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
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?
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Pages
The Many Sides of Music and Song Collecting
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.
Reflections on Home from Norway to Ukraine
Norwegian violinist and composer Henning Kraggerud recently performed with the Irish Chamber Orchestra at the NCH. James Camien McGuiggan reviews. 
Dublin Theatres Were Wrong to Cancel Russian Ballets
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.