the podcast series Lake for Thing.

• Episode 1 was released on November 22, with the next episodes expected on November 29, December 6, and December 13. Listen to episode 1 on news.sounz.org.nz