Jarvis Cocker joins Metropolitan Cathedral's golden celebrations

Jarvis Cocker will introduce a special performance of Pierre Henry’s The Liverpool Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral next week.

The event, on Saturday, May 13, is part of the cathedral’s 50th anniversary celebrations and is being presented in association with the Bluecoat.

Pulp frontman Cocker is understood to be a fan of French composer Henry’s pioneering work in electronic music.

The piece was developed by the Frenchman for the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King’s inaugural mass in May 1967, but it was substituted after he was unable to complete it in time.

Now the work, structured as a traditional Catholic Mass, is finally set to be heard in the building it was composed to celebrate, and in what organisers promise will be “an immersive and memorable experience”.

A total of 40 speakers will be arranged around the central space of the Hope Street landmark to create a sound design, and The Liverpool Mass will be presented as a live mix by Henry’s collaborator Thierry Balasse.

The May 13 concert is the start of a series of events to mark the cathedral’s golden anniversary. A programme of celebrations is planned for Pentecost at the beginning of June.

Tickets for the concert are £10/£7 from the Bluecoat website HERE.