‘Folia, Fire & Fantasia' - Dublin HandelFest 2026

‘Folia, Fire & Fantasia' - Dublin HandelFest 2026

‘Folia, Fire & Fantasia'

Kevin Meehan, violin | Claire O’Sullivan, violin | Eve Quigley, viola | Sophie Ní Mhaoláin, cello | Laoise McMullin, harpsichord

Step into the raw and fiery sound world of 17th and 18th Century instrumental music; from enchanting Folia rhythms and Castello's daring stil moderno, to the brilliance of Handel and Telemann. See and feel how composers were pushing the boundaries of instrumental music. These works chart more than a century of innovation; from the exploratory sonatas of early 17th century Italy, to the cosmopolitan galant style of the 1730s, they reveal a Europe alive with experimentation and artistic expression, and a deepening understanding of instrumental colour.

Founded in 2021, the Dublin HandelFest is a gift from the Irish Baroque Orchestra to the city of Dublin. It is an opportunity to enjoy and reclaim this small but important chapter in the city’s cultural heritage, and we hope that you will celebrate it with us for years to come.