Musical performance by Steph Legg and ensemble at St Giles鈥� Cathedral
This week, audiences are invited to experience the life and work of one of Scotland’s most important painters through an entirely new medium, music.
On Thursday 28 August, which marks the anniversary of John Bellany’s death, saxophonist and composer Steph Legg will , Bellany, in the stunning surrounds of St Giles’ Cathedral. A deeply personal and imaginative project, Bellany transforms the painter’s bold, autobiographical vision into a rich, genre-blending soundscape.
Steph was first captivated by Bellany’s work as a child after encountering his 1995 painting The Skate and the Kate. That moment sparked a lifelong fascination with his vivid imagery, religious symbolism, and deep reflections on Scottish identity, all of which find voice in this moving musical tribute.
Performed by a dynamic ensemble featuring:
- Steph Legg (saxophone and voice)
- Julia Hart (violin)
- Cameron Smith (cello)
- Erin Sawicka (piano)
The performance leads audiences through a folk inspired chasm into the centre of Bellany's world, exploring the social and religious themes of his work and visiting key people, places and events which shaped him.
The ensemble paint their own portraits of this complex character and as the final chords fade out, the fragments of Bellany interfuse to reveal his extraordinary life.
This coincides with the City Art Centre’s major exhibition, , on display nearby until 28 September. The exhibition features over 80 works spanning Bellany’s remarkable career. The performance is accompanied by the installation of Bellany’s 1965 work Box Meeting which is on show in St. Giles’ until end of September.
Culture and Communities Convener Cllr Margaret Graham said:
Steph Legg’s Bellany is a powerful and deeply original response to the life and legacy of one of Scotland’s most celebrated artists. Her music captures the same emotional intensity and storytelling spirit that define Bellany’s works. We’re thrilled to see this performance complement our current exhibition, John Bellany: A Life in Self-Portraiture and offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience his work in both sight and sound.