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Salisbury Cathedral - 750 years on
2008 is a very special year for Salisbury Cathedral as it celebrates the 750th anniversary of the dedication of the completed Cathedral in 1258. To mark this important milestone a full programme of events and activities has been organised, details of which can be found at www.salisburycathedral.org.uk.
Celebratory events will include something for everyone, from a medieval fayre, flower festival and Cathedral open day to an academic conference, diocesan pilgrimage and classical concerts... the Cathedral has even joined forces with brewers Wadworth's in a promotion based around their legendary brew known as 'Bishop's Tipple'!
In addition to the major anniversary exhibition running from the end of April to the end of September, a specially commissioned anniversary guidebook has been produced, written by Tim Tatton-Brown the Cathedral archaeologist and illustrated by John Crook.
Salisbury Cathedral Events
Tuesday 22 January to Thursday 28 February
Odyssey Exhibition - Robert Koenig
Time: 0900-1630
Ticket purchase: donation requested
Ticket cost: donation invited
Twenty eight carved wooden figures, 2.5 metres tall, explore the story of migration and the search for one's ancestral roots. Robert Koenig will be carving a Salisbury Figure to add to the group (18- 21 Feb).
Saturday 16 February
The Edward Heath Memorial Piano Recital: John Lill
Time: 7.30pm
Ticket purchase: Salisbury Playhouse box office, 01722 320333 and at the door. Ticket cost: £20, £16 and £12
The inaugural Edward Heath Memorial Piano Recital is given by the internationally-renowned pianist John Lill.
Stations of the Cross (Exhibition for Lent) Mark Cazalet
Ticket purchase: donation requested
Ticket cost: donation invited
A modern interpretation of the Stations of the Cross through a series of paintings by Mark Cazalet.
Friday 21 March
St John Passion - Salisbury Cathedral Choir & Sarum Orchestra
Time: 7.00pm
Ticket purchase: Playhouse box office, 01722 320333.
Ticket cost: £18, £15, £12.50 (reserved), £10 (unreserved).
A performance of J S Bach's masterpiece, sung in German. Conducted by David Halls.
Wed 26 to Fri 28 Mar
Academic conference - based Salisbury & South Wilts Museum
Time: Delegate booking: 01722 555120
Cost: £125.00
Leading academics provide fresh insights on the fascinating history of this magnificent Cathedral.
Sat 29 Mar 08
Sing-a-long-a Joseph
Time: 7:30pm
Ticket purchase: Salisbury Playhouse Box Office (01722 320333) Mon - Sat 10:00am-6:00pm Ticket cost: Adults £15.00, £13.50 group rates on request
Sing-a-long-a - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat -The film of the original stage version comes to the Cathedral with a 'sing-a-long' treatment and subtitles so everyone can join in.
Wed 23 Apr
Alcock Organ Recital by Thomas Trotter (Birmingham City Organist)
Time: 7.30pm
Ticket purchase: At the door/via Cathedral website Ticket cost: £8.00
The opening recital of the 2008 Organ Recital Series at the cathedral featuring international virtuoso Thomas Trotter, and celebrating the 100th anniversary of Messaien's birth.
Fri 25 April
Opening of anniversary exhibition in the W & S Cloisters (until 30 Sept)
Time: daily Ticket purchase: donation requested Ticket cost: donation invited
Located in the Cloisters this free exhibition looks back over the 750 year history of the Cathedral with special illustrations and pictures from our archives and libraries.
Sat 26 April
Cathedral Open Day - including free entry to Salisbury & S Wilts Museum,
The Rifles Museums, Wren Hall, Sarum College and the gardens of
Mompesson House and Arundells.
Time:12.30 - 5.00pm
Ticket purchase: free, but specialist tours must be booked on the day Ticket cost: foc
An opportunity, predominantly aimed at the local community, to see the Cathedral and all its constituent parts at work.
Sun/Mon 4 & 5 May
Medieval Fair on Marsh Close
Time: 11am to 5pm Sun 10am to 5pm Sat
Ticket purchase: via the Cathedral website of by phone with the Playhouse (01722 320333)
Ticket cost: £10.00 adult, child £4.50, £25.00 family, group and early booking (by 1 Apr) discounts available.
Experience life in the Medieval age with Living History displays, music, dance, costume, falconry and the Grand Tourney with fully armoured Knights competing against each other to become the 2008 Champion.
Sat 17 May
Dream of Gerontius - Edward Elgar.
Berlin Philharmonic Choir & Salisbury Musical Society
Time: 7.30pm
Ticket purchase: Salisbury Playhouse box office, 01722 320333. Ticket cost: £20, £16, £12 (reserved); £8, £5 (unreserved).
A performance of the Dream of Gerontius given by SMS jointly with the Berlin Philharmonic Choir, accompanied by the Chelsea Opera Group Orchestra, and conducted by David Halls. Soloists are Jane Irwin, Petyer Auty and Paul Whelan.
Wed 21 May
Jenkinson Organ Recital: Simon Hogan (Organ Scholar, Salisbury Cathedral)
Time: 7.30pm Ticket purchase: At the door/via Cathedral website Ticket cost: £8.00
Description: The annual organ recital given by the cathedral's organ scholar.
Fri 23 May-8 June
Salisbury International Arts Festival
Wed 11 June
Organ recital: Robert Quinney (Westminster Abbey)
Time: 7.30pm
Ticket purchase: At the door/via Cathedral website Ticket cost: £8.00
Description: Robert Quinney has a reputation as a brilliant exponent of the organ repertoire, particularly J S Bach.
Tues 17- Sat 21
June Flower Festival
Time: 10am-4pm (last adm)
Ticket purchase: via the Cathedral website of by phone with the Playhouse (01722 320333). Group bookings - 01722 555124 Ticket cost: Ad £8.00/ Ch £6.50, Grp £6.50
The Cathedral comes alive with an extravagance of flowers. To designs by Michael Bowyer, parish and NAFAS flower arrangers from around the Diocese will create a profusion of colour to celebrate this 750th anniversary year.
NB 16 June - Cathedral closed for preparations
Sat 5 July
A Vaughan Williams Concert
Salisbury Musical Society
Salisbury Symphony Orchestra
Time: 7.30pm
Ticket purchase: Salisbury Playhouse box office, 01722 320333. Ticket cost: £15, £10, £8.50 and unreserved £6
This concert is part of the national celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the composer's death in 1958 and is supported by The Vaughan Williams Society.
Sat/Sun 5 & 6 July
Old Sarum: "Castles & Cathedral Fun"
A special weekend of fun and activity organised by English Heritage at Old Sarum
tel: 01722 335398.
Sat 12 July
Diocesan Pilgrimage from Old Sarum to Salisbury Cathedral
Join walkers from around the diocese on a pilgrimage from the site of the Norman cathedral at Old Sarum via Stratford-sub-Castle to the Cathedral close. Meet at 10am at Old Sarum, service in the Close at 2pm
Sun 13 July
Piano Recital - John Reid
Time: 7.30pm Ticket purchase: Salisbury Playhouse box office, 01722 320333. Ticket cost: £12.50, £10.00.
Ex-Salisbury Cathedral chorister, the award winning and exceptional young pianist John Reid gives a recital including music by Bach, and Schumann's Sonata in B flat, D960.
Wed 16 July
Organ Recital - Patrick Russill, Brompton Oratory
Time: 7.30pm
Ticket purchase: At the door/via Cathedral website Ticket cost: £8.00
Successor to Ralph Downes at the London Oratory, Patrick Russill's performance will be a brilliant combination of academic insight and musicality.
Wed 13 Aug
Organ Recital - Daniel Cook (Assist Director of Music, Sal Cath)
Time: 7.30pm Ticket purchase: At the door/via Cathedral website Ticket cost: £8.00
A wonderful opportunity to hear one of the cathedral's organists in concert.
Wed 10 Sept
Organ Recital - Keith Wright, Sub-Organist, Durham Cathedral
Time: 7.30pm Ticket purchase: At the door/via Cathedral website Ticket cost: £8.00
Innovative programming coupled with a unique sense of style will make this a brilliant recital.
Thurs 11-Sun 14 Sept
Civic Society - Close walks linked to "Heritage Days" weekend
Time: varied
Ticket purchase: 01722 326304 Ticket cost: tbc
A monthly series of walks, culminating in the Salisbury Civic Society's contribution to 'Heritage Open Days'. Also available for pre-booked groups Tel: 01722 335 398.
28 Sept
Major 750th Anniversary Service
Time: 3pm
Ticket purchase: n.a.
Attended by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Wed 8 Oct
Emery Organ Recital: Michael Harris, St Giles, Edinburgh
Time: 7.30pm Ticket purchase: At the door/via Cathedral website Ticket cost: £8.00
Particularly known for his virtuosic performances of French music, Michel Harris' recital will make a wonderful climax to the 2008 Organ Recital Series at Salisbury Cathedral.
Sat 11 Oct
Sarum Orchestra performs Richard Chew's 'Stari Most' in aid of international charity Hope and Homes for Children
Time: 7.30pm
Ticket purchase: Salisbury Arts Centre box office, 01722 321744. Ticket cost: TBC
Stari Most (Old Bridge) is a large scale choral work for soprano and baritone soloists, children's choir and orchestra, based on the destruction and re-construction of the old bridge of Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Advent Angel Heads exhibition - Emily Young
Time: Ticket purchase: donation requested Ticket cost: donation invited
Four Angel Heads for Advent and Christmas by Sculptor Emily Young whose piece 'Lunar Disc' is currently in the Cathedral grounds. Donation invited.
