The 2011 series of summer concerts in Galway Cathedral has been announced!

Galway Cathedral Recitals is delighted to present its eighteenth annual series of summer evening concerts, running from 7 July until 11 August, with a concert each Thursday evening at 8.00pm.

Opening the concert with a flourish on 7 July is ConTempo Quartet, which as Galway's Ensemble in Residence needs no introduction to local audiences. This world-class quartet is joined by Galway native David Grealy - former Organ Scholar of Galway Cathedral and now organist in residence in Westminster Cathedral - for a programme of Bach, Haydn and Handel, utilising both of the Cathedral organs.

Continuing the Galway theme, Cathedral organist Raymond O'Donnell performs a solo recital on 14 July, playing music by Hindemith, Bach, Liszt and Howells which explores the vast range of colour and expression offered by the Cathedral organ.

The next of this year's solo recitals is given by Freiburg-based organist Johannes Götz on 21 July. His programme has a distinctly Germanic flavour, including music by Bach, Reger, Liszt and Lutz.

Polish organist Józef Kotowicz makes his first visit to Ireland and to Galway on 28 July. His exciting programme features music from Poland and Scandinavia.

The concert on 4 August represents a first in the Galway series: music written for four hands and four feet. Husband and wife Stefan and Kathinka Frank from Munich, performing as Organ Duet Four Feet, will present this little-known but fascinating area of the repertoire; their performance promises entertaining watching as well as listening on the big screen in the Cathedral.

The final concert of the 2011 series, on 11 August, is given by Belgian soprano and organ duo, Cristel de Meulder and Jan Van Mol. Their programme is mostly drawn, appropriately, from the composers of the Low Countries in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

All concerts are followed by a gathering where the audience has a chance to meet the performers. Admission to each concert is €12.00 (concession €8.00); a Friend's Ticket is also available, which gives admission to all six concerts at a discount.