Galway’s winter cultural calendar is set for a major highlight this January as Music for Galway announces details of its much-anticipated Midwinter Festival 2026, titled The Quartet Extends. Running from Friday, January 23, until Sunday, January 25, at the Town Hall Theatre, the festival promises a rich celebration of chamber music, creativity and collaboration, and, in the words of its organisers, “total indulgence”.
Now in its 23rd year, the Midwinter Festival places the string quartet firmly centre stage, while also pushing its boundaries. Led by Galway favourites the ConTempo Quartet, the weekend explores how the quartet can be expanded and reimagined through collaborations with a diverse group of musicians, resulting in performances of quartets, quintets, sextets and, fittingly, a full octet to close the festival.
Joining ConTempo are the Gealán Quartet, soprano Aisling Kenny, pianist Aileen Cahill, clarinettist Macdara Ó Seireadáin, uilleann piper Pádraic Keane, and Music for Galway’s young Cellissimo Ambassador, Spanish cellist Margarita Guerrero Martínez.
Artistic Director Finghin Collins says the programme was a joy to devise. “It was great fun devising and planning this weekend, featuring some of the most glorious chamber music of all time. I have long been fascinated by the versatility of the string quartet and by all the many ways one can add to it. It also gave me the perfect excuse to present some of my favourite string works, Brahms’s second string sextet, Mozart’s second viola quintet, Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence and the boy genius Felix Mendelssohn’s outstanding octet, which should restore anyone’s faith in humanity.
“To hear one of these works in a weekend would be a joy – to hear them all will be total indulgence. This festival will happen just once – right here in Galway. Get your year off to the perfect start and don’t miss it.”
Designed to build in scale and intensity
Each of the festival’s four concerts is designed to build in scale and intensity. The opening night begins with Haydn’s first string quartet, continues with Amy Beach’s Piano Quintet, featuring Sligo-born pianist Aileen Cahill, and culminates in Brahms’s lush Second String Sextet. This sense of musical crescendo continues throughout the weekend, with musicians joining either the ConTempo or Gealán Quartets to explore repertoire spanning four centuries.
Saturday features two compact, interval-free concerts. The afternoon pairs Schoenberg’s Second String Quartet, notable for its soprano voice in the final movements sung by Aisling Kenny, with Mozart’s G minor Viola Quintet. The evening concert follows with Shostakovich’s powerful Eighth String Quartet, before concluding with Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence, a virtuosic work for six strings.
Sunday’s programme offers some rare treats. Audiences will hear a specially commissioned work for uilleann pipes and string quartet by Amanda Feery, alongside Weber’s Clarinet Quintet featuring Macdara Ó Seireadáin. The festival reaches its joyful finale with Mendelssohn’s Octet, composed when Mendelssohn was just 16 years old.
Magic of music
Music for Galway CEO Anna Lardi praised the partners behind the festival. “We are very grateful to everyone who has made the upcoming Midwinter Festival possible. The University of Galway has supported Music for Galway for many decades, and we are delighted to have their support again this January. Furthermore, we are grateful to MusicConnects, who once again partners with us to present our wonderful friends, the ConTempo Quartet. We look forward to filling the Town Hall Theatre in Galway with the magic of music from four centuries.”
Tickets range from €12.50 to €25, with festival passes available at €75 (€67.50 concession ). Concessions and solidarity tickets are also available. Booking is open now at www.musicforgalway.ie or via the Town Hall Theatre box office on 091 569777.
The Midwinter Festival is presented in association with the University of Galway, with support from Galway City Council, MusicConnects, and funding from the Arts Council.
