Criticism
Leaving a Trail for New Composers
The fourth concert in the Female Composer Series at the National Concert Hall – programmed in partnership with Sounding the Feminists – featured music by Thea Musgrave, Sofia Gubaidulina, Jane O'Leary and Kaija Saariaho. Tim Diovanni reviews.
Trading Licks
The Saturday night double-header at the Spike cello festival featured traditional musicians Liam O’Connor and Cormac Begley with Cello Ireland, and free improviser Ernst Reijseger – a night that went from Irish slow airs to musical comedy. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
Looking for a Link Among Irish Composers
Tim Diovanni reviews a concert of works by Stanford, Buckley and Boyle performed by the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra – a rare and interesting mix, but did it work?
A Voice for Dark Nights
Lankum singer Radie Peat's solo performances revolve around the dark spectrum of folk music. Anna Murray reviews her recent set at Temple Bar TradFest.
Last Songs and Final Fugues
Music for Galway's Midwinter Festival explored a range of works written at the end of composers' lives. Jake Morgan reviews performances from Finghin Collins, ConTempo Quartet, Ailish Tynan and more.
More to Unite Than Divide
The latest concert in the Female Composers Series at the NCH featured works by composers of the Belle Époque – from Lili Boulanger to Mélanie Bonis – illuminating our understanding of the music of the period, writes Adrian Smith.
New Voices Singing Women's Stories
Last week, the RIAM presented an Irish opera premiere and TU Dublin Conservatoire presented a Baroque opera double bill, featuring a range of emerging artists. Brendan Finan reviews.
The End and the Beginning
Cormac Breatnach's 'The Whistle Blower' tour and album, featuring Daire Bracken and Martin Tourish, is both an act of healing as well as a challenging musical offering. Ian Bascombe reviews the performance at Glór.
Hard to Reconcile
The Fidelio Trio's second album of French piano trios has all the fine musicianship of the busy trio, writes Brendan Finan, but too many eccentricities.
'Don't Worry, It's Totally Safe'
'Body Noise Work' – an adventurous project by new music ensemble Kirkos – took place in Dublin last weekend. Tim Diovanni reviews a series of performances involving dripping water, instrument destruction and physical interference.