As he prepares to stand down at Wexford Festival Opera, director David Agler tells Cathy Desmond about the highlights of his 15 years at the helm

Australian composer and violist Brett Dean plays in Cork and other Irish centres, writes Cathy Desmond

Niamh O’Sullivan returns to her home city for Cork Operatic Society’s anniversary concert, writes Cathy Desmond.

The rain put a damper on the outdoor events at Kilkenny Arts Festival, but there were plenty stand-outs among the classical music events, writes Cathy Desmond.

They met at turbulent street protests in their homeland, and now this married couple bring their politically-charged stage-show to Ireland, writes Cathy Desmond

Least Like The Other at the Galway International Arts Festival provides an intense musical take on the life of Rosemary Kennedy, writes Cathy Desmond

A new operatic piece devised by composer Brian Irvine and video designer Netia Jones tells the story of Rosemary Kennedy, writes Cathy Desmond.

Viviane Hagner will be among the stars of the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, writes Cathy Desmond.

The Stalls at Cork Opera House was a hugely enjoyable early event from Cork Midsummer festival, writes Cathy Desmond.

Tom Lane is back in Cork for the third instalment of his lighthearted series, writes Cathy Desmond.

After making her Carnegie Hall debut last month, Ailish Tynan is coming home to Mullingar, writes Cathy Desmond

An event at the NCH will celebrate the life of late great tenor Frank Patterson, writes Cathy Desmond.

At Lismore over the next few days, Una Hunt will help to revive pieces that had fallen out of fashion, writes Cathy Desmond.

The next Sunday Songbook singalong show at the Everyman features the tunes of Vera Lynn, writes Cathy Desmond.

A new company, Opera Workshop is establishing itself as a focal point for local singers and musicians interested in experimenting with the genre.

Cathy Desmond enjoyed The Marriage of Figaro, the first of this year's Concert Series at Cork Opera House

The Cork couple from the renowned Carducci Quartet are looking forward to playing with Julian Bliss on their Irish tour this week, writes Cathy Desmond.

Cork soprano Emma Nash returns to her hometown with a production of Orfeo ed Euridice featuring a new dance element, writes Cathy Desmond.

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Our regular contributors select their highlights of the year

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Sarah Dolan was raised in her family’s music venue in Limerick, and is intent on reviving the memory of the ‘Hibernian Prima Donna’, writes Cathy Desmond.

Balmy temperatures, no rain to spoil the party and a minister bearing a gift of a million euro - the omens were good at the opening night of WexfordFestival. Families out for an evening stroll mingled with opera-goers in posh frocks and tux at the hurdy-gurdies on the waterfront and local troubadours on guitar and keyboards warmed up the crowd before the opening fireworks lit up the clear skies.

Cathy Desmond reviews The Nightingale and the Rose at the Everyman, Cork

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As the Leeside venue gets ready for a concert performance of The Mikado, Cathy Desmond gives the lowdown on the ever-popular operetta.

Written for the party goers of the 1639 Venice Carnivale, Monteverdi’s The Return of Ulysses was said by one scholar to have enough sex, gore and elements of the supernatural to satisfy the most jaded Venetian palate.

Why isn’t the name of trailblazing composer Ina Boyle better known? A Cork academic has published a book to help spread the word, writes Cathy Desmond

Having a Jewish husband and a son with Down syndrome ensured Irish composer Deirdre Gribbin’s piece on the Kindertransport movement is particularly personal. It will be premiered in West Cork, writes Cathy Desmond.

International opera star Rachel Kelly is coming home to sing at the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival. She talks to Cathy Desmond.

Tara Erraught is enjoying a blossoming international career. Fresh from her Met debut, she comes home to Ireland to play Susanna in the Marriage of Figaro. Cathy Desmond met the mezzo in Munich

Variety and versality have marked this Cork musician’s journey to date, writes Cathy Desmond

“A 1960s sex-and-Polaroids scandal centring around an allegedly sex-crazed duchess seemed perfect for Cheltenham” observed Philip Hensher on his 1990s libretto for Powder Her Face.

Irish National Opera’s true tale of a sex-mad duchess has been deemed suitable only for over-16s, writes Cathy Desmond

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ELLA Van Poucke’s career took a big leap forward last July when she emerged as the “Golden Star” of the prestigious Premio Chigiana held in Siena in Italy, writes Cathy Desmond.

Our regular contributors select their highlights of the year.

Why are there not more female conductors? Alice Farnham is looking to tackle this issue through a new programme at the NCH, writes Cathy Desmond

Dublin Castle

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Cathy Desmond talks to Liam Byrne, who is to bring the sound of the viola da gamba to Kilkenny as part of the city’s arts festival.

Catch up on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com this morning.

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