Cellissimo – International Cello Festival

A new Festival comes to Galway this week! This festival explores the Cello and starts this Friday, running between May 18th and 26th. One unusual aspect of the festival is its ecological edge, as it urges its audience to take the train and think more sustainably.

At the very heart of Cellissimo is the exploration of climate, migration, empathy and sustainability through music and the arts, running through two key programmes – the Creative Europe funded Songs of Travel, and the Creative Ireland funded Galway Bay is Calling. The festival is focussed on encouraging sustainable travel, and all artists and participants are encouraged to choose slow travel to Ireland and Galway for the festival, generously facilitated by our sustainable travel partners Irish Ferries and Irish Rail.

As well as a strong emphasis on Bach and all things classical, it also has a number of unusual events such as –

Songs of Travel: Interactive Comic Premiere – Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 2:00 pm – “Songs of Travel is an interactive motion comic that follows the story of five real people who for different reasons had to leave their homes and find new ones.”

The CELLISSIMO SPECTACULAR – Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 7:00 pm – “The eight cellists that comprise Cello Ireland are at the heart of this very special concert. The first part of the evening showcases the wide diversity of their repertoire. Towards the end of the evening, cellists of all ages and abilities – children, students, amateurs, professionals – join Cello Ireland and our international students to create a mammoth cello orchestra.”

The Story of a Cello – Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 8:00 pm –  Black Box Theatre – “French cellist Camille Thomas is in demand all over the world, enchanting audiences with her flawless technique and deeply passionate playing”.

You can download the full programme here.