The world renowned Hilliard Ensemble who are best known for their acclaimed ECM recordings with Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek will give two performances at the 2013 Barrow River Arts Festival. They open the festival on Friday 19 April at 8.30 pm in the magnificent 12th century Duiske Abbey, Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny with a programme entitled 'Memoria Italiana'. This concert will focus on early and contemporary settings of texts by Dante and Petrarch, including Roger Marsh's Il Cor Tristo, together with a new work by Fabio Vacchi based on traditional Italian texts.

For their second concert at the Barrow River Arts Festival on Sunday 21 April at 2.30 pm in the Ballroom at Borris House the Hilliard Ensemble joins forces with the Swiss violinist Maya Homburger and the British double bass virtuoso Barry Guy in a performance of music by early French composers including de Villiers, Courtois and Janequin alongside contemporary works by Barry Guy and others.

Further information

www.barrowriverartsfestival.com