Ardee Baroque Music Festival announces its 20th season

Louth County Council says it is delighted to announce that Ardee Baroque – one of Ireland’s most loved baroque music festivals – returns to St Mary’s Church of Ireland Ardee on the 25th and 26th of November with a brace of spectacular concerts from two of Europe’s most renowned baroque ensembles.

On the 25th of November, the Irish Baroque Orchestra returns to Ardee under the direction of its all-conquering and Oliver Award-winning artistic director Peter Whelan.

This concert has been specially and carefully programmed around Ardee. The Italian composer, Geminiani had an Irish patron living in Cootehill and it is believed he travelled through Ardee on his visits there.

The concert is centred around joyous works by Geminiani and other prolific Italian composers of the time and will include the famous Canon in D by Pachelbel.

In a first for Ardee Baroque, the internationally acclaimed Fretwork Viol Consort will perform a concert of old and new works. With over 35 years of performance experience, this ensemble is in huge demand across the world with collaborators including The Kings’ Singers, The Hilliard Ensemble, actor Simon Callow, composers Nico Muhly, Michael Nyman and James MacMillan.

For this concert they will play familiar baroque repertoire by Byrd, Bach and Purcell alongside arrangements of newer classics by Arvo Part, Dave Brubeck and even an arrangement of Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill. This is not to be missed!

In addition to these two incredible performances, there will also be a schools performance of baroque arias entitled ‘Baroque and Roll!’ by local opera stars Dr Gavan Ring and Nicola Ring.

Gavan, who is curating this year’s festival along with Louth County Arts Officer Moya Hodgers tells us, "the 2023 Ardee Baroque festival promises to be an electric experience for all our audiences – Peter Whelan is one of the most exciting baroque conductors of our time with his ingenious and cutting-edge interpretations of music from that period and Fretwork are, quite literally, the very epitome of supreme musicianship! I would encourage everyone and anyone to come and hear the brilliance of these artists – you will not be disappointed!"

Ardee Baroque is funded by Louth County Council through the Arts Office. For further details see www.ardeebaroque.com or email arts@louthcoco.ie 

Pre-booking for this event is essential. Tickets for Peter Whelan and the Irish Baroque Orchestra are €18/€15 (conc). Tickets for Fretwork are €12/€5 (conc). Bookings via www.antain.ie or by calling 0429332332.