Focus

Beyond Pussy Riot – Rock, Pop, Rap and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine Beyond Pussy Riot – Rock, Pop, Rap and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine Adrian Smith Beyond the activist punk band Pussy Riot, a number of popular rock, pop and rap artists in Russia have been making their voices heard on the invasion of Ukraine – in the face of oppressive new laws – while others have chosen to stay silent. Adrian Smith explores the nature of dissent through music in Russia at this critical time.
A Voice His Own, Rarely Alone A Voice His Own, Rarely Alone Brendan Finan After a delay of two years due to the pandemic, fiddle player Martin Hayes finally premiered his new group the Common Ground Ensemble at the National Concert Hall last weekend. Brendan Finan reviews.
Radical Bach? Radical Bach? Mark Fitzgerald Xenia Pestova Bennett and Ed Bennett have recently released a reimagining of Bach's 'Goldberg Variations' on the Ergodos label. Mark Fitzgerald reviews.
The Many Sides of Music and Song Collecting The Many Sides of Music and Song Collecting Adrian Scahill The first book to discuss music on the Aran Islands, 'Collecting Music in the Aran Islands: A Century of History and Practice', has recently been published by Deirdre Ní Chonghaile. Adrian Scahill reviews.
Some Kind of Magic in Cork Some Kind of Magic in Cork Brendan Finan The seventh Ortús Chamber Music Festival took place recently in Cork, featuring Mairéad Hickey, Fiachra Garvey and a new work by Sebastian Adams. Brendan Finan reviews.
Striking a Celebratory Tone Striking a Celebratory Tone Adrian Smith The National Symphony Orchestra presented two concerts for International Women’s Day featuring a range of works by female composers with soloists Catriona Ryan, Louise Mulcahy, Sharon Shannon, Ava Dodd, Zoë Conway and AIS. Adrian Smith reviews.
Reflections on Home from Norway to Ukraine Reflections on Home from Norway to Ukraine James Camien McGuiggan Norwegian violinist and composer Henning Kraggerud recently performed with the Irish Chamber Orchestra at the NCH. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
CMAT Sees Us Through CMAT Sees Us Through Shannon McNamee Irish pop singer CMAT's debut album went to number one in the Irish charts in its very first week. An original songwriter with a witty online presence, she has come to mean even more than that for her fans, writes Shannon McNamee.
Dublin Theatres Were Wrong to Cancel Russian Ballets Dublin Theatres Were Wrong to Cancel Russian Ballets Adrian Smith A cultural boycott of Russia has been emerging over the past two weeks following the invasion of Ukraine, but we have to reflect on how it is being implemented and what it hopes to achieve, writes Adrian Smith.
Sophisticated Sound World Sophisticated Sound World Geoffrey Spratt The viola player Constantin Zanidache, founder member of the Academica Quartet and a former teacher at MTU Cork School of Music, recently gave a recital of Bach and John Kinsella in the Curtis Auditorium. Geoffrey Spratt reviews.

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