CRYSTAL PITE | ‘Through music, we can glimpse the transcendental beauty that lies beyond our physical reality.’ JOHN TAVENER | ‘The enormity the universe revealed by science cannot readily be grasped by the human brain, but the music of The Planets enables the mind to acquire some comprehension of the vastness of space where rational understanding fails.’ GUSTAV HOLST | ‘Extending the limits of our being and transcending our everyday presence. have nothing else other than our decisions, choices, and actions.’
OMAR RAJEH | ‘I start seeing the world in a very different way. I've given myself time permission to look up and see the world around me and see how others are choosing to interact with the world and that’s something very special that I fight hold on to.’
DAN DAW | ‘It is the minutiae and the detail that I think actually reveals a greater truth about these systems and these institutions that govern us.’ JAMES GRAHAM | ‘I believe music, and art in general, has the power to contribute to society and shape the world...It’s not just about playing notes; it’s having something to say.’ HANNI LIANG | ‘I have a real interest in portraying the complexity of human nature through dance, while playing with the boundaries of the imagination.’ SOPHIE LAPLANE | ‘My chief endeavour should be to attain a grand simplicity, and consequently I have avoided making a parade difficulties at the cost of clearness.’ CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK | ‘The modern composer builds upon the foundation of truth.’ CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI | ‘Culture how we understand the world.’ SARAH LEWIS | ‘We have a tendency to be comfortable with the idea that we know.’ CLIFF CARDINAL | ‘For me, the interesting artworks are the ones that end with a riddle.’
WILLIAM KENTRIDGE | ‘A great conductor is somebody who helps you to think and make connections many different things.’
SIR ANTONIO PAPPANO | ‘Of course a large group of musicians in a room, who are clever, accomplished and hard-working, will never agree on the same way of doing something so it’s also important that I stay true to my musical convictions.’
KARINA CANELLAKIS | ‘To help people understand classical music you have to present it in a different way...It’s about being able to tell a story in a great way.’ ABEL SELAOCOE | ‘That desire of wanting to more, wanting to share, and wanting to communicate with other people, and with the environment and society.’ HUANG RUO | ‘One must speak the truth the past or not at all.’
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH | ‘I’m trying to recognise and excavate what’s true…I’m looking for moments of resonance.’
CRYSTAL PITE | ‘Through music, we can glimpse the transcendental beauty that lies beyond our physical reality.’ JOHN TAVENER | ‘The enormity of the universe revealed by science cannot readily be grasped by the human brain, but the music of The Planets enables the mind to acquire some comprehension of the vastness of space rational understanding fails.’ GUSTAV HOLST | ‘Extending the limits of our being and transcending our everyday presence. We have nothing else other than decisions, choices, and actions.’ OMAR RAJEH | ‘I start seeing the world in a very different way. I’ve given myself time and permission to look up and see world around me and see how others are choosing to interact with the world and that’s something very special that I fight to hold on to.’ DAN DAW | ‘It minutiae and the detail that I think actually reveals a greater truth about these systems and these institutions that govern us.’ JAMES GRAHAM | ‘I believe and art in general, has the power to contribute to society and shape the world...It’s not just about playing notes; it’s about having something to say.’
LIANG | ‘I have a real interest in portraying the complexity of human nature through dance, while playing with the boundaries of the imagination.’
LAPLANE | ‘My chief endeavour should be to attain a grand simplicity, and consequently I have avoided making a parade of difficulties at the cost clearness.’ CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK | ‘The modern composer builds upon the foundation of truth.’ CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI | ‘Culture is how we understand world.’ SARAH LEWIS | ‘We have a tendency to be comfortable with the idea that we know.’ CLIFF CARDINAL | ‘For me, the most interesting artworks are ones that end with a riddle.’ WILLIAM KENTRIDGE | ‘A great conductor is somebody who helps you to think and make connections to many different things.’
ANTONIO PAPPANO | ‘Of course a large group of musicians in a room, who are clever, accomplished and hard-working, will never all agree on the same way doing something so it’s also important that I stay true to my musical convictions.’ KARINA CANELLAKIS | ‘To help people understand classical music you have present it in a different way...It’s about being able to tell a story in a great way.’ ABEL SELAOCOE | ‘That desire of wanting to know more, wanting to share, wanting to communicate with other people, and with the environment and society.’ HUANG RUO | ‘One must speak the truth about the past or not at all.’ SHOSTAKOVICH | ‘I’m trying to recognise and excavate what’s true…I’m looking for moments of resonance.’ CRYSTAL PITE | ‘Through music, we can glimpse transcendental beauty that lies beyond our physical reality.’ JOHN TAVENER | ‘The enormity of the universe revealed by science cannot readily be grasped the human brain, but the music of The Planets enables the mind to acquire some comprehension of the vastness of space where rational understanding fails.’ GUSTAV HOLST | ‘Extending the limits of our being and transcending our everyday presence. We have nothing else other than our decisions, choices, actions.’ OMAR RAJEH | ‘I start seeing the world in a very different way. I’ve given myself time and permission to look up and see the world around me and how others are choosing to interact with the world and that’s something very special that I fight to hold on to.’ DAN DAW | ‘It is the minutiae and the detail I think actually reveals a greater truth about these systems and these institutions that govern us.’ JAMES GRAHAM | ‘I believe music, and art in general, has power to contribute to society and shape the world...It’s not just about playing notes; it’s about having something to say.’ HANNI LIANG | ‘I have a real interest in portraying the complexity of human nature through dance, while playing with the boundaries of the imagination.’ SOPHIE LAPLANE | ‘My chief endeavour should be to attain a grand simplicity, and consequently I have avoided making a parade of difficulties at the cost of clearness.’ CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK | modern composer builds upon the foundation of truth.’ CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI | ‘Culture is how we understand the world.’ SARAH LEWIS | ‘We have a tendency to be comfortable with the idea that we know.’ CLIFF CARDINAL | ‘For me, the most interesting artworks are the ones that end with a riddle.’ WILLIAM KENTRIDGE great conductor is somebody who helps you to think and make connections to many different things.’ SIR ANTONIO PAPPANO | ‘Of course a large group musicians in a room, who are clever, accomplished and hard-working, will never all agree on the same way of doing something so it’s also important that true to my musical convictions.’ KARINA CANELLAKIS | ‘To help people understand classical music you have to present it in a different way...It’s about being to tell a story in a great way.’ ABEL SELAOCOE | ‘That desire of wanting to know more, wanting to share, and wanting to communicate with other people, and the environment and society.’ HUANG RUO | ‘One must speak the truth about the past or not at all.’
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH | ‘I’m trying to recognise and excavate what’s true…I’m looking for moments of resonance.’
