GALWAY EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL 2025 IS LAUNCHED!
PALESTRINA PLUS
This year’s festival celebrates the legacy of one of the towering musical figures of the late sixteenth century, in the probable 500th anniversary year of his birth. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was preeminent amongst the native Italian composers who sought to assimilate the techniques of their French and Flemish predecessors, and led the way in realizing the musical aims of the Counter-Reformation. His music stands at the centre of an extraordinary century of creativity and development, in which the city of Rome and its most famous composer played a leading role.
Based in Galway’s historic church but spilling onto the streets of the medieval city that surround it, GEMF 2025 is designed to reach a wide audience at 6 events delivered by 88 creative practitioners and producers across 3 days:
SATURDAY, 31 MAY 2025
*11am Coffee Concert - Sacred Histories - St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church*
Resurgam is joined by Galway based chamber choir Collegium, Malcolm Proud (organ) and Kristiina Watt (theorbo/lute) to perform the oratorio Jepthe by seventeeth centry Roman composer Carissimi
*Throughout the afternoon - The Galeon Ensemble*
The Galeon Ensemble will delight people with street music performances on their unique instruments in and around the St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church area.
*6pm - The Eternal City - St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church*
Resurgam will be joined by the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble (ECSE), Malcolm Proud (organ) and Kristiina Watt (theorbo/lute) to perform Palestrina's music for the three great Roman basilicas of St Peter, St John Lateran and St Mary Major, including sonorous twelve-part motets with voices and instruments together. Also included are the 'Vergine' spiritual madrigals and instrumental ricercare.
SUNDAY, 1 JUNE 2025
*2pm - Harmonious Society - St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church*
Dance specialist Felicity Maxwell, Galeon Ensemble and singers open up the transforming magic of Italian Renaissance songs and dance to participants of all ages.
Early booking for this event is strongly advised as places are limited.
*6pm - Stylus Phantasticus, St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church*
The theme of dance continues in this programme of chamber music for violin and keyboard present by Cork-based early music specialists Caitriona O’Mahony (violin) and James Taylor (keyboard). Music informed by popular dances is presented alongside examples of the seventeenth century improvisatory ‘stylus phantasticus’.
MONDAY, 2 JUNE 2025
*11am Coffee Concert - The Palestrina Circle- St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church*
Aisling Kenny (soprano), Conor Hastings (cornett) and Malcolm Proud (organ) will perform works by Palestrina’s teachers, contemporaries and pupils, including Lebel, Nanino, Bovicelli, Lassus, Victoria and Monteverdi.
Artists from Ireland and beyond will all come together in Galway to bring audiences a weekend celebrating the greatest early music, not to be missed!
For festival season tickets, please email
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