One of New Zealand's most celebrated artists, Brooke Fraser-also known globally for her worship work as Brooke Ligertwood-returns with an extraordinary new live project that bridges her two remarkable musical worlds. Brooke Fraser - Live with the Auckland Philharmonia is a celebration in sound, colour, and symphony, capturing the beauty, vulnerability, and artistry that have defined her career across three decades.
Recorded before a sold-out audience of 10,000 at Spark Arena, this immersive album and concert film invite listeners to experience Fraser's songs as they have never been heard before: clothed in sweeping orchestral arrangements by leading New Zealand composers, performed by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra under the direction of Hamish McKeich, and featuring special guests TEEKS, Georgia Lines, and Ny Oh.
This project represents a full-circle moment for Fraser-a final bow under her "Brooke Fraser" name before she continues her artistic journey as Brooke Ligertwood, the name under which she has written and led modern worship songs that have circled the globe, including "What a Beautiful Name," "King of Kings," and "A Thousand Hallelujahs." Here, she returns home to the songs that first captured hearts and defined a generation of New Zealand songwriting.
Spanning her rich catalogue from 2003's What to Do with Daylight to 2014's Brutal Romantic, Live with the Auckland Philharmonia revisits the songs that shaped Brooke's legacy. The setlist unfolds like a musical memoir-melding tender intimacy with cinematic grandeur.
Beloved hits such as "Better," "Arithmetic," "Deciphering Me," "Shadowfeet," and "Something in the Water" rise to new heights with the texture of a 70-piece orchestra, while fan-favourite deep cuts "St Petersburg" and "Ice on Her Lashes" shimmer with renewed poignancy. Fraser's distinct voice-by turns ethereal and grounded, whimsical and wise-anchors the evening, breathing new life into lyrics that continue to resonate decades on.
Adding to the emotional weight of the performance are two brand-new songs:
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"Rooney's Song," a playful and tender ode that captures Fraser's signature storytelling charm; and
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"Hourglass," a breathtaking a cappella piece that distills the heart of time, loss, and faith into pure vocal expression.
While the concert honours Fraser's mainstream catalogue, it also reflects the artistic evolution that has led her to become one of contemporary worship's most respected voices. As Brooke Ligertwood, she has led millions in worship around the world with Hillsong Worship and as a solo artist, her songs sung weekly in churches across continents. Live with the Auckland Philharmonia stands as the meeting point between those worlds-the storyteller and the psalmist, the poet and the worshipper.
The project's visual and sonic scope capture the sense of homecoming and transcendence that have always defined her music. From the delicate piano lines of "Arithmetic" to the jubilant swell of "Something in the Water," every note testifies to a career built on honesty, craft, and an unwavering pursuit of beauty and truth.
The album and full concert film will be released worldwide on November 21, 2025, available on all major streaming and digital platforms.
