Classical Notes Feis Ceoil’s young musicians reach for the stars once againA selection this year’s outstanding winners have been chosen to perform at the gala showcase concert in the NCH on Wednesday
Classical Notes Classical Notes: INO gets set for Vivaldi’s Olympics operaThis new opera production has a lot going for it, not least its timing with the Paris Olympics all set to get up and running
Classical Notes Classical Notes: Music Current has the power to shockThis year’s Music Current Festival has special focus on on video, light and darkness, and the human voice
Classical Notes Classical Notes: Why Bantry is a festival apart for music loversPlanning a trip to Bantry takes some planning, but will repay the effort with an unforgettable feast of chamber music with folk and jazz thrown in for good measure
Classical Notes Classical Notes: Variety puts music magic into West WicklowPianist Fiachra Garvey is both arguably the most successful Irish pianist of his generation and the founder of the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival, which promises ‘a great mix’ of music this year
Classical Notes Ó Riada prizewinner pays homage to rock star Rory GallagherThe music-composition contest has been running for over 50 years, providing a platform for composers across a wide area of genres
Classical Notes Galway gets spiritual with a feast of FauréThis year marks the centenary of the great French composer’s death and the musical calendar kicks off with a fitting tribute to his work
Classical Notes Why operatic climax gives us best Christmas carol of allGod knows how many versions of O Holy Night, we will hear between now and the new year. However, I’m sure the Almighty has the wherewithal to check these statistics to his own approval
Classical Notes Melancholic sounds of the cello to pull on heart strings at nine day music festival in Galway
Classical Notes Terrific La Bohème sets the bar even higher for INOThe Irish National Opera gave audiences ‘by far the best production of Puccini’s masterpiece I have ever witnessed at home or on film’
Classical Notes Royal Irish Academy of Music enters brave new world with elegant 300-seat theatreRIAM’s new performance space is a thing of elegance and will host concerts, recitals and lectures in the heart of the city
Classical Notes Curtain rises on Irish National Opera’s beloved BohemiansThe longevity of Puccini’s La Bohème is down to its timeless appeal, full of recognisable people and situations
Classical Notes Few laughs, but lots of drama in Wexford’s operatic warsFrom thrilling soprano performances in intriguing roles to charming pop-up mini concerts in the streets, the 72nd annual Wexford Festival Opera crackled with singing talent
Classical Notes Classical Notes: New Ross Piano Festival hits right notes – and all that jazzThe Wexford festival celebrating all things piano has expanded its offering to include jazz – and continues to attract some of the finest players in the world
Classical Notes The hotter the music, the Cooler it gets for Dublin jazz fans as MusicTown festival returnsThe funky and eclectic MusicTown festival is back, this time in one bespoke space within the Complex arts venue
Classical Notes How ‘Mr Charles the Hungarian’ beat Handel to it at time of Hallelujah premiereDublin’s annual HandelFest weekend on July 14-16 will be able to shed some light on the intriguing events and musical tumult surrounding the debut presentation of the composer’s most acclaimed work
Classical Notes Dublin ‘bustin’ out all over’ with a spell of great musicIt’s officially summer, and time to bask in the music of the various festivals coming up around the country, from chamber music to contemporary folk
Classical Notes INO brings Mozart’s most scandalous opera to major venuesCosì Fan Tutte has a saucy storyline involving partner-swapping and taking bets on women’s fidelity – and the Irish National Opera’s version with its star soloists promises to be stellar