Conflict and Sorrow in Rural Ireland
Brendan Finan
Irish National Opera's 'Werther', featuring mezzo-soprano Niamh O’Sullivan and Italian tenor Paride Cataldo, is currently on a nationwide tour. Brendan Finan reviews a performance at the Solstice Arts Centre.
Sounds and Silences of the Troubles
Jonathan C. Creasy
'History of the Present', a new opera-film by Maria Fusco and Margaret Salmon exploring the trauma of the Northern Ireland Troubles, with music by Annea Lockwood, received its premiere at the Belfast International Arts Festival this month. Jonathan C. Creasy reviews.
Playing with the Post-digital
Adrian Smith
The 2023 Music Current festival took place last week (12–15 April) at the Project Arts Centre in Dublin, featuring works by Francis Heery, Jaki Irvine, Michael Maierhof, Jessie Marino, Simon Steen-Anderson and Michael Beil, with performers Nadar Ensemble, Dublin Sound Lab and more. Adrian Smith reviews.
Seóirse Bodley at 90
Adrian Scahill
The Irish composer Seóirse Bodley is 90 this month and two of his works will be performed at the New Music Dublin festival this week. Adrian Scahill looks back over his music and his innovative work in integrating Irish traditional music into his compositional voice.
Finnegans Flare
Brendan Finan
Composer Roger Doyle has just released a second volume of works inspired by Joyce's 'Finnegans Wake'. Brendan Finan reviews.
Picked Up and Placed Elsewhere
Brendan Finan
The new Metronome series began at the NCH last week (16 March) with Ordnance Survey's 'Nomos: O’Riada Reimagined' and Sharon Phelan's 'Radio Ocean'. Brendan Finan reviews.
Pages
Marking a Decade Exploring the New Music Scene
The 10th New Music Dublin festival took place last weekend and featured major new works by Donnacha Dennehy, Ann Cleare, Kevin Volans, Karen Power and more. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
The Challenge of Moving Beyond Common Ground
Martin Hayes and his new group the Common Ground Ensemble have just released their first album together, 'Peggy’s Dream'. Adrian Scahill reviews.
Creating Space for Collaboration
The Ulster Orchestra and pianist Clare Hammond, conducted by Jamie Phillips, gave the world premiere of Piers Hellawell's 'Rapprochement' last week. Thomas Neill reviews. 
A Soundworld that has Become Deeper and Richer
Lankum's fourth studio album, 'False Lankum', is a refinement of their sound more than it is something radically new, but there are many other achievements, writes James Camien McGuiggan.