Watch: I visited the Birmingham Cathedral’s new sound and light art installation and it was incredible

Birmingham Cathedral currently has an incredible sound and light art show that is not to be missed. The art installation, created by a company called Luxmuralis, uses four historic stained glass windows in the Cathedral.

I visited on January 11 - on a cold and wet evening - but ahead of my experience at the Cathedral, I was welcomed into the warm environs of the CBRE building. After a quick chat with the organisers I was on my way to St Philips to witness the entire place being transformed.

Artistic Director, Peter Walker, was at hand to walk me through what I was watching and hearing. The music has been composed by his colleague David Harper.

For someone, who has never stepped inside the Cathedral before this was indeed a divine experience. The kaleidoscopic lightworks by the light sculptor and the accompanying music will transport you into another realm.

Whether you are religious or not, this is an experience that can only leave you exalted. The crescendo of the music complements the light projection perfectly and together they create an experience like no other.

The show is centred around four Victorian stained-glass windows at the cathedral, produced by artist Edward Burne-Jones in the 19th Century. The interior of the 308-year-old building has been transformed as part of the exhibition by Luxmuralis until Saturday (January 14).

Walker, artistic director at Luxmuralis, said: “The Burne-Jones windows in Birmingham Cathedral are amongst artworks which can be rightfully classed as national treasures. I have known the works of Burne-Jones since I was young and we are privileged to be able to bring these windows to life for new audiences.”

Anna Pitt, CEO of Birmingham Cathedral, added: “Our windows surprise and delight visitors on a daily basis and particularly when lit up at night. The light and sound projections from Luxmuralis will even further enhance these beautiful treasures.

"We hope that Divine Beauty at night can be a way of getting people of all ages and backgrounds interested in and engaging with the windows – which will be even more dazzling once conservation work is completed later in 2023.

"We’re also looking forward to starting work on the conservation in the Spring, with opportunities to see the windows and the work taking place up close from special viewing platforms.”

Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones was born in Birmingham and his windows were installed over a 12 year period between 1885-1897, when the cathedral was still a parish church.

They depict Jesus ascending to heaven, the Nativity, the Crucifixion and The Last Judgment of Christ. During the Second World War the windows were removed and placed in a slate mine in Wales for safekeeping. They will undergo a £900,000 renovation this March in order to preserve them for future generations.

The tickets for the viewing cost only £4 and you can watch a 15 minute son-et-Lumiere or a sound and light show called Divine Night of Beauty.

You can check for tickets at Birmingham Cathedral website but it’s currently soldout.