The Limerick Early Music Festival (LEMF) is a weekend of music from around the world, on period and modern instruments, played by renowned artists happening in different venues across our mediaeval city from March 24-26.
Eight events over three days feature a diverse line-up of local, national, and international performers.
The festival opens with what is quickly becoming an annual tradition of Bach’s choral music in one of Limerick’s most historic venues, St Mary’s Cathedral, where local choirs Ancór, Sagittarius Hiberniensis, and St Mary’s Cathedral Choir, together with the LEMF Orchestra, present cantatas and motets by JS Bach and his relations in ROOTS & BRANCHES: The Bach Family Tree.
Saturday’s afternoon and evening concerts bring two stars of the early music world to Limerick, lutenist Michał Gondko and historical keyboardist Corina Marti. The two are at the helm of the ensemble La Morra, but for the festival they bring their respective solo concerts, POLONICA: Lute Music with Polish Connections and TOY STORY: Keyboard music from the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
The festival’s finale concert combines two pairs of familiar faces from the early music and traditional scenes: Eamon Sweeney and Siobhán Armstrong, and Steve Cooney and Cormac Breatnach, on early guitars and harps, and steel-strung guitars and whistles, respectively.
Their unique combination and lively blend is the perfect way to close Limerick’s own early music celebration with CEOL ÁRSA CLÁIRSÍ – Tunes of the Irish Harpers.
Full information about artists and programmes can be found at limerickearlymusic.com.