CRYSTAL PITE | ‘Through music, we can glimpse the transcendental beauty that lies beyond our physical reality.’ JOHN TAVENER | ‘The enormity of the universe revealed by science cannot readily be grasped by the human brain, but the music of The Planets enables the mind to acquire some comprehension of the vastness of space where rational understanding fails.’ GUSTAV HOLST | ‘Extending the limits of our being transcending our everyday presence. We have nothing else other than our decisions, choices, and actions.’ OMAR RAJEH | ‘I start seeing the world in different way. I’ve given myself time and permission to look up and see the world around me and see how others are choosing to interact with the world that’s something very special that I fight to hold on to.’
DAN DAW | ‘It is the minutiae and the detail that I think actually reveals a greater truth about systems and these institutions that govern us.’ JAMES GRAHAM | ‘I believe music, and art in general, has the power to contribute to society and shape world...It’s not just about playing notes; it’s about having something to say.’
HANNI LIANG | ‘I have a real interest in portraying the complexity of human nature through dance, while playing with the boundaries of the imagination.’ SOPHIE LAPLANE | ‘My chief endeavour should be to attain a grand simplicity, consequently I have avoided making a parade of difficulties at the cost of clearness.’ CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK | ‘The modern composer builds upon foundation of truth.’ CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI | ‘Culture is how we understand the world.’ SARAH LEWIS | ‘We have a tendency to be comfortable with the idea we know.’ CLIFF CARDINAL | ‘For me, the most interesting artworks are the ones that end with a riddle.’ WILLIAM KENTRIDGE | ‘A great conductor is somebody who helps you to think and make connections to many different things.’ SIR ANTONIO PAPPANO | ‘Of course a large group of musicians in a room, who are accomplished and hard-working, will never all agree on the same way of doing something so it’s also important that I stay true to my musical convictions.’ CANELLAKIS | ‘To help people understand classical music you have to present it in a different way...It’s about being able to tell a story in a great way.’ SELAOCOE | ‘That desire of wanting to know more, wanting to share, and wanting to communicate with other people, and with the environment society.’ HUANG RUO | ‘One must speak the truth about the past or not at all.’ DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH | ‘I’m trying to recognise and excavate what’s true…I’m looking for moments of resonance.’ CRYSTAL PITE | ‘Through music, we can glimpse the transcendental beauty that lies beyond our physical reality.’
MUSIC THEATRE OPERA DANCE
resonance.’ CRYSTAL PITE | ‘Through music, we can glimpse the transcendental beauty that lies beyond our physical reality.’ JOHN TAVENER | ‘The enormity of universe revealed by science cannot readily be grasped by the human brain, but the music of The Planets enables the mind to acquire some comprehension vastness of space where rational understanding fails.’ GUSTAV HOLST | ‘Extending the limits of our being and transcending our everyday presence. We nothing else other than our decisions, choices, and actions.’ OMAR RAJEH | ‘I start seeing the world in a very different way. I've given myself time and permission to look up and see the world around me and see how others are choosing to interact with the world and that’s something very special that I fight to on to.’ DAN DAW | ‘It is the minutiae and the detail that I think actually reveals a greater truth about these systems and these institutions that govern JAMES GRAHAM | ‘I believe music, and art in general, has the power to contribute to society and shape the world...It’s not just about playing notes; it’s about having something to say.’ HANNI LIANG | ‘I have a real interest in portraying the complexity of human nature through dance, while playing with the boundaries the imagination.’ SOPHIE LAPLANE | ‘My chief endeavour should be to attain a grand simplicity, and consequently I have avoided making a parade of difficulties at the cost of clearness.’ CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK | ‘The modern composer builds upon the foundation of truth.’ CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI | ‘Culture is we understand the world.’ SARAH LEWIS | ‘We have a tendency to be comfortable with the idea that we know.’ CLIFF CARDINAL | ‘For me, the most interesting artworks are the ones that end with a riddle.’ WILLIAM KENTRIDGE | ‘A great conductor is somebody who helps you to think and make connections to different things.’ SIR ANTONIO PAPPANO | ‘Of course a large group of musicians in a room, who are clever, accomplished and hard-working, will never all on the same way of doing something so it’s also important that I stay true to my musical convictions.’ KARINA CANELLAKIS | ‘To help people understand classical music you have to present it in a different way...It’s about being able to tell a story in a great way.’ ABEL SELAOCOE | ‘That desire of wanting to know wanting to share, and wanting to communicate with other people, and with the environment and society.’ HUANG RUO | ‘One must speak the truth about the past or not at all.’
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH | ‘I’m trying to recognise and excavate what’s true…I’m looking for moments of resonance.’ CRYSTAL PITE | ‘Through music, we can glimpse the transcendental beauty that lies beyond our physical reality.’ JOHN TAVENER | ‘The enormity of the universe revealed by science cannot readily be grasped by the human brain, but the music of The Planets enables the mind to acquire some comprehension of the vastness of space where rational understanding fails.’ GUSTAV HOLST | ‘Extending the limits of our being and transcending our everyday presence. We have nothing else other than our decisions, choices, and actions.’ OMAR RAJEH | ‘I start seeing the world in a very different way. I’ve given myself time and permission to look up and see the around me and see how others are choosing to interact with the world and that’s something very special that I fight to hold on to.’ DAN DAW | ‘It is the minutiae and the detail that I think actually reveals a greater truth about these systems and these institutions that govern us.’ JAMES GRAHAM | ‘I believe music, art in general, has the power to contribute to society and shape the world...It’s not just about playing notes; it’s about having something to say.’ HANNI | ‘I have a real interest in portraying the complexity of human nature through dance, while playing with the boundaries of the imagination.’ SOPHIE
LAPLANE | ‘My chief endeavour should be to attain a grand simplicity, and consequently I have avoided making a parade of difficulties at the cost of clearness.’ CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK | ‘The modern composer builds upon the foundation of truth.’ CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI | ‘Culture is how we understand the world.’ SARAH LEWIS | ‘We have a tendency to be comfortable with the idea that we know.’ CLIFF CARDINAL | ‘For me, the most interesting artworks are the that end with a riddle.’ WILLIAM KENTRIDGE | ‘A great conductor is somebody who helps you to think and make connections to many different things.’ SIR ANTONIO PAPPANO | ‘Of course a large group of musicians in a room, who are clever, accomplished and hard-working, will never all agree on the same way of something so it’s also important that I stay true to my musical convictions.’ KARINA CANELLAKIS | ‘To help people understand classical music you have to present it in a different way...It’s about being able to tell a story in a great way.’ ABEL SELAOCOE | ‘That desire of wanting to know more, wanting to share, and wanting to communicate with other people, and with the environment and society.’ HUANG RUO | ‘One must speak the truth about the past or not at all.’ DMITRI
