Top Irish choral group to perform in Ballina

Coming to Ballina on Friday, May 31, is a unique opportunity to hear 16th and 17th-century music performed by one of Ireland’s finest choral groups, Resurgam. Adding to the promise of stirring music that delves into the Renaissance and early Baroque period will be the accompaniment of The English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble, long-time collaborators with Galway-based Resurgam.

Bestowed with perfect acoustics, the concert in St Muredach’s Cathedral continues the recent trend of allocating this impressive 19th-century building toward the provision of inspiring music for the general public.

The two groups will be joined by the esteemed St Muredach’s Cathedral Choir under its director, Regina Deacy.

This specially curated concert in St Muredach’s Cathedral is inspired by the Habsburg Empire, and is titled ‘From Siege to Siege’, recognising the constant battles that raged within the famous European empire.

Resurgam was founded in 2003 by Mark Duley and is one of Ireland’s most acclaimed vocal ensembles. It is the premiere project-based professional choir in the country, and many of its singers have parallel careers as soloists. It inspires audiences and partner choirs the length and breadth of Ireland, bringing alive the emotional drama found in so much vocal music, especially that of the 17th century.

Resurgam’s hallmarks as a choir are clarity and transparency of sound, attention to text and emotive content, virtuosity in improvisation and ornamentation, colourful interplay of instrumental and vocal resources and textures, and imaginative and engaging programming.

London-based instrumental group the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble specialises in using period wind and brass instruments such as the sackbut and cornett. Among its members is Irishman Conor Hastings.

Tickets for the Ballina concert are now available to buy on Eventbrite and the concert starts at 8pm.