Galway soprano Aisling Kenny will join forces with leading cornetto player Conor Hastings for Spiritus Vitalis: The Vital Breath, a special concert taking place this Saturday in Galway, supported by Galway City Council’s Arts Office.
The concert marks the launch of Spiritus, a new early music ensemble led by Kenny and Hastings, who will be joined by two renowned specialists in the field: Malachy Robinson on viola da gamba and Malcolm Proud on chamber organ.
At the heart of the programme is the idea of spiritus — breath, spirit and inspiration. The theme is reflected particularly in the extraordinary relationship between the human voice and the cornetto, two instruments whose sound is shaped by breath. Throughout the concert, voice and cornetto intertwine, echo and respond to one another, creating a programme that is both intimate and richly expressive.
Spiritus Vitalis brings together music spanning centuries, from the visionary compositions of Hildegard and the sacred works of Palestrina to music by Monteverdi, Strozzi, Donati and Merula. Alongside familiar masterpieces, the programme also introduces audiences to rarely heard works, offering an opportunity to discover the extraordinary colour and vitality of early music.
Through historically informed performance, Spiritus aims not simply to recreate music from the past, but to make it feel immediate and alive for a contemporary audience. The musicians’ shared approach seeks to reveal the emotional depth, energy and vivid sonorities within this repertoire.
The concert is proudly supported by the Galway City Arts Office — Faighimid tacaíocht ó Oifig Ealaíon Chathair na Gaillimhe.
Tickets for the concert are free, but advance reservation is recommended.
Reserve your free ticket: https://eventmaster.ie/event/rZbzuPmS9y
