The Glasgow Cathedral Festival (GCF) returns for its eighth season, running from September 19 to 22, 2024. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Glasgow’s medieval cathedral, this year’s theme—reconsider, rediscover, reimagine—promises audiences a chance to see the familiar in new and unexpected ways. The programme includes a diverse lineup of live music, film, art, multimedia collaborations, talks, and tours, making full use of the cathedral’s ancient and evocative space.
I was lucky enough to put a few questions to the organisers, the Society of Friends of Glasgow Cathedral. Look out for their answers throughout this preview of the upcoming festival.
A Journey Through Time and Art
For 2024, GCF invites audiences to reimagine how history, art, and architecture intersect in Glasgow’s oldest building. The festival has become known for its immersive, site-specific experiences, and this year’s events are designed to push those boundaries further still, presenting both familiar and avant-garde art forms in unexpected ways. As Andrew Forbes, the festival’s Artistic Director, notes, “These medieval stones have witnessed a huge variety of emotion, enduring through immense changes in our national and cultural history.” The festival aims to create a space where audiences can step out of the everyday and engage with deeper layers of meaning hidden within the art and the setting.
Who are you, and how did the idea of a Cathedral Festival emerge?
We created Glasgow Cathedral Festival to bring life to the city’s oldest building, through music, art and education. Now in its eighth season, the festival is an established part of Glasgow’s cultural landscape—promoting its historic quarter as a thriving artistic destination, attracting renowned Scottish and international talent, and engaging the wider community with this dramatic and powerful building. We keep hearing from audience members who have lived in Glasgow all their life, yet never visited the cathedral until GCF attracted them!
Opening Night: Music Meets Fashion in She Represents
The 2024 festival opens with She Represents, a unique recital blending fashion and song. Scottish mezzo-soprano Rowan Hellier, along with American pianist Jonathan Ware, presents a programme exploring modern female identity through music by Rita Strohl, Kurt Weill, and Cathy Berberian. What makes this performance stand out is the collaboration with designer Rebekka Dornhege Reyes, whose outfits will reflect the evolving themes of symbolism and sensuality. This fusion of fashion, art, and music will set the tone for the rest of the festival, where genres and mediums collide in unexpected ways.
Cinema in the Cathedral: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
What place do Cathedrals hold in the future of Glasgow and other urban centres?
Today, and going forward, Glasgow’s beautiful, medieval cathedral has an important role to play as an active Christian church and historic monument but, crucially, also as a place of sanctuary and creativity for the entire community, regardless of background or belief. GCF is open to all, and part of our mission is to make everyone – from locals who have never set foot in the cathedral to visitors from around the world – feel welcomed and inspired by the city’s most historic building. Cathedrals have always been shared spaces, designed to encourage ideas and provoke thoughts, so through GCF we aim to keep that relevant for today’s world.
Musical Innovation: Pierrot Lunaire and New Perspectives
Silent film is a beloved feature of the festival, and 2024 is no exception. This year’s screening of the 1920 horror classic Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde will feature a live soundtrack performed by Donald MacKenzie, organist at Odeon Leicester Square. The haunting atmosphere of the cathedral, combined with the eerie visuals of the silent film and MacKenzie’s live accompaniment, promises to be a cinematic experience unlike any other.
The festival will also mark the 150th anniversary of composer Arnold Schoenberg with a performance of his iconic work Pierrot Lunaire, brought to life by Hebrides Ensemble. Schoenberg’s exploration of fragmented identities through his setting of Albert Giraud’s poetry resonates deeply with the festival’s theme of reconsidering the familiar. The performance will be complemented by new works from contemporary composers Helen Grime and Electra Perivolaris, adding fresh perspectives to the evening. Kirsty Matheson’s accompanying exhibition of 21 paintings will further enhance the sensory experience, drawing the audience into a multi-dimensional dialogue between art and music.
Exploring the Modern Tragedy of Nine Whales, Tiree
Another highlight is the Nine Whales, Tiree installation, presented in the lower church’s Blacader Aisle. Reflecting on recent whale strandings on the island of Tiree, this installation combines Gaelic poetry, music, and cinematography to explore the emotional and environmental impact on the local community. This poignant work is intended to encourage viewers to think critically about the human connection to nature and the delicate balance between life and death.
When planning the Festival, how do you narrow down what you want to programme?
As you’re probably realising, GCF is all about the cathedral building—and that begins with our programming! We work out what projects could only be possible in such a characterful venue, and which event concepts will be really enhanced by our powerful setting. Once we know there’s a good match, we then encourage our artists to interact with this captivating and atmospheric space, allowing their imagination and creativity to shine—and in turn giving our audiences accessible yet impactful experiences that they can’t get anywhere else.
Day and Night in the Crypt
The cathedral’s crypt will transform throughout the festival, offering different moods by day and night. During the day, audiences can enjoy a performance by the fiddle/harp duo Twelfth Day, whose unique blend of classical skill and folk traditions makes for a gentle introduction to the festival’s themes. However, the crypt takes on a darker, more atmospheric tone at night with the Twilight in the Crypt series. This year’s lineup includes saxophone improvisations by jazz legend Tommy Smith and the Scottish debut of Octandre Ensemble with their reflective time-space-sound-light sequence.
Expanding Beyond the Cathedral Walls
In addition to its programme of music and multimedia events, GCF continues to deepen its connection with the local community through tours and talks. Free tours of the cathedral and surrounding areas, including Glasgow’s historic Necropolis, will offer audiences a chance to explore the city’s layered history. Collaborations with Glasgow Royal Infirmary and other local institutions will further enhance the festival’s outreach, making it a true celebration of the city’s cultural heritage.
Family-Friendly Events and Accessibility
For families and younger audiences, GCF provides accessible, engaging events throughout the weekend. One of the closing events is a lunchtime recital by organist Katherine Dienes-Williams, Director of Music at Guildford Cathedral. Her programme will include a lively mix of Hollywood-inspired tunes, Scottish folk songs, and even a nod to penguins, ensuring that the festival remains a welcoming space for all ages.
In line with its commitment to accessibility, GCF offers affordable ticket prices, with all events priced at £17 or less, and many tickets available for under £10. Discounts are provided for students, the unemployed, and young people, with special £1 tickets available for those under 26. The festival also ensures that all performances are accessible, with accommodations such as wheelchair seating, free companion tickets, and requests for BSL interpretation available.
What would you say is the future of the festival?
Our ‘bold and experimental programming’ that ‘crosses genres with style’ (VoxCarnyx) includes a rich and varied selection of newly commissioned music, tours, exhibitions and installations. As we move forward and work with a wider range of artists and genres, we unlock more possibilities and dream of ever-bigger ideas for this incredible building. We hope our future is to use these powerful artistic experiences to inspire wider audiences, engage more people with the city’s oldest building—and to facilitate growth and cross-pollination at a greater level across Scotland’s cultural scene.
A Festival of Reflection and Rediscovery
Glasgow Cathedral Festival 2024 invites audiences to reconsider the familiar, rediscover hidden layers of meaning, and reimagine their connection to art and history. From fashion-forward recitals and silent films to modern jazz improvisations and multimedia installations, the festival offers a rich tapestry of experiences set in one of Scotland’s most iconic historic venues. Whether you’re a regular visitor or a first-timer, GCF promises to expand your horizons and leave you with a fresh perspective on the world.
Featured Image: Supplied by GCF PR.
Show Details – UPDATE
Dates: September 19–22, 2024
Location: Glasgow Cathedral
Tickets: £17 or less, with discounts for students, unemployed, and under 26
By
