Classical Glasgow: Discover the City of Music
Glasgow, a UNESCO Creative City, is known as the City of Music. Its legendary concert scene ranges from the best classical music to Celtic, country and contemporary. Glasgow's concert halls, churches, and venues hosts more than 100 music events each week, more than any other Scottish city.
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1. Theatre Royal, Hope Street
The longest running theatre in Scotland, the Theatre Royal originally opened in 1867 and became home to Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet in the mid-1970s. Here, dancers are pictured performing Tchaikovsky's 'The Sleeping Beauty' in December 2008. Photo: Getty
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2. Glasgow Green
The oldest of the city's parks, Glasgow Green has been undergoing a major redevelopment and hosts major open-air concerts and events, including the World Pipe Band Championships. Photo: Getty
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3. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum houses one of Europe's great art collections. Musically, it is home to a magnificent organ that is the centre-piece of a series of daily half-hour concerts with both local and international organists. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra also performs in the main hall, as do students from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Local choirs and world music performers have also taken advantage of this magnificent setting.
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4. The SSE Hydro, Finnieston
A massive new £125 million arena that can host audiences of up to 13,000 and is aiming to attract 1 million visitors every year. Officially opened in September 2013, it was designed by Foster + Partners. Here you can see the likes of Il Divo, Alfie Boe and André Rieu. Photo: Getty
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5. Glasgow Cathedral
Music plays an integral part in the life of Glasgow Cathedral, which actively seeks to revive historic compositions while introducing composers of the present. The cathedral is seen here illuminated by an artwork during Radiance, Glasgow's International Festival of Light. Photo: PA
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6. The Clyde Auditorium, Finnieston
Another landmark piece of architecture from Foster + Partners, the Clyde Auditorium is affectionately known as 'the Armadillo'. It is the venue where Susan Boyle was discovered by 'Britain's Got Talent'. Photo: Getty
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7. The Mackintosh Church, Queens Cross
One of Glasgow's hidden architectural gems, this is the only church in the world designed by the great Scottish architect, designer and artist, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. It hosts special concert series, choir performances and instrumental recitals. Photo: Dave Souza
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8. Pollok House, Pollokshaws Road
A well-kept Glasgow secret: world-class chamber music and song recitals are staged on Sunday evenings in the elegant library of this National Trust-owned manor, followed by a post-concert dinner. Photo: Finlay McWalter
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9. Old Fruitmarket Glasgow
In the heart of Glasgow's cultural Merchant City, the Old Fruitmarket has retained its original vaulted roof, cast iron columns and balcony. Seating up to 1,600, it is the venue for Celtic Connections, the world’s largest winter music festival, and has hosted musicians from all genres, including the Brodsky Quartet and soprano Dawn Upshaw.
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10. Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street
Officially opened in October 1990, the Royal Concert Hall's Main Auditorium seats 2475 people. It is the Glasgow base of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and has also hosted many international orchestras and classical stars, including the Royal Concertgebouw, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Cecilia Bartoli, Julian Lloyd Webber and Maxim Vengerov.
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11. Renfield St Stephens Church, Bath Street
Dating from 1852, the church hosts sacred music concerts on a regular basis, and the adjoining Centre is also hired out as a music venue. On, of all days, St Stephen's Day 1998, the church's dramatic steeple was blown down in a storm, but has now been restored.
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12. Oran Mór, Byres Road
Formerly Kelvinside Parish Church, Òran Mór - Gaelic for 'great melody of life' or 'big song' - is a thriving arts venue in the heart of Glasgow's West End. It features a stunning ceiling mural in its Auditorium by Glasgow-born artist Alasdair Gray, one of the largest pieces of public art in Scotland. Photo: http://www.oran-mor.co.uk
