Reviews
Gerald Barry's Viola Concerto received its world premiere last week, performed by Lawrence Power and the Britten Sinfonia with Thomas Adès conducting. It's Barry's third concerto in recent years and it may be 'the wackiest of the lot', writes Adrian Smith.
Irish National Opera concluded its January to May short season with 'The Magic Flute' at the Gaiety last week, but it was a disappointing final production with questionable directorial decisions, writes Adrian Smith.
'...existential musings... music to move to' – Laura Sheary reviews the recent double-bill at the Black Box in Belfast featuring genre-bending groups Robocobra Quartet and Meltybrains?
Louth Contemporary Music Society presented the world premiere of Canadian composer Nicole Lizée's 'Spielberg Études' at Drogheda Arts Festival on 4 May, as well as her 'Hitchcock Études' and 'Kubrick Études'. Brendan Finan reviews the unique audio-visual works.
The It Takes a Village festival took place in East Cork on 10–12 May, featuring Irish acts such as Thumper, David Kitt, Le Boom, Jinx Lennon, Kojaque and Anna Mieke. Shannon McNamee reviews the small, intimate festival now in its second year.
In the third review from the new Journal of Music Music Writer Mentoring Scheme, supported by Galway City and County Arts Offices, Massimo Cattaneo reviews a Raelach Records showcase at the Black Gate featuring button accordionist Conor Connolly and fiddle-player Claire Egan.
We’re trained to think of musical winters in a certain way, writes Brendan Finan, but Ergodos' latest release, featuring the Ficino Ensemble and a new work by Garrett Sholdice, brings the unexpected.
An Taobh Tuathail presented by Cian Ó Cíobháin has been broadcasting since 1999, championing alternative voices late into the night on the Irish-language station RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. Shannon McNamee reviews a 20th anniversary concert in Galway (3 May) featuring Mount Alaska and Ships.
RTÉ Lyric FM celebrated its twentieth year with a gala concert on 1 May featuring the premiere of the very first concerto for Irish harp, written by Ryan Molloy. Tim Diovanni reviews.
Derry band Touts' rapid-fire sociopolitical commentary resonates with a despondent generation, writes Jake Tiernan, in the second review from our new Music Writer Mentoring Scheme, supported by Galway City and Galway County Arts Offices.