SHOSTAKOVICH | ‘I’m trying to recognise and excavate what’s true…I’m looking for moments of resonance.’ CRYSTAL PITE | ‘Through music, we can glimpse the transcendental beauty that lies beyond our physical reality.’ JOHN TAVENER | ‘The enormity of the universe revealed by science cannot readily be grasped by human brain, but the music of The Planets enables the mind to acquire some comprehension of the vastness of space where rational understanding GUSTAV HOLST | ‘Extending the limits of our being and transcending our everyday presence. We have nothing else other than our decisions, choices, and actions.’ OMAR RAJEH | ‘I start seeing the world in a very different way. I’ve given myself time and permission to look up and see the world around me and see others are choosing to interact with the world and that’s something very special that I fight to hold on to.’ DAN DAW | ‘It is the minutiae and the detail that actually reveals a greater truth about these systems and these institutions that govern us.’ JAMES GRAHAM | ‘I believe music, and art in general, has the power to contribute to society and shape the world...It’s not just about playing notes; it’s about having something to say.’ HANNI LIANG | ‘I have a real interest portraying the complexity of human nature through dance, while playing with the boundaries of the imagination.’ SOPHIE LAPLANE | ‘My chief endeavour should be to attain a grand simplicity, and consequently I have avoided making a parade of difficulties at the cost of clearness.’ CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK | ‘The modern composer builds upon the foundation of truth.’ CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI | ‘Culture is how we understand the world.’ SARAH LEWIS | ‘We have a tendency comfortable with the idea that we know.’ CLIFF CARDINAL | ‘For me, the most interesting artworks are the ones that end with a riddle.’ WILLIAM KENTRIDGE | ‘A conductor is somebody who helps you to think and make connections to many different things.’ SIR ANTONIO PAPPANO | ‘Of course a large group of musicians in a room, who are clever, accomplished and hard-working, will never all agree on the same way of doing something so it’s also important that I stay to my musical convictions.’ KARINA CANELLAKIS | ‘To help people understand classical music you have to present it in a different way...It’s about being able a story in a great way.’ ABEL SELAOCOE | ‘That desire of wanting to know more, wanting to share, and wanting to communicate with other people, and with environment and society.’ HUANG RUO | ‘One must speak the truth about the past or not at all.’ DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH | ‘I’m trying to recognise and excavate what’s true…I’m looking for moments of resonance.’ CRYSTAL PITE | ‘Through music, we can glimpse the transcendental beauty that lies beyond our physical reality.’ JOHN TAVENER | ‘The enormity of the universe revealed by science cannot readily be grasped by the human brain, but the music of The Planets enables mind to acquire some comprehension of the vastness of space where rational understanding fails.’ GUSTAV HOLST | ‘Extending the limits of our being and transcending our everyday presence. We have nothing else other than our decisions, choices, and actions.’ OMAR RAJEH | ‘I start seeing the world in a very different way. I’ve given myself time and permission to look up and see the world around me and see how others are choosing to interact with the world and something very special that I fight to hold on to.’ DAN DAW | ‘It is the minutiae and the detail that I think actually reveals a greater truth about these systems and these institutions that govern us.’ JAMES GRAHAM | ‘I believe music, and art in general, has the power to contribute to society and shape the world...It’s not just about playing notes; it’s about having something to say.’ HANNI LIANG | ‘I have a real interest in portraying the complexity of human nature through dance, while playing with the boundaries of the imagination.’ SOPHIE LAPLANE | ‘My chief endeavour should be to attain a grand simplicity, and consequently I have avoided making a parade of difficulties at the cost of clearness.’ CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK | ‘The modern composer builds upon the foundation of truth.’ CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI | ‘Culture is how we understand the world.’ SARAH LEWIS | ‘We have a tendency to be comfortable with the idea that know.’ CLIFF CARDINAL | ‘For me, the most interesting artworks are the ones that end with a riddle.’ WILLIAM KENTRIDGE | ‘A great conductor is somebody helps you to think and make connections to many different things.’ SIR ANTONIO PAPPANO | ‘Of course a large group of musicians in a room, who are clever, accomplished and hard-working, will never all agree on the same way of doing something so it’s also important that I stay true to my musical convictions.’ KARINA CANELLAKIS | ‘To help people understand classical music you have to present it in a different way...It’s about being able to tell a story in a great way.’ ABEL SELAOCOE | ‘That desire of wanting to know more, wanting to share, and wanting to communicate with other people, and with the environment and society.’ HUANG RUO | ‘One must speak the truth about the past or not at all.’ DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH | ‘I’m trying to recognise and excavate what’s true…I’m looking for moments of resonance.’ CRYSTAL PITE | ‘Through music, we can glimpse the transcendental beauty that lies beyond our physical reality.’ JOHN
our everyday presence. We have nothing else other than our decisions, choices, and actions.’ OMAR RAJEH | ‘I start seeing the world in a very different I’ve given myself time and permission to look up and see the world around me and see how others are choosing to interact with the world and that’s something very special that I fight to hold on to.’ DAN DAW | ‘It is the minutiae and the detail that I think actually reveals a greater truth about these systems and institutions that govern us.’ JAMES GRAHAM | ‘I believe music, and art in general, has the power to contribute to society and shape the world...It’s not just playing notes; it’s about having something to say.’ HANNI LIANG | ‘I have a real interest in portraying the complexity of human nature through dance, playing with the boundaries of the imagination.’ SOPHIE LAPLANE | ‘My chief endeavour should be to attain a grand simplicity, and consequently I have avoided making a parade of difficulties at the cost of clearness.’ CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK | ‘The modern composer builds upon the foundation of truth.’ CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI | ‘Culture is how we understand the world.’ SARAH LEWIS | ‘We have a tendency to be comfortable with the idea that we know.’ CARDINAL | ‘For me, the most interesting artworks are the ones that end with a riddle.’ WILLIAM KENTRIDGE | ‘A great conductor is somebody who helps you think and make connections to many different things.’ SIR ANTONIO PAPPANO | ‘Of course a large group of musicians in a room, who are clever, accomplished hard-working, will never all agree on the same way of doing something so it’s also important that I stay true to my musical convictions.’ KARINA CANELLAKIS help people understand classical music you have to present it in a different way...It’s about being able to tell a story in a great way.’ ABEL SELAOCOE | desire of wanting to know more, wanting to share, and wanting to communicate with other people, and with the environment and society.’ HUANG RUO | must speak the truth about the past or not at all.’ DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH | ‘I’m trying to recognise and excavate what’s true…I’m looking for moments resonance.’
