Thursday night summer concerts will continue in Galway Cathedral for another three weeks, with this evening’s event featuring a guest appearance from Europe.
Tonight’s concert (Thursday, July 23 ) features German baroque violinist Dorothee Mülheisen, collaborating with local harpsichordist Michael Shields from 8pm.
Mülheisen lives in Berlin, and performs regularly with European ensembles including The Hague International Baroque Orchestra and the Wallfisch Band.
In addition to performance, Shield’s research specialisms include the reconstruction of medieval German and European poetic traditions. Tonight’s programme includes Bach, Handel, and Telemann, and the delicate resonance of harpsichord and violin will be enhanced by the wonderful acoustic of the cathedral.
The series highlight so far was female vocal ensemble Vox Orbis under the direction of Dr Mark Keane, performing Duruflé’s sublime Requiem, accompanied by series director Ray O’Donnell on organ, with cellist Adrian Mantu and soloist Raphaela Mangan.
Dublin organists Carole O’Connor and Patrice Keegan have made the unusual art of organ duetting their speciality. On Thursday, July 30, they will perform a variety of styles from early Romantic to contemporary, and cameras set up on each side of the organ will show all four hands and four feet play.
This year’s concert series concludes on Thursday, August 6, with young English organist Eben Eyres.
Eyres was a prizewinner in the Northern Ireland International Organ competition, and begins postgraduate studies this autumn at the London Royal Academy of Music, alongside an organ scholarship at the London (Brompton ) Oratory. For his cathedral performance he will play some favourites of the organ repertoire, including Bach, Elgar, and Grayston Ives.
Full details of all concerts are at https://recitals.galwaycathedral.ie
