Sinead O’Halloran: Another string to Cork musician's bow as Ortús founder forms quartet 

Marmen Quartet, featuring the co-founder of the chamber music festival in Cork, are already causing a stir with their debut album 

 Ortús co-founder Sinead O'Halloran, front, with the other members of the Marmen Quartet. Picture: Marco Borggreve

One of the highlights of this year’s Ortús Chamber Music Festival (February 26 – March 2) taking place in various Cork city and county venues will be a performance by the Marmen Quartet. Its newly released debut album, featuring music from Bartók and Ligeti, has been garnering five star reviews.

“We’re really excited by the buzz around it,” says Marmen Quartet cellist Sinead O’Halloran, who is the co-founder of the Ortús Chamber Music Festival. Now in its tenth year, the festival will have concerts and events in Blackrock Castle, Dripsey Castle Estate, Sirius Arts Centre Cobh as well as the Aula Maxima in UCC, the MTU Cork School of Music and St Peter’s on North Main Street.