Escape the dark winter days with a journey through time at East Cork Early Music Festival’s online programme this year. The online festival brings audiences digitally to a series of historic locations in Cork and Kinsale, through music of years gone by, with programmes traversing tales of rivalry, secrecy, celebrity, and exploration.

Concerts are now available for audiences to enjoy on demand until Sunday 12th December.

From the beautiful Goldie Chapel at 18th-century convent Nano Nagle Place, Galway soprano Aisling Kenny and renowned harpist Siobhán Armstrong explore a hidden stream of women’s early music - from the songs of the secret Ferrarese Concerto delle Donne, to music attributed to Anne Boleyn in captivity.

In historic Kinsale at the charming Methodist Church, renowned harpsichordist and conductor Bridget Cunningham directs the Cork Baroque Orchestra in Kinsale with mezzo Sharon Carty and countertenor Francesco Giusti, singing the divas of rival 18th-century opera houses, a musical world fed by sponsorship from the 4th Earl of Cork.

Also from Kinsale, cellist Carina Drury’s programme Irlandiani lilts through the favourite Irish tunes of Baroque audiences and sees the favoured role of the cello amongst Irish-based composers.

As a special online-only treat, thanks to Music in Kilkenny, audiences can virtually travel to St. Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny, with special access to a concert by festival favourites Camerata Kilkenny performing Bach’s Actus Tragicus BWV 106 and Komm du süße Todesstunde | BWV 161.

Vlad Smishkewych’s trio cross genre and national boundaries in their programme Trans-Pyrenaïc, following threads of Baroque and folk music across the Pyrenees mountains over the centuries, in the atmospheric surroundings of St. Peter’s Cork - a former church building with a history dating back to the 12th century.

Two concerts are also available for audiences to enjoy for free. Special guest artist harpsichordist Bridget Cunningham takes on the superstar of the 18th century with a solo recital following Georg Frideric Handel’s adventures in Ireland, juxtaposed against a modern background of the Glucksman Gallery’s artwork. The Cork Baroque Players bring to life another touring virtuoso of the 18th century, with a sparkling programme by Venetian violinist Maddalena Lombardini.

With stars of the early music scene at home and abroad, East Cork Early Music Festival brings audiences on a heady time-travelling journey through music of ages past.

Tickets are available from eastcorkearlymusic.ie