AURA at Grace Cathedral

Inna heard about the AURA show in San Francisco's Grace Cathedral, and we decided to purchase tickets and see it for ourselves.

Before the show, we stopped by for dinner at Dacha Kitchen & Bar (an Eastern European restaurant 15-minutes away), where we ordered the following:

• Boris: Chicken Skewers
• Inna: Pojarskaya Cutlet
• Alex: Seasoned Salmon

My Chicken Skewers were alright, but Inna's Pojarskaya Cutlet was much better. After finishing dinner, we hurried to Grace Cathedral for the show. There was a long queue to get in.

Overall, I found the show boring and would have preferred to have listened to someone playing J.S. Bach on the Cathedral's beautiful organ.

Here is a short video clip of the show:

ChatGPT had the following summary of the show:

AURA is a ticketed immersive light, sound, and projection experience that transforms the interior of Grace Cathedral into a dynamic visual and musical journey. It combines state-of-the-art projection mapping, original music, lighting effects, and storytelling to make the cathedral’s architecture feel alive.

✨ What Happens During the Show

• Interactive Start: Before the main experience, you’re encouraged to explore the cathedral’s history and architectural details using an interactive web app.

• Immersive Multimedia Experience: For about 30-45 minutes, the cathedral’s nave and ceilings come alive with projected scenes — like swirling storms, blooming skies, waves, forests, and cosmos-inspired visuals — all synchronized to original music.

• Story Through Light and Sound: The sequence of scenes celebrates themes like the harmony between humans and nature, using light and music to evoke emotion and reflection.

📍 Setting & Mood

The show takes place inside a Gothic cathedral, so the effect is both dramatic and awe-inspiring: soaring arches and stained glass are used as living canvases for the projections, with sound enhancing the space’s natural acoustics.

🕒 Experience Length and Practical Info

• Total time: ~45–50 minutes (includes pre-show interactive portion and the main light show).

• Seating: There’s seating available, and doors usually open 20–30 minutes before the scheduled time. Late entry typically isn’t allowed.

• All Ages: It’s designed to be suitable for a wide audience.

🎟️ Context & Reception

• AURA originated in Montreal and Paris, where it drew millions of visitors before coming to San Francisco — the first U.S. site for this version of the experience.

• Reviews and reactions are mixed: some attendees find it breathtaking and memorable, while others feel the multimedia style doesn’t fully highlight the cathedral’s historic art.

 

Links

• AURA at Grace Cathedral 
• Dacha Kitchen & Bar