CRYSTAL PITE | ‘Through music, we can glimpse the transcendental beauty that lies beyond our physical reality.’ JOHN TAVENER | ‘The enormity the universe revealed by science cannot readily be grasped by the human brain, but the music of The Planets enables the mind to acquire some comprehension of the vastness of space where rational understanding fails.’ GUSTAV HOLST | ‘Extending the limits of our being and transcending our everyday presence. have nothing else other than our decisions, choices, and actions.’ OMAR RAJEH | ‘I start seeing the world in a very different way. I’ve given myself time permission to look up and see the world around me and see how others are choosing to interact with the world and that’s something very special that I fight hold on to.’ DAN DAW | ‘It is the minutiae and the detail that I think actually reveals a greater truth about these systems and these institutions that govern us.’ JAMES GRAHAM | ‘I believe music, and art in general, has the power to contribute to society and shape the world...It’s not just about playing notes; it’s having something to say.’ HANNI LIANG | ‘I have a real interest in portraying the complexity of human nature through dance, while playing with the boundaries of the imagination.’ SOPHIE LAPLANE | ‘My chief endeavour should be to attain a grand simplicity, and consequently I have avoided making a parade difficulties at the cost of clearness.’ CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK | ‘The modern composer builds upon the foundation of truth.’ CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI | ‘Culture how we understand the world.’ SARAH LEWIS | ‘We have a tendency to be comfortable with the idea that we know.’ CLIFF CARDINAL | ‘For me, the interesting artworks are the ones that end with a riddle.’ WILLIAM KENTRIDGE | ‘A great conductor is somebody who helps you to think and make connections many different things.’ SIR ANTONIO PAPPANO | ‘Of course a large group of musicians in a room, who are clever, accomplished and hard-working, will never agree on the same way of doing something so it’s also important that I stay true to my musical convictions.’ KARINA CANELLAKIS | ‘To help people understand classical music you have to present it in a different way...It’s about being able to tell a story in a great way.’ ABEL SELAOCOE | ‘That desire of wanting to more, wanting to share, and wanting to communicate with other people, and with the environment and society.’ HUANG RUO | ‘One must speak the truth the past or not at all.’
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH | ‘I’m trying to recognise and excavate what’s true…I’m looking for moments of resonance.’ CRYSTAL PITE | ‘Through music, we can glimpse the transcendental beauty that lies beyond our physical reality.’ JOHN TAVENER | ‘The enormity of the universe revealed by science cannot readily be grasped by the human brain, but the music of The Planets enables the mind to acquire some comprehension of the vastness of space where rational understanding fails.’ GUSTAV HOLST | ‘Extending the limits of our being and transcending our everyday presence. We have nothing else other than decisions, choices, and actions.’ OMAR RAJEH | ‘I start seeing the world in a very different way. I’ve given myself time and permission to look up and see world around me and see how others are choosing to interact with the world and that’s something very special that I fight to hold on to.’ DAN DAW | ‘It minutiae and the detail that I think actually reveals a greater truth about these systems and these institutions that govern us.’ JAMES GRAHAM | ‘I believe music, and art in general, has the power to contribute to society and shape the world...It’s not just about playing notes; it’s about having something to say.’ LIANG | ‘I have a real interest in portraying the complexity of human nature through dance, while playing with the boundaries of the imagination.’ LAPLANE | ‘My chief endeavour should be to attain a grand simplicity, and consequently I have avoided making a parade of difficulties at the cost clearness.’ CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK | ‘The modern composer builds upon the foundation of truth.’ CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI | ‘Culture is how we understand world.’ SARAH LEWIS | ‘We have a tendency to be comfortable with the idea that we know.’ CLIFF CARDINAL | ‘For me, the most interesting artworks are ones that end with a riddle.’ WILLIAM KENTRIDGE | ‘A great conductor is somebody who helps you to think and make connections to many different things.’ ANTONIO PAPPANO | ‘Of course a large group of musicians in a room, who are clever, accomplished and hard-working, will never all agree on the same way doing something so it’s also important that I stay true to my musical convictions.’ KARINA CANELLAKIS | ‘To help people understand classical music you have present it in a different way...It’s about being able to tell a story in a great way.’ ABEL SELAOCOE | ‘That desire of wanting to know more, wanting to share, wanting to communicate with other people, and with the environment and society.’ HUANG RUO | ‘One must speak the truth about the past or not at all.’
SHOSTAKOVICH | ‘I’m trying to recognise and excavate what’s true…I’m looking for moments of resonance.’ CRYSTAL PITE | ‘Through music, we can glimpse transcendental beauty that lies beyond our physical reality.’ JOHN TAVENER | ‘The enormity of the universe revealed by science cannot readily be grasped the human brain, but the music of The Planets enables the mind to acquire some comprehension of the vastness of space where rational understanding fails.’ GUSTAV HOLST | ‘Extending the limits of our being and transcending our everyday presence. We have nothing else other than our decisions, choices, actions.’ OMAR RAJEH | ‘I start seeing the world in a very different way. I’ve given myself time and permission to look up and see the world around me and how others are choosing to interact with the world and that’s something very special that I fight to hold on to.’ DAN DAW | ‘It is the minutiae and the detail I think actually reveals a greater truth about these systems and these institutions that govern us.’ JAMES GRAHAM | ‘I believe music, and art in general, has power to contribute to society and shape the world...It’s not just about playing notes; it’s about having something to say.’ HANNI LIANG | ‘I have a real interest in portraying the complexity of human nature through dance, while playing with the boundaries of the imagination.’ SOPHIE LAPLANE | ‘My chief endeavour should be to attain a grand simplicity, and consequently I have avoided making a parade of difficulties at the cost of clearness.’ CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK | modern composer builds upon the foundation of truth.’ CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI | ‘Culture is how we understand the world.’ SARAH LEWIS | ‘We have a tendency to be comfortable with the idea that we know.’ CLIFF CARDINAL | ‘For me, the most interesting artworks are the ones that end with a riddle.’ WILLIAM KENTRIDGE great conductor is somebody who helps you to think and make connections to many different things.’ SIR ANTONIO PAPPANO | ‘Of course a large group musicians in a room, who are clever, accomplished and hard-working, will never all agree on the same way of doing something so it’s also important that true to my musical convictions.’ KARINA CANELLAKIS | ‘To help people understand classical music you have to present it in a different way...It’s about being to tell a story in a great way.’ ABEL SELAOCOE | ‘That desire of wanting to know more, wanting to share, and wanting to communicate with other people, and the environment and society.’ HUANG RUO | ‘One must speak the truth about the past or not at all.’ DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH | ‘I’m trying to recognise and excavate what’s true…I’m looking for moments of resonance.’ CRYSTAL PITE | ‘Through music, we can glimpse the transcendental beauty that lies beyond our physical reality.’ JOHN TAVENER | ‘The enormity of the universe revealed by science cannot readily be grasped by the human brain, but the music of The Planets enables the mind to acquire some comprehension of the vastness of space where rational understanding fails.’ GUSTAV HOLST | ‘Extending the limits of our being transcending our everyday presence. We have nothing else other than our decisions, choices, and actions.’ OMAR RAJEH | ‘I start seeing the world in a
1–24 AUGUST 2025
50,000+ SEATS FOR £30 OR LESS
Cost shouldn't be a barrier to cultural discovery, so we're committed to selling at least half of our tickets for £30 or less. Our inclusive pricing offers:
• £10 tickets for every show, for anyone who needs them
• 50% off for under 18s and D/deaf, disabled & neurodivergent people
• 30% off for under 30s and arts workers
• Free tickets for young musicians, NHS staff & community partners
See p109 for full details.
OUR ORIGIN STORY
The original festival. We’re the one that started it all, the igniting spark which established Edinburgh as the world’s Festival City. Founded in 1947, the International Festival was the inspired idea of Rudolf Bing, a cultural pioneer and Jewish refugee of the Nazi regime. He joined with civic and artistic leaders to create an event that would transcend political boundaries through a global celebration of performing arts in Scotland’s beloved capital city. Over the following 77 years the International Festival has flourished, deepening our commitment to artistic excellence and cultural curiosity. Meanwhile, sister festivals have grown up around us, each of them contributing to the atmosphere of unparalleled excitement that transforms the city every summer.
OUR FESTIVAL
We welcome the world to Edinburgh to experience our hand-picked programme of the finest performers in opera, theatre, dance and music. Through their artistry we create space for reflection and reconciliation, debate and celebration, bringing people of different cultures and viewpoints together.
OUR IMPACT
Shining far beyond what you see on stage, we aim to be a beacon for the enormous creativity, curiosity and potential held within individuals, communities and our nation. We offer year-round pathways for people of all ages and backgrounds to discover and participate in live performance, and to help shape the future of our Festival. By nurturing the next generation of artists – from inspiring primary schoolchildren to mentoring rising stars – we want this legacy to be felt for years to come.
OUR VISION
Our vision is simple: to provide the deepest experience of the highest quality art for the broadest possible audience. What does this mean for you? Read more about what you can expect from us on p8. Learn more at eif.co.uk/about
THE TRUTH WE SEEK
WELCOME FROM NICOLA BENEDETTI
Welcome to the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival, as we explore The Truth We Seek.
To be alive is to know the elusive nature of truth. At home, at work, with friends and with those we love, we try to piece together indignantly expressed, absolutely believed, yet utterly contradictory truths. How much can we reach beyond our own hearts and minds to reap insight into the reality of another person’s life? And what of public life; where and how do we find a collective approach to truth?
We are caught in a bewildering swirl of ‘my truth’ and ‘alternative facts’, of manipulated language disguised as
information, jet-fuelled by the power of the tech aristocracy and their political friends. We are losing the discipline needed to observe, check, recheck and prove fact, while in public discourse we also see a cynical loosening of the humility required to accept that there is little we know for sure.
However, it is still the case that through the arts we find leaps of imaginative
power, helping us to glimpse truth in its poetic, metaphorical wisdom. Whether it’s a Faustian tale of hubris, or a symphony born from disdain for tyranny, artistic and aesthetic achievements serve a purpose much deeper than entertainment. They enrich our lives in innumerable ways, speaking the language of allegory and taking us into realms of timeless truths that are more nuanced and precise than literal fact. Truth lives in our journey of discovery.
For almost 80 years, our Festival has presented tales and truths that resonate across time. Born here, in the city of the Enlightenment, where Adam Smith, David Hume and their peers showed us how the civilised exchange of ideas is core to our capacity for insight, discovery and mutual tolerance, the Festival is deeply aspirational both for art and for our responsibilities as citizens. The audacity of vision, in the aftermath of war, to create an arts festival so rooted in reconciliation that it was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize moves me to tears of compassion. This urgent desire to pursue truth through art continues to guide and inspire us.
This year, we proudly present an extraordinary array of international and Scottish artists, including bold world premieres from our national performing companies. We celebrate 60 years of our fantastic Festival Chorus, who take centre stage with challenging and compelling repertoire. And we continue to illuminate emerging talent and champion the rewards of strong mentorship.
There are many ways in which we will seek and find truth together this summer. So, I invite you all to come, enjoy and explore. I promise that your curiosity will be rewarded with transcendental, potentially transformational experiences – that you simply won’t find anywhere else.
SEEK THE TRUTH WITHIN YOURSELF
Embark on the spiritual experience of The Veil of the Temple; unravel the riddles of your dream life with Hanni Liang ; and cut through taboo to selfrealisation with The Dan Daw Show
IN RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER
Challenge received wisdom with As You Like It A Radical Retelling; tackle the thorny truths of our time with Cutting the Tightrope; and listen to how Dmitri Shostakovich walked the line between artistic authenticity and political survival.
ABOUT OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD
Expand your horizon with Holst’s The Planets; immerse yourself in the cycles and rhythms of human life in Works and Days; and face up to environmental truths in Figures in Extinction.
OUR PROMISE TO YOU
Whether you're joining us for the first time or you've been with us for decades, we promise you an experience that is welcoming, memorable and exceptional. Here's what you can count on when you join us for a performance at the Edinburgh International Festival.
• We want you to feel truly welcome . We listen to what you need, using your feedback to identify and remove barriers, e.g. through our Access Pass and targeted ticket concessions. Don’t hesitate to speak to our friendly staff if you need assistance.
• Live performance is most thrilling when audiences and artists engage with mutual respect . We ask for your attention, and we offer you an unforgettable experience.
• We invite you to experience art in many ways . Sometimes we listen so deeply we hear every breath in the room; at other times we gather with a joyful roar. We’ll make sure you know what to expect.
• Whether you know a little or a lot, we'll provide everything you need to enjoy the performance through our helpful emails, freesheets and surtitles.
• There is no singular view on why a symphony matters, what makes opera relatable, or how dance makes us feel. If you seek context, depth or an artist's interpretation, we will connect you with the human stories behind great works of art through our audio series, in-depth articles, presented concerts and postshow talks.
• We present you a window to the world . Encounter familiar stories in other languages or from radically different perspectives. Bring an open heart and mind, and we’ll provide specific guidance for those who want to feel more prepared.
CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE
Wondering where to start? Every event in our programme is thoughtfully curated to spark connection with the art and those around you. Find what resonates and make the Festival your own. If you’d like more guidance, head to eif.co.uk/experiences
DEEP THINKERS
Immerse yourself in innovative performances or talks that intellectually engage. Perfect for those who love exploring complex ideas or emotional depths.
SOCIAL BUTTERFLIES
The audience is a part of the show. Connect with the crowd and revel in shared moments of energy.
THE CURIOUS
Eager to explore the world through art? Open your mind to new perspectives at performances that provoke thoughtful conversations.
CUTTING THE TIGHTROPE p30
THE OPENING CONCERT p54
MOZART'S LA CLEMENZA DI TITO p60
WROCŁAW BAROQUE ENSEMBLE p81
PRINCES STREET GARDENS p12
DANCE PEOPLE p40
BREAKING BACH p42
COME AND SING ELIJAH p71
MAKE IT HAPPEN p24
THE DAN DAW SHOW p38
KEYNOTE TALKS p45
SHOSTAKOVICH INSIDE OUT p67
ROMANTICS
From stirring symphonies to edge-of-your-seat theatre, the artistry of these performances are bound to impress and create a night to remember.
ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE p16
MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS p34
FIGURES IN EXTINCTION p36
THE CLOSING CONCERT p70
OpENINg WEEkENd aT
THE BIG SINGALONG p13
THE CEILIDH SESSIONS p13
MAKE IT HAPPEN p24
THE DAN DAW SHOW p38
OPENING CONCERT: THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE p54
NYO2: PROKOFIEV’S FIFTH SYMPHONY p57
NYO2: FAMILY CONCERT p57
COLIN CURRIE & THE KING’S SINGERS p74
FIRST NIGHT AT THE HUB p86
Our opening weekend is bursting with landmark moments and unmissable events.
In 2025, we celebrate 60 years of the incredible Edinburgh Festival Chorus. They take centre stage at our Opening Concert, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear John Tavener's The Veil of the Temple in all its eight-hour glory at the Usher Hall. The next day, NY02, one of Carnegie Hall's fantastic youth orchestras, opens its Festival residency with Sergei Prokofiev's hopeful Fifth Symphony.
Head to the Festival Theatre for the world premiere of Make It Happen, an eye-opening take on the 2008 financial crisis set
here in Edinburgh, from one of Britain's leading playwrights, James Graham. Meanwhile, our dance and theatre series kicks off at The Lyceum with The Dan Daw Show, an intimate exploration of radical selfacceptance through the themes of sex, power and disability.
Virtuoso musicians from around the world arrive at our Festival home, The Hub. In the contemplative setting of The Queen’s Hall, our series of morning classical concerts opens with the award-winning ensemble The King’s Singers performing with Scottish percussionist Colin Currie.
Gather in Princes Street Gardens to sing your heart out with the crowd and enjoy an exhilarating tribute to Scottish ceilidh music from Barokksolistene, returning after last year's Alehouse Sessions.
PRINCES STREET GARDENS
THE CEILIDH SESSIONS
4 Aug 4pm 1hr 30mins approx. | No interval
ROSS BANDSTAND £20
THE BIG SINGALONG
3 Aug
Sign up now at eif.co.uk
ROSS BANDSTAND FREE
Gather friends and family to start your Festival season on a high note at Princes Street Gardens.
Stephen Deazley, artistic director of Edinburgh’s Love Music Community Choir, leads the crowd in a mass singalong, joined by a very special guest to be revealed soon. Whether you’re a local choir regular, an office karaoke enthusiast, or a certified shower soprano, this is your moment. Sign up now at eif.co.uk
Flawless Norwegian folk ensemble Barokksolistene returns to the Festival for another rip-roaring concert after the enormous popularity of their 2024 Alehouse Sessions. This time, they’ll be adding some Scottish flavour in this dramatic setting at the heart of our Festival city. Enjoy an afternoon of music and storytelling, inspired by the Gaelic ceilidh tradition and enlivened by the group’s energetic performance style. Alongside beloved tunes like The Gay Gordons and Strip the Willow, Barokksolistene brings their irresistible repertoire of Baroque music, sea shanties and alehouse tunes to the mix.
WHERE SPECTaCULaR
STORYTELLING AND TIMELESS TRUTHS COLLIDE
ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE
With its heart-wrenching vocals, largerthan-life characters and spectacular staging, opera stays with you far beyond the curtain. Surrender to a world where art cuts through illusion, from the aerial underworld of Orpheus and Eurydice to the elemental ancient myths of Book of Mountains and Seas.
ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE
CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK
OPERA QUEENSLAND / CIRCA
SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA / SCOTTISH OPERA
LAURENCE CUMMINGS / YARON LIFSCHITZ
OPERA AUSTRALIA
‘DELIGHTFUL AND aSTONISHINg’
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
EUROPEAN PRODUCTION PREMIERE
Heartbroken Orpheus has the chance to rescue his wife Eurydice from the underworld. But there's one condition: he mustn’t look at her during their long journey home. Can he resist the temptation to gaze into his true love’s eyes?
Soaring vocals, hypnotic visuals and acrobatic feats plunge you into an ancient tale of love, lust and loss. Gramophone Award-winning countertenor Iestyn Davies stars as Orpheus, haunted by visions of Eurydice, performed by Australian soprano Samantha Clarke. As Orpheus descends into insanity, Eurydice’s own descent into the underworld takes magnificent, aerial form.
Circa joins with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a chorus from Scottish Opera for the European premiere of this electrifying production of Gluck’s seminal opera.
13, 15 Aug 8pm 16 Aug 3pm
AD 16 Aug
1hr 20mins approx. | No interval
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE From £24
Gluck Composer Calzabigi Librettist
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Laurence Cummings Conductor
Yaron Lifschitz Director & Set Designer
Yaron Lifschitz, Bridie Hooper & Circa Ensemble Choreographers
Alexander Berlage Lighting Designer
Libby McDonnell Costume Designer
Boris Bagattini Video Designer
Chorus from Scottish Opera
Susannah Wapshott Chorus Director
Iestyn Davies Orpheus
Samantha Clarke Eurydice / Amor
Contains strobe lighting, depictions of mental illness, partial nudity, fake blood and violence
Sung in Italian with English surtitles
Supported by James and Morag Anderson
Additional support from Vivienne and Robin Menzies
‘an immersive tapestry of sound and image’ THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
BOOK OF MOUNTAINS AND SEAS
HUANG RUO / BASIL TWIST
ARS NOVA COPENHAGEN
BETH MORRISON PROJECTS
UK PREMIERE
A giant tries to capture the sun. A drowned princess seeks revenge on the ocean. Ten suns compete to light the Earth.
Huang Ruo, one of the most exciting figures of contemporary opera, reimagines ancient Chinese myths, first transcribed in the fourth century BC, through the lens of today’s environmental challenges. This 21st-century adaptation explores our complex relationship with the natural world, blending music, puppetry and mythology to reflect on humanity’s role as caretakers of the Earth.
Directed by Basil Twist, the Olivier Awardwinning designer of My Neighbour Totoro, the performance features the Danish choir Ars Nova Copenhagen, joined by an exceptional ensemble of percussionists and puppeteers. With timeless myths of creation, water and elemental forces, Book of Mountains and Seas reminds us of the pressing need for a collective respect for nature.
14–16 Aug 8pm
POST-SHOW TALK 15 Aug
AD 16 Aug
1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE LYCEUM From £12
Huang Ruo Composer & Librettist
Basil Twist Director & Production Designer
Miles Lallemant Music Director
Ayumu Poe Saegusa Lighting Designer
Sung in Mandarin and fictional language with English and Chinese surtitles
OPERA IN CONCERT
MOZART'S LA CLEMENZA DI TITO
9 Aug 6pm
3hrs approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £22.50
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Maxim Emelyanychev Conductor
Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus
Gregory Batsleer Chorus Director
Giovanni Sala Tito
Angela Brower Sesto
Tara Erraught Vitellia
Hera Hyesang Park Servilia
Maria Warenberg Annio
Ildebrando D'Arcangelo Publio
Mozart La clemenza di Tito
Sung in Italian with English surtitles
Mozart's La clemenza di Tito takes you into ancient Rome, where Vitellia seeks revenge on Emperor Tito. Manipulation and assassination plots lead to the ultimate test of mercy and forgiveness. Maxim Emelyanychev and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus return following last year’s outstanding Così fan tutte to continue their exploration of Mozart at the International Festival, now entering its third year.
PUCCINI'S SUOR ANGELICA
16 Aug 7pm
2hrs approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £27.50
London Symphony Orchestra
Sir Antonio Pappano Conductor
Edinburgh Festival Chorus
James Grossmith Chorus Director
RSNO Youth Chorus
Patrick Barrett Chorus Director
Mané Galoyan Suor Angelica
Kseniia Nikolaieva Principessa
Further casting to be announced
Puccini Preludio sinfonico de Sabata Juventus Puccini Suor Angelica*
*Sung in Italian with English surtitles
Encounter the tragic tale of a nun with a secret. Set in a 17thcentury Italian convent, Giacomo Puccini’s opera follows the story of Sister Angelica, whose search for peace is troubled by her past. Soprano Mané Galoyan is our protagonist, performing with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano. This performance is part of the London Symphony Orchestra residency. See p65.
Supported by Edinburgh International Festival Endowment Fund
Taking a maximalist approach to vocals –and a minimalist approach to costume and set design – epic tales are conveyed solely through the power of music.
With the orchestra on stage, operas in concert make room for an intimate exchange of pure performance and focused listening.
THEATRE HOLDS A MIRROR UP TO THE WORLD
WORKS AND DAYS
POST-SHOW TALKS
Your chance to hear directly from the creative teams and performers behind these thoughtprovoking productions, sharing your reactions and questions with fellow audience members.
The power of truth-telling comes alive in a striking lineup of works that explore the climate emergency, colonialism and politics. From a gripping portrayal of the 2008 financial crash starring Scotland’s Brian Cox to Cliff Cardinal’s radical retelling of a Shakespearean classic, these performances are sure to ignite conversation and inspire reflection.
‘JAMES GRAHaM IS FAST BECOMINg THE PRE-EMINENT pLAYWRIGHT OF HIS GENERATION.’
MAKE IT HAPPEN
NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND
DUNDEE REP THEATRE
JAMES GRAHAM / ANDREW PANTON
Behold the rise, fall and fail of the biggest bank in the world – The Royal Bank of Scotland.
At the helm is Fred 'The Shred' Goodwin, armed with an unshakeable belief in the wisdom of the ‘founder of modern capitalism’, Adam Smith. The once prudent RBS soars and then plummets, placing Scotland at the heart of the global financial crash of 2008.
Set in Edinburgh, Make It Happen sees legendary actor Brian Cox return to the Scottish stage for the first time in a decade as Adam Smith, the ghost of fiscal past.
Written by James Graham (Sherwood, Dear England ), hailed as one of the most influential and finger-on-the-pulse writers of our time, and directed by the awardwinning Andrew Panton, this epic new satire delves into the unchecked growth, spiralling greed and nail-biting hubris that brought the world’s economy to its knees.
Take your seat for this unmissable drama; decadence, world-domination and a dizzying descent await.
Previews 30–31 Jul 7.30pm
1–8 Aug 7.30pm (excl. 3 Aug)
2, 6, 9 Aug 2.30pm
POST-SHOW TALK 4 Aug
BSL 5 Aug
AD 6 Aug 2.30pm
CAP 8 Aug
2hrs 10mins approx. | One interval
FESTIVAL THEATRE From £24
James Graham Writer
Andrew Panton Director
Anna Fleischle Set Designer
Anna Fleischle & Angelica Rush
Costume Co-Designers
Emily Jane Boyle Movement Director
Martin Lowe Musical Supervisor & Arranger
Lizzie Powell Lighting Designer
Tingying Dong Sound Designer
Angelica Rush Associate Designer
Lewis den Hertog & Anna Fleischle
Video Co-Designers
Brian Cox Adam Smith
Full cast to be announced
Co-produced by Edinburgh International Festival, National Theatre of Scotland and Dundee Rep Theatre
In association with Playful Productions and Neal Street Productions
Contains strong language
This is a fictionalised satire, featuring a mixture of characters and incidents inspired by real-life events, with others entirely imagined
Supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown
‘FC BERGMAN IS A COMPANY UNAFRaId TO GO BIg aNd BIZARRE’
WORKS AND DAYS
FC BERGMAN / TONEELHUIS
Birth, life and death converge at the heart of this visually spectacular performance, as theatre collective FC Bergman seeks the truth about our place in the wider world. Their latest wordless piece blends stunning imagery, movement and music to explore our connection with the land we inhabit.
Journeying from ancient times to the present, the play cycles through the seasons and fundamental human rites of passage. The ingenious set design exposes the actors to all the elements – from fire to water. The magnificent visuals nod to famous pastoral paintings, all told with FC Bergman's signature humour and pathos.
Accompanied by on-stage musicians playing original music inspired by Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, the performance transports you to a time when the land was everything, and our existence was inseparable from it.
7–9 Aug 8pm 10 Aug 3pm
POST-SHOW TALK 8 Aug
AD 10 Aug
1hr 10mins approx. | No interval
THE LYCEUM From £12
Contains loud noise, theatrical smoke, nudity, sexual themes, depictions of violence and fake blood
Stef Aerts, Joé Agemans, Thomas Verstraeten & Marie Vinck (FC Bergman) Directors, Dramaturgs & Set Designers
Joachim Badenhorst & Sean Carpio
Composers & Musicians
An d’Huys Costume Designer
Stef Aerts, Joé Agemans & Ken Hioco
Lighting Designers
Cast Stef Aerts, Joé Agemans, Susan De Ceuster, Geert Goossens, Fumiyo Ikeda, Maryam Sserwamukoko, Thomas Verstraeten & Marie Vinck
Supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown
FAUSTUS IN AFRICA!
HANDSPRING PUPPET COMPANY
WILLIAM KENTRIDGE
Would you strike a reckless deal with the devil for power, pleasure or profit? Faustus in Africa! reimagines the timeless tale of Faust’s downfall, reframing it to confront the catastrophic costs of colonialism and the climate emergency.
Directed by William Kentridge, this bold re-working of the Handspring Puppet Company’s multi-award-winning 1995 production combines puppetry with Kentridge’s celebrated animations. It follows Faustus on a reckless journey through greed and excess, set on an African safari. The haunting score, featuring Warrick Sony and the late James Phillips, ramps up the drama, while Handspring’s extraordinary puppetry (of War Horse fame) brings a surreal quality to the stage.
Eleven years on from Ubu and the Truth Commission – praised for ‘confounding all kinds of expectations’ (The Times) –Kentridge and Handspring return to the International Festival. With enduring relevance, 30 years after its original premiere, Faustus in Africa! explores the moral trade-offs and compromises that shape our world.
20–23 Aug 7.30pm
POST-SHOW TALK 21 Aug
CAP 22 Aug
AD 23 Aug
2hrs 20mins approx. | One interval
THE LYCEUM From £12
William Kentridge Director & Animation
Lara Foot Associate Director
Adrian Kohler & Basil Jones Puppetry Directors from Handspring Puppet Company
Contains sexual imagery, depictions of violence and a needle extracting blood
UK PREMIERE
CUTTING THE TIGHTROPE
A collection of political plays arrives at the International Festival with a fresh wave of urgency. Following a sellout debut at London’s Arcola Theatre, Cutting the Tightrope delves into the ever-tightening grip of censorship on artistic freedom. This is an audacious exploration of the role of the arts in today's global conflicts and political resistance.
14–17 Aug 7.30pm
POST-SHOW TALK after every performance
BSL 16 Aug CAP AD 17 Aug
2hrs approx. | One interval
CHURCH HILL THEATRE From £25
Contains themes of violence, including war and genocide, sexual assault and racism
SCOTTISH PREMIERE
AS YOU LIKE IT A RADICAL RETELLING
CROW'S THEATRE
CLIFF CARDINAL
Although Shakespeare’s title promises something for everyone, cultural provocateur
Cliff Cardinal has reimagined As You Like It as a play strictly for the open-minded. Bold, unapologetic and unafraid to tackle the thorny truths of our times, this audacious adaptation balances black humour with raw emotion. This is Shakespeare as the Bard never imagined.
20–23 Aug 8pm
1hr 30mins approx. | No interval
CHURCH HILL THEATRE From £25
Cliff Cardinal Writer & Creator
Logan Cracknell Lighting Designer
Contains themes of war, colonisation, sexual violence, mass murder, suicide and strong language
SCOTTISH PREMIERE
SEEkINg TRUTH IN MOTION
FIGURES IN EXTINCTION
POST-SHOW TALKS
Your chance to hear directly from the creative teams and performers behind these thoughtprovoking productions, sharing your reactions and questions with fellow audience members.
From the world premiere of a daring interpretation of Mary, Queen of Scots's story to Dan Daw’s choreographic reclamation of kink, dance at the International Festival spins tales of political and personal truth. With every step, the artists in the programme challenge conventions, uplifting daring explorations of self-acceptance and poignant reflections on our environmental impact.
‘A BOLd, PROVOCATIVE,
MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS
SCOTTISH BALLET
SOPHIE LAPLANE / JAMES BONAS
WORLD PREMIERE
Two women. Two crowns. One story.
As her death approaches, Elizabeth I of England is haunted by memories – both real and imagined – of her cousin and rival, Mary, Queen of Scots. Bound by blood yet divided by power, their lives were a dangerous dance of ambition, intrigue and betrayal.
The two queens’ fraught relationship is explored in this stunning world premiere from Scottish Ballet’s choreographer-inresidence Sophie Laplane and co-creator James Bonas. With striking designs by Soutra Gilmour (Sunset Boulevard ) and a bold new score from the team behind the 2022 International Festival sensation Coppélia, Mary, Queen of Scots reimagines the story of one of Scotland’s most famous women. The new production imagines a Renaissance where punk meets haute couture.
From the exceptional Scottish Ballet, Mary and Elizabeth’s relationship inspires a rich and resonant journey through memory, history and myth.
15–16 Aug 7.30pm 16 Aug 2.30pm 17 Aug 3pm
POST-SHOW TALK 16 Aug 2.30pm
AD 17 Aug
1hr 50mins approx. | One interval
FESTIVAL THEATRE From £18
Sophie Laplane Choreographer & Co-Creator
James Bonas Director & Co-Creator
Mikael Karlsson & Michael P Atkinson
Original Score
Soutra Gilmour Set & Costume Designer
Bonnie Beecher Lighting Designer
Anouar Brissel Projection & Video Designer
Supported by Flure Grossart
‘A pOWERFUL PORTRAIT OF NATURE UNDER THREAT’ THE GUARDIAN
FIGURES IN EXTINCTION
NEDERLANDS DANS THEATER / COMPLICITÉ
SIMON MCBURNEY / CRYSTAL PITE
SCOTTISH PREMIERE
We live in an age of disconnection – from the natural world and one another. Can we name what we’re losing? What does it mean to bear witness to a destruction we both cause and endure?
Returning to the International Festival, Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) and Complicité present Figures in Extinction. This collaboration between visionary choreographer Crystal Pite and groundbreaking theatre-maker Simon McBurney confronts hard truths about humanity's impact on the world and explores art’s meaning in the face of mass destruction. Both artists are celebrated for their International Festival triumphs – Pite’s inventive Assembly Hall and McBurney’s boundary-pushing The Encounter.
Fusing contemporary dance with striking soundscapes and dialogue – from the crack of melting ice caps to the jarring chatter of social media influencers – Figures in Extinction calls for unity in a fractured world, finding a collective spark of hope in the darkness.
22–23 Aug 8pm 23 Aug 2pm 24 Aug 3pm
POST-SHOW TALK 23 Aug 8pm
CAP 23 Aug 8pm
AD 24 Aug
2hrs 30mins approx. | Two intervals
FESTIVAL THEATRE From £21
Contains nudity, depictions of substance abuse and death
Simon McBurney Director & Co-Creator Crystal Pite Choreographer & Co-Creator
Supported by James and Morag Anderson
‘UNAPOLOgETIC, VULNERABLE, BRILLIANT’
THE DAN DAW SHOW
DAN DAW CREATIVE PROJECTS
His whole life, the Australian disabled dancer Dan Daw has been told that he’s ‘brave’ or ‘an inspiration’. Now, he’s turning the spotlight inward, to find his own truth through a subject that holds the power to both challenge and liberate: kink.
This daring International Festival debut fuses sexy choreography and touching theatricality to take a stand against the disabling forces of society. Joined by collaborator Christopher Owen, Dan reclaims power through domination and submission – on his own