Classical Arts Ireland

From the Ashes of a Disaster

Gregory Donaghy — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:31:47 +0000

From the Ashes of a Disaster …

Indigenous opera production in the Republic of Ireland remains in a fragile state after the policy shambles which saw the transition to a new national opera company (Irish National Opera) abandoned at the last moment, but only after the larger of the two companies involved in its formation (Opera Ireland) [...]

MEANWHILE, NORTH OF THE BORDER

Gregory Donaghy — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:26:01 +0000

MEANWHILE, NORTH OF THE BORDER…

Against a similar background of generally reducing arts funding, a parallel opera company consolidation/transition project in Northern Ireland has gone very smoothly and now appears to be a huge success.

Formed out of Castleward Opera and Opera Fringe, both of which it has replaced, Northern Ireland Opera came into being as [...]

BALLET IRELAND MEETS SHAKESPEARE

Gregory Donaghy — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:24:19 +0000

BALLET IRELAND MEETS SHAKESPEARE

In spite of the large number of Irish people who love it, Ballet in Ireland continues to be one of the most poorly supported of all the Arts here by arts policy makers. In the Republic of Ireland, before the boom it lagged behind all the other performing arts in terms of investment. [...]

THE REAL DEAL

Gregory Donaghy — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:19:31 +0000

THE REAL DEAL…

One of the great pleasures in life for anyone who likes Baroque and 18th century music is to hear a really fine specialist ‘period’ orchestra. There is nothing to compare with the clarity of sound and texture they can produce, and the very best of these, in the hands of real musician-conductors, [...]

STALIN’S TAKE ON A HILARIOUS BALLET.

Gregory Donaghy — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:16:00 +0000

STALIN’S TAKE ON A HILARIOUS BALLET

It is a source of hope (and sometimes envy) for all of us who love them that some countries’ politicians and state apparatus can take the classical arts seriously. However, it is possible to go too far.

One of the most extreme examples from history is the manner and [...]

WILDE AND TITANIC NIGHTS OUT

Gregory Donaghy — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:08:00 +0000

WILDE AND TITANIC NIGHTS OUT …

Two Irish composers have very big nights out in April – and each promises to be a ‘you had to be there’ event. Luckily they don’t clash, so it is possible to be at both.

Gerald Barry is possibly Ireland’s most successful composer internationally. Though he has written a good [...]