A tragic Highland love story likened to Romeo and Juliet has inspired Inverness musician Graham Mackenzie to create a new work for this year’s Blas Festival.
Faoinsgeul Loch Maruibhe, The Legend of Loch Maree, is the Blas 2026 commission and will receive three performances across the Highlands when the festival returns in September.
For Mackenzie, however, the story began long before the commission arrived.
A painting by the late Highland artist Margaret Robertson hung in his childhood home in Inverness and introduced him to the legend which would eventually inspire his music.
The tale tells of a local princess who falls in love with Olaf, a Norwegian prince, before misunderstanding turns their romance into tragedy.
Believing Olaf has been killed in battle, the princess takes her own life, only for the truth to emerge that the prince had been testing her.
Unable to live with the consequences of what he has done, Olaf then takes his own life.
Its themes of love, loyalty, longing, bravery, betrayal and loss have led to the story being described as a Highland echo of Romeo and Juliet.
Mackenzie has drawn upon Irish, Gaelic and Scandinavian folk traditions to give that old story a new musical voice.
He said:
“I’m delighted to have been given this opportunity to write new music for Blas 2026, 10 years after debuting my first album at the festival in Eden Court.
“‘The Legend of Loch Maree’ is the inspiration behind the work, a tale of a local princess who falls in love with Olaf, a Norwegian prince.
“The story was illustrated beautifully by the late Highland artist, Margaret Robertson and her painting has hung at the home I grew up in in Inverness for many years.
“The music written has been influenced by Irish, Gaelic and Scandinavian folk traditions and will be performed by Rory Matheson, Innes Watson, Conal McDonagh and Kathleen MacInnes, who will also be narrating the story in Gaelic.
“Margaret’s work will act as a backdrop behind the performance and I’m really excited to be showcasing this new work in Lyth, Resolis and Torridon.”
Mackenzie began playing fiddle at six and has since studied in Manchester, Cape Breton and Glasgow while working with musicians including Michael McGoldrick, Ross Ainslie, Tim Edey and Julie Fowlis.
His return to Blas also brings his story with the festival full circle, arriving 10 years after he launched his debut album Crossing Borders at Eden Court.
Calum Alex Macmillan, Chief Executive of festival organisers Fèisean nan Gàidheal, said:
“No stranger to Blas, Graham launched his debut album, “Crossing Borders,” which was a ‘New Voices’ commission for Celtic Connections, at Blas ten years ago so it is fitting that he is returning to the festival with more new music.
“The commission has always been integral part of Blas; not only is it important to celebrate the traditions and history of our culture, music and language, but it is crucial that we support the new music coming through which has been inspired by the tradition.”
Mackenzie will be joined by Gaelic singer Kathleen MacInnes, pianist Rory Matheson, guitarist and fiddler Innes Watson and Breabach piper and whistle player Conal McDonagh.
The work opens Blas Festival at Lyth Arts Centre near Wick on 4 September before travelling to Resolis Memorial Hall on 10 September and Loch Torridon Community Centre on 11 September.
It is a new piece of Highland music born from an old Highland tragedy, inspired by a painting that quietly hung on a wall in Inverness for years.
Now the story it captured is about to be heard.
For tickets and the full Blas Festival programme, visit blas.scot
