Electric Performance
Anna Murray
The opening night of the contemporary music festival Music Current (8–11 November) featured pianist and composer Zubin Kanga. Anna Murray reviews.
Finding Freedom
Brendan Finan
Irish National Opera's production of Beethoven's 'Fidelio', which ran at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin last week, questioned ideas of liberty, state power and democracy. Brendan Finan reviews.
Imagination Runs Wild
Adrian Smith
Irish National Opera have just released a film version online of Gerald Barry's anarchic opera 'Alice’s Adventures Under Ground', with Claudia Boyle as Alice. Adrian Smith reviews.
Through the Lens
Brendan Finan
Composer Ian Wilson's new album 'Echoes and Shadows', which focuses on works for violins, was released recently on Farpoint Records. Brendan Finan reviews.
Radio Experimental
Anna Murray
Celebrating five years of broadcasting, Dublin Digital Radio hosted its first festival of experimental music and sound last week (27–31 October). Anna Murray reviews.
David Keenan's Sense of Place
Shannon McNamee
Over the last decade, a number of remarkable artists have emerged from the music scene in Dundalk, David Keenan key among them. This month, he released his poetic second album, "What Then?". But what is it about this border town that generated a different type of music scene, and why now? Shannon McNamee writes about her home county and Keenan's unique voice.
Pages
Persist to the Other Side
The fiddle-player Martin Hayes has recently published a memoir of his life in music, 'Shared Notes: A Musical Journey'. Toner Quinn reviews. 
Picturing Flutes
The Music Current festival in Dublin ended with concerts by Lina Andonovska and Richard Craig. James Camien McGuiggan reviews. 
Northern Perspective on New Music
Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble from Northern Ireland have recently released their debut album, 'A Terrible Beauty' – a double-CD of 12 compositions. Mark Fitzgerald reviews. 
A Critical Moment for Choral Singing
Many choirs have not been able to function meaningfully since the pandemic began, but as they start to meet again now is the time to refresh and reflect on their aims, writes Geoffrey Spratt.