The event will be the climax of three nights of displays on the City Chambers, delivered by projection artist Ross Ashton of E/T/C UK Ltd. Ross created similiar large-scale projections at Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Jubilee in 2002 and Edinburgh Castle for the Military Tattoo. Images of these projections are available on request.
The depiction of Burns’ life and times will take the form of a dramatic lighting projection - with accompanying music and narrative soundtrack - creating a rich tapestry of moving images on the façade of the City Chambers every evening between 23 - 25 January. The title of the whole event is Burns Illuminated.
The final evening - on Burns Night, on 25 January - will feature a variety of musical performances and a special ceremony to complement the lighting projection.
Glasgow is the home of one of the biggest Burns’ collections in the world, held in the city’s Mitchell Library, with the original manuscript of Auld Lang Syne being a prized part of the collection. Pieces from this collection will be used by Ross Ashton when creating his projections.
The three nights will support the Homecoming celebrations taking place across Scotland in 2009, marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns.
Deputy Lord Provost Allan Stewart, leader of the city’s lighting strategy, said: "This will be a truly unique event that stands out amongst the many fantastic Homecoming performances that will take place in Scotland next year. Glasgow has hosted several successful lighting and projection displays over the past few years, and this is sure to be one of the most distinctive of them. Burns Illuminated offers a great chance for the many lovers of the work of Robert Burns to come along and enjoy what will be a memorable and popular celebration of Scotland’s greatest poet."