Last night I had the joy of attending a concert by the RSNO (Royal Scottish National Orchestra). It was a beautiful and throughly enjoyable evening….I offer the following reflections…. Dundee’s Caird hall is a wonderful setting! I love the rituals at Classical concerts – its so traditional….three encores, don’t clap in between movements…don’t be too enthusiastic – although the lady in front of me … Continue reading Beethoven, Dvorak and a Con Brio
My latest column in Christian Today Isn’t it great to be free! Especially free to be creative. Doesn’t religion shackle creativity? Isn’t it just better to be ourselves and express ourselves? So runs the somewhat narrow and simplistic narrative of some of our culture. Does Christianity really stifle music and the arts? I guess tales of bagpipes being burned (although that may have had something to … Continue reading Does Christianity Stifle Creativity?
Last month I had the privilege of being a guest of the directors of the Tate at a dinner in London marking the opening of a new exhibition entitled “Painting with Light – Art and Photography from the Pre-Raphaelites to the Modern Age.” I was invited as Moderator of the Free Church because we have loaned them one of our great treasures – Octavius Hill’s … Continue reading The Dangerous Democratic Deficit – Scotsman Article – June 9th 2016
“That’s really sweet”, they said,” You’re taking your daughter to the ballet. They were wrong. She was taking me. Why do people think that men won’t like ballet?! EJ gave me a lovely birthday present last night – after a tiring few days at the Free Church General Assembly we went to the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh to see Scottish Ballet’s new production … Continue reading Swan Lake – Beauty and Brilliance
We have a superb artist in St Petes called Robert MacMillan – I love his work, the care he takes, the colours and the depths he uses and especially his use of light….for me his portraits are stunning. I would buy his paintings if I could afford them – but even if you can’t you can now get a couple of beautiful prints – Make … Continue reading The Artist Robert MacMillan
