Adrian Smith

Adrian Smith is Lecturer in Musicology at TU Dublin Conservatoire.

The Erotic and the Murderous: Irish National Opera's 'Salome'
Irish National Opera's production of Richard Strauss' 'Salome' opened on 12 March at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Adrian Smith reviews.
A Fight for Power and Wealth: 'Possession' at the Project Arts Centre
'Possession', a new operatic work by the artist Amanda Coogan and composer Linda Buckley, based on a script by the deaf artist Teresa Deevy, ran at the Project Arts Centre from 21 to 24 February. Adrian Smith reviews.
Letting a Classic Speak
Irish National Opera presented Puccini's 'La bohème' at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin on 20–26 November. Adrian Smith reviews.
A Northern Star: What Ireland Can Learn from Huddersfield
The Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (17–26 November) has a particular focus on music from Ireland this year, as well as works from Lithuania, Rebecca Saunders, Laura Bowler, Angharad Davies and more. Adrian Smith reviews the opening weekend.
Into the Sonic Mass
Composer Ed Bennett and cellist Kate Ellis have this month released 'Strange Waves', a new record on the Ergodos label. Adrian Smith reviews.
Walshe's World of Dislocation
The world premiere of 'Oscailt', a new work by Jennifer Walshe, took place at the Samuel Beckett Theatre in Dublin on Tuesday 19 September. Adrian Smith reviews.
When it Comes to New Music, the NSO Needs to Get a Move On
The National Symphony Orchestra's new season begins on Friday 8 September, the second full season since it moved to the NCH. Adrian Smith looks ahead to some of the highlights and also considers the orchestra's programming of new music.
Minor Melancholia
'The Blue Light', a new album by composer Garrett Sholdice, has just been released on the Ergodos label. Adrian Smith reviews.
Playing with the Post-digital
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.
Love, Lust and the Passing of Time
Irish National Opera presented Richard Strauss' 'Der Rosenkavalier', starring Celine Byrne, Paula Murrihy and Claudia Boyle, at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin on 5–11 March. Adrian Smith reviews.
Conversations with Joyce
The world premiere of a new opera by Evangelia Rigaki and Marina Carr, 'Old Ghosts', inspired by 'Ulysses', took place last week at the Museum of Literature Ireland in Dublin. Adrian Smith reviews.
The Gradual Unfolding of Ideas
Last week the National Symphony Orchestra performed four world premieres by Irish composers – orchestral works by Adam McCartney, Seán O’Dálaigh, Judith Ring and Karen Power. Adrian Smith reviews.
'A Civilizational Battle': Russia, Ukraine and the Conflict Over Culture
There have been renewed calls for a boycott of Russian culture, but many Russian artists are at odds with the regime and we should support them, writes Adrian Smith.
A Joyous Debut
The Chineke! Orchestra, Europe's first majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra, made their Irish debut at the NCH on 13 November, with soloist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason. Adrian Smith reviews.
A Hymn to Nature and Freedom
Irish National Opera's 'William Tell' – the first production of the Rossini opera in Ireland for 145 years – opened at the Gaiety Theatre on 8 November and runs until Sunday. Adrian Smith reviews.
The Pacing of Big Moments
The newly formed Pirosmani Quartet (Mairéad Hickey, William Hagen, Georgy Kovalev and Aleksey Shadrin) performed works by Seán Doherty, Beethoven and Brahms at the NCH on 23 October, the final date of a nationwide tour presented by the National String Quartet Foundation. Adrian Smith reviews.
Different Dimensions
The Fidelio Trio have recently released an album of chamber works by Gerald Barry, most of which have never been recorded previously. Adrian Smith reviews.
Expanding the Boundaries of Opera
'Out of the Ordinary/As an nGnách', a new opera by Finola Merivale and Jody O’Neill experienced through virtual reality, is currently running as part of the Dublin Fringe Festival. Adrian Smith reviews.
An Ambitious and Diverse Return
New Music Dublin returned last week with a fully live event from 28 April to 1 May, and 39 world premieres. Adrian Smith reviews.
Beyond Pussy Riot – Rock, Pop, Rap and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Beyond the activist punk band Pussy Riot, a number of popular rock, pop and rap artists in Russia have been making their voices heard on the invasion of Ukraine – in the face of oppressive new laws – while others have chosen to stay silent. Adrian Smith explores the nature of dissent through music in Russia at this critical time.
Striking a Celebratory Tone
The National Symphony Orchestra presented two concerts for International Women’s Day featuring a range of works by female composers with soloists Catriona Ryan, Louise Mulcahy, Sharon Shannon, Ava Dodd, Zoë Conway and AIS. Adrian Smith reviews.
Dublin Theatres Were Wrong to Cancel Russian Ballets
A cultural boycott of Russia has been emerging over the past two weeks following the invasion of Ukraine, but we have to reflect on how it is being implemented and what it hopes to achieve, writes Adrian Smith.
What is the Future for the National Symphony Orchestra?
The National Symphony Orchestra has now officially transferred from RTÉ to the National Concert Hall. What does it mean for the future of the group? Adrian Smith explores the question and suggests six ways that the NSO could have a positive start in its new home.
A Winter Highlight
The 9th Fidelio Trio Winter Chamber Music Festival took place last weekend with featured artist Francesco Paolo Scola and works by Kevin Volans, Irene Buckley, Berio, Ustvolskaya, Stravinsky, Korngold and more. Adrian Smith reviews.
Imagination Runs Wild
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.
Hollowed Out by Her Past
Donnacha Dennehy and Enda Walsh's new opera, 'The First Child', premiered at the Dublin Theatre Festival at the weekend. Adrian Smith reviews.
A Glimpse into Her Inner World
A collection of songs by Ina Boyle has been just released on Delphian Records and features Paula Murrihy, Robin Tritschler, Ben McAteer and Iain Burnside performing 33 works by the twentieth-century Irish composer. Adrian Smith reviews.
Between Oppositions
In July, the Dutch Ragazze Quartet premiered Garth Knox's new work 'Four Into Twenty' as part of the online West Cork Chamber Music Festival. Adrian Smith reviews.
Midsummer Reinvention
The world premiere of David Fennessy's 'Rosewoods' for guitar and orchestra took place on Monday 21 June as part of the Dublin International Chamber Music Festival. Adrian Smith reviews.
Music Worth Making
The 8th edition of New Music Dublin, Ireland's largest festival of contemporary music, took place on 23–26 April, this time online. With 33 world premieres and a weekend full of concerts, did it manage to maintain the momentum of recent years? Adrian Smith reviews.