Arcadia Scotland

Art and Culture

Robert McNeil: Witness: Throughout the Beginning of February, Mitchell Library

Works of art made by the artist in response to his own work as a forensic scientist in war zones around the world.

D&G  | Out: Throughout the Beginning of February, The Lighthouse

Work by designers and makers from Dumfries and Galloway.

Ian Hamilton Finlay: Throughout the Beginning of February, Gallery of Modern Art

A major exhibition of prints, cards, booklets and sculpture by poet and visual artist Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925–2006), one of the most remarkable Scottish artists of the 20th century, who weaved together themes from classical culture, European history and modern warfare.

Living with War: Artists on War and Conflict: Throughout the Beginning of February, Gallery of Modern Art

Work from the gallery's collection on themes of war and conflict, with featured artists including Omer Fast, Jenny Holzer, Walid Raad and the Atlas Group, Barbara Kruger and artists from earlier periods such as Francisco de Goya and Christopher Nevinson.

Pamela Randal: Throughout the Beginning of February, House for an Art Lover

An exhibition by Scottish contemporary artist Pamela Randal.

D&G | Out an Afternoon with the Artists: 8 February, The Lighthouse, 1pm

A chance to meet some of the artists involved in the D&G | Out exhibition.

Toby Paterson: Soft Boundary: Throughout the Beginning of February, The Modern Institute

New work from the Glasgow-based artist, incorporating painting, printmaking and sculptural intervention.

Whistler and Watercolor: Throughout the Beginning of February, Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery

Watercolors by the flamboyant American artist James McNeill Whistler.

Music, Comedy and Dance

Celtic Connections: 1 and 2 February, Various venues

Glasgow’s annual folk, roots, indie, world and traditional music festival celebrating the links between Celtic music and cultures across the globe. An international cast of over 2000 musicians descend upon Glasgow, to create over 300 events. These include ceilidhs, workshops, talks, dancing, art exhibitions, free events and a torchlight parade through Glasgow.

Scottish Chamber Orchestra: 40th Birthday Concert: 7 February, City Halls, 7.30pm

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra celebrates 40 years of being one of the most invigorating music ensembles in the country with a concert reuniting it with the great Maria João Pires. Martin Suckling has written a specially commissioned work for the occasion; Pires joins for Chopin's Piano Concerto No 2, and the finale is Beethoven's rip-roaring Symphony No 5. The question remains, though – will the SCO be willing to pay Warner/Chappell hundreds of pounds in royalties for a commercial performance of Patty & Mildred Hill's 'Happy Birthday to You'?

Scottish Opera: Don Pasquale: 1 February, Theater Royal, 7.15pm

Donizetti's 1842 Don Pasquale, a romantic comedy in which the titular elderly bachelor decides to marry late in life chiefly in order to annoy his hotheaded nephew, has been a favorite in the repertoire for nearly two centuries. Renaud Doucet's production transfers the action to 1960s Rome and features Swiss bass-baritone Bruno Praticò as the Don himself, Nicholas Lester as the benevolent schemer Malatesta, Colin Lee as Ernesto and Ruth Jenkins as Norina.

The Hebrides Ensemble: The Lads in their Hundreds: 10 February, Glasgow University Memorial Chapel, 7.30pm

The Hebrides Ensemble mark the centenary of WWI with a programme that celebrates the recurring themes: loss, tragedy, defiance and hope. They play Debussy's Berceuse Heroique, Butterworth's Six Songs for a Shropshire Lad and the programme is sandwiched between two Rorems War Scenes: 'Night Battle' and 'The real war will never get in the books.'

Alastair Savage: 10 February, City Halls, 7.30pm

Emerging fiddle maestro.

Lectures, Sports and Local Festivals

Culture 2014: Throughout the Beginning of February, Various Venues

A national celebration counting down to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Culture 2014 will showcase dance, theater, music, visual arts, comedy and so much more in the run up to the Games. Everyone’s invited!