The 2024 Sligo Baroque Music Festival is coming! On the last weekend in September, with an ambitious programme bringing an exciting mix of artists to Sligo. The London Handel Players, who delighted us in 2020 with the complete Brandenburg Concertos, and the Croatian Baroque Ensemble, one of the leading period music groups of central Europe, will come together with a cast of young Irish singers in our own new production of Purcell’s operatic masque The Fairy Queen, and there will be wide range of other attractive recitals and events. The events ticketed by The Model are shown below, for the full details of all festival events including The Fairy Queen see www.sligobaroquefestival.com.
Festival pass:
The Festival Pass admits the holder to all events except one over the weekend of 27–29 September, at a saving of 20% on the standard ticket prices, and with the convenience of a single purchase. The exception is the Festival Reception meal on Sunday 29, which must be booked separately for catering reasons. The Pass gives admission to The Fairy Queen at The Hawk’s Well Theatre on Sunday 29, seats will be reserved there for Pass holders.
€100 / €50 U-18s GoSee Book Ticket
London Handel Players – Furies and Blessed Spirits
The opening concert introduces this year’s festival theme of mystery and the spirit world, with outstanding performances of music by Bach, Gluck, Locke, Campra and more, including Vivaldi’s violin concerto L’inquietudine and his sublime aria Sol da te.
St John’s Cathedral, John Street
€25 / €12.50 U-18s Book Ticket
Baroque Dance Workshop
Join renowned experts Mary Collins and Steve Player for this practical introduction to Baroque dance, its style and etiquette. For adults and children from age 11. Step back in time to experience an opportunity to reunite the music we love with the dance for which it was composed. Wear flexible shoes and clothing which allows you to move freely.
The Model, The Mall, Sligo Book Ticket
Croatian Baroque Ensemble – Spirituoso 7.30 PM
On their first visit to Ireland, the excellent Croatian Baroque Ensemble bring us Bach’s famous fifth Brandenburg Concerto, a trumpet sonata by Telemann, and concertos by composers less well known, such as Gaetano Schiassi and Carlos Seixas.
St John’s Cathedral,
John Street
€25 / €12.50 U-18s Book Ticket
Rachel Brown, flutes and recorder, and Silas Woolston, harpischord – Spirits of the Night 9.30 PM
The concert programme takes the form of a musical journey through the night from sunset to sunrise, linking pieces from Vivaldi’s atmospheric flute concerto, La Notte, through other composers’ evocations of ghosts, the night sky, songs of the nightingale, and sleep, and coming to rest in the serene tones of Bach, father and son.
St John’s Cathedral,
John Street
€17 / €8.50 U-18s Book Ticket
Sunday 29 September
Sligo Academy of Music
In this recital of historically informed performances by students of Sligo Academy of Music, together with Sligo Baroque Orchestra, we hear favourite Baroque pieces from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Purcell’s Fairy Queen, and Handel’s aria Lascia ch’io pianga, as well as sonatas by Fasch and Telemann.
The Model, The Mall, Sligo Book Ticket
Sligo Baroque Orchestra 2.00 PM
Geminiani, as well as being a composer, was one of the finest violinists of his time, and often led Handel’s orchestra. From 1715 he lived mainly in London, with periods in Dublin and Paris. The Enchanted Forest was composed for a pantomime – a kind of dramatic ballet – and Geminiani made this arrangement in 1761. It is in two parts, with eighteen short, highly varied movements.
The Model, The Mall, Sligo
€12 / €6 U-18s Book Ticket
Nicholas Milne – The Puncke’s Delight 4.00pm
In this lecture recital, Nick Milne explores the large but rarely performed solo repertoire for the lyra viol, a small 17th century bass viol with a special playing technique. He will play airs and dances by Corkine and Hume from books they published in 1605 and 1610. Nick grew up in Dublin and now lives in Utrecht.
The Model, The Mall, Sligo
€17 / €8.50 U-18s Book Ticket
Festival Reception 5.30pm
In the interval between the Sunday afternoon and evening performances, a delicious informal two-course meal is available at The Model, catered by Ósta Café. Main course options are Dexter Beef Bourgignon or Squash, Cashew and Coconut Curry, with dessert of Apple Crumble with custard or ice cream. Wine and other beverages may be purchased separately. Please note that booking is essential and must be made by noon on Friday 27 September. The meal is not covered by the Festival Pass.
People who just want to have a convivial drink or meet friends are welcome to the Reception too, but the meal is only available with prior booking.
