Culture
Diary of acclaimed Scottish artist Duncan Grant discovered 50 years after his death
A diary belonging to the acclaimed Scottish artist Duncan Grant has been discovered almost 50 years after his death. The painter and designer was born near Aviemore in 1885 and became a central member of the influential Bloomsbury Group of artists and intellectuals. He started the diary, which has never been seen publicly before, in…
Read MoreEight hour choral extravaganza of universal prayer to open Edinburgh International Festival
An eight-hour choral extravaganza of a universal prayer is to open the Edinburgh International Festival at the Usher Hall this year, it has been announced. John Tavener’s The Veil of the Temple will be performed by the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, Monteverdi Choir and the National Youth Choir of Scotland. It is only the second time…
Read MoreReview: Scottish Opera, The Strauss Collection
Lisa Simonis is transported back in time to a romantic past at Edinburgh’s historic Usher Hall for the latest performance from Scottish Opera. Scottish Opera’s The Strauss Collection presented a repertoire of extracts from Richard Strauss’s operas with libretti by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. The stellar programme included pieces from three operas: Der Rosenkavalier, Ariadne…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Elissa Soave: ‘I am very lucky I grew up surrounded by books’
Elissa Soave on the book she always recommends, what she’s reading now, and the author who has inspired her. The first book I remember reading: I was very lucky that my mum was a reader so I grew up surrounded by books. I remember being particularly struck by Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree.…
Read MoreBorders Art Fair: From painting to silversmithing at this year’s art event
From scenes of once-busy harbours to fine silverware decorated with delicate depictions of birds and animals, this week’s Borders Art Fair hosts a variety of visual art and craft. Among more than 70 exhibitors are Kelso artist – and previously the town’s dentist – Stuart Norman and members of the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop, based at…
Read MoreScotland Through A Lens: Photography in the Highlands with Fiona Campbell
Living in the heart of the Highlands, it’s hard for Fiona Campbell not to be inspired by the ever changing vistas and incredible untouched scenery around her. I’ve loved photography forever but because of a serious illness I wasn’t able to do it. Photography helped me recover. It made me get out into nature for…
Read MoreBanksy reimagining of iconic painting by the late Jack Vettriano sells for £4.3 million
A Banksy reimagining of a work by the late Scottish painter Jack Vettriano has sold at auction for £4.3 million. Crude Oil (Vettriano) was put up for sale by Blink 182 bassist Mark Hoppus who bought the painting in 2011 following a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. The painting depicts the…
Read MoreScottish Opera celebrates the music of German composer Richard Strauss
Scottish Opera will be celebrating the music of Richard Strauss this month with concerts in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Following the success of the Scottish premiere of Daphne in 2023, the concert will feature some of the finest music Strauss ever wrote. The German composer’s early 20th-century output shows the heights of his harmonic and dramatic…
Read MoreA day at Aberdeen’s crime writing festival Granite Noir
Granite Noir, Aberdeen’s literary festival, has wrapped up after another successful year bringing crime and creativity to the Granite City. Grant Dickie spent a day at the Music Hall events to find out just what was on offer. Literature at Lunchtime with C.J. Cooke I have been a fan of C.J. Cooke’s writing for…
Read MorePortrait of Queen Elizabeth II against stunning Balmoral landscape to go on display
A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II standing against the dramatic Highlands landscape of Balmoral is among dozens of images of the royal family going on display in Edinburgh. Royal Portraits: A Century Of Photography will run from 28 February until 7 September at The King’s Gallery in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, having previously being exhibited…
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