Dame Evelyn Glennie to beat drum for icon of Russia

By BRIAN FERGUSON
Published on 05/08/2012 00:00

She took centre-stage ­performing before the Queen and a worldwide ­audience of billions at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics.

Now Dame Evelyn Glennie has another royal appointment after the award-winning percussionist was asked to help create a one-off event celebrating Catherine the Great (1729-96).

The Russian queen, whose life is the subject of a major exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, has inspired a one-off performance in its grand gallery. While Glennie performs along with cellist Philip Sheppard and medieval music group Canty, Russian-born artist Maria Rud will paint live on screen in time to the music.

Both Glennie – widely ­regarded as the world’s foremost percussionist – and Sheppard are composing new music for the visual art production, which is expected to be performed at other major venues after its premiere in Edinburgh in October.

The exhibition is said to feature the greatest ever collection of Russian treasures gathered in the UK. A museum spokesman said the programme would “reflect the creative spirit of Catherine’s court,” and pieces by her celebrated composer Bartiyansky.

Glennie, from Aberdeenshire, has had a glittering career since graduating from the Royal Academy in London in 1985, notching up two Grammy wins, a Bafta nomination and collaborations with everyone from banjo player Béla Fleck, Bjork, Sting and DJ Yoda to Bobby McFerrin.

She said: “Our aim is to bring art and music to­gether in an extremely new and unique way. To premiere this new work in this amazing setting will be a thrilling experience for 
us and, we trust, for the ­audience.”