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TOP PERFORMERS ARE LINED UP FOR A GREAT WEEKEND OF MUSIC IN MID LOUTH ON NOVEMBER 16-18
MARKING its 15th anniversary, Ardee Baroque returns from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 November with a weekend of music and events. Whether you’re a seasoned baroque music fan or someone completely new to it, this year’s Festival is tailored to provide entertainment for all.
Ardee Baroque was formed in 2004 by Louth County Council Arts Office and the Irish Baroque Orchestra and the organisers are delighted that the orchestra remains at the heart of the Festival.
They return this year with a programme of Italian cantatas, the cornerstone of the baroque era, led by their Artistic Director Peter Whelan with soloists Aisling Kenny and Francesco Giusti.
Other events in the weekend include Wintersong by the acclaimed Tonos, featuring Eamon Sweeney and Roisín Ó’Grady, poetry reading by the Meath/Cavan group Lit Lab, workshops in the community and closing with a showstopper concert which features all the best-known and loved baroque music, including the most famous of all, the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.
Programme director, Pauline Ashwood said: “We’re delighted to have reached this milestone anniversary and thrilled that the founding ensemble, the Irish Baroque Orchestra is still anchoring the festival ensuring the quality of music and performance remains as high as possible.
‘One of the many strengths of Ardee Baroque is that while it remains one of the few specialist early music festivals in the country, it also features events that will appeal to those new to the era, such as the closing concert on Sunday afternoon.”
Over the years, Ardee has been host to many special musical events and seen some of the greatest performers of baroque music visit the County Louth town.
The Irish Baroque Orchestra remains the headline act for the Festival on Saturday 17 November in St Mary’s Abbey at 7:30pm.
Under the direction of Artistic Director Peter Whelan, the orchestra will be joined by singers Aisling Kenny and Francesco Giusti in a concert of baroque duets by Handel and Monteverdi.
Opening the Festival on Friday 16 November at 7pm, WinterSong is a concert of Christmas music from the 16–18th centuries for Voice, Lute, Renaissance and Baroque Guitars. Part of a nationwide tour which includes the launch of their new CD, Tonos will also work with two schools in Ardee as part of Music Generation Louth’s impressive education scheme.
Also on Friday evening, in the intimate surrounds of Hatch’s Castle, Lit Lab, a group of published and prize-winning writers from Meath and Cavan whose focus is writing poetry and prose, return to Hatch’s Castle at 8:30pm to read and recite from their latest anthologies.
On Sunday afternoon, 18 November at 3pm there’s a chance to hear some of the best known and loved Baroque works performed by the musicians of Musici Ireland and Melisma choral group.
With works from Vivaldi’s Gloria, Handel’s Water Music, they will also perform the most famous baroque chorus of all time, Handel’s wonderful Hallelujah from the Messiah.
Full details on the Festival are available on www.ardeebaroque.com Tickets are on sale through An Táin Arts Centre, Crowe St, Dundalk, Co Louth +353 42 9332332 or www.antain.ie
The festival is funded by Louth County Council, Create Louth and the Arts Council. WinterSong
Presented by Eamon Sweeney and Róisín O’Grady of Tonos, WinterSong is a concert of Christmas music from the 16–18th centuries Date Friday 16 November Time 7:00pm Price €10 Venue St Mary’s Abbey Lit Lab
Poetry in Hatch’s Castle. Date Friday 16 November Time 8:30pm Price Free Venue *Hatch’s Castle, Market St *Please note Hatch’s Castle is not easily accessible for those with restricted mobility. Two’s Company
- Baroque duets by Monteverdi and Handel Date Saturday 17 November Time 7:30pm Price €18 / €15 conc. Venue St Mary’s Abbey Baroque Favourites
A chance to hear some of the best known and loved Baroque works performed by the musicians Musici Ireland and Melisma choral group.
Date Sunday 18 November Time 3:00pm Price €15 / €12 conc. Venue St Mary’s Abbey