The Galway Early Music Festival, May 12-15 puts women to the fore in an imaginative programme for 2016, highlighting women as musicians, composers, patrons of medieval, renaissance and baroque music.
Hear Sharon Carty, mezzo-soprano, sing some of the most beautiful baroque opera arias written for male and female roles in Witches, Bitches and Britches: Gender-bending in Baroque Opera. Or experience the exotic sounds of 12th & 13th century troubadour courtly love songs, composed by women and men, in Trobar and Joglar, with Brgitte Lesne and Alla Francesca.
Don not miss Patrick Goyvaert’s beautiful evocation of the life and music of Margaret of Austria, 15th century patron and musician in Lady of Sorrows with Sarah Groser (viol ) and ensemble. The opening concert features The Gregory Walkers, Athenry Music School and St Nicholas Choristers in Green Shoots: A Musical Garden of Delights. The Good Ladies of Galway, founders of the festival, present Green Ladies.
The Connacht Print Works, open throughout the festival, is the hub for all the free events of the festival, from the Family Event to instrument makers, dance and early Irish Harp.
There’s something for everyone in this beautiful, imaginative and fun festival that celebrates Galway’s European connections and it’s medieval heritage. See below for the full programme, or pick up a brochure around town.
Full programme and ticket booking at www.galwayearlymusic.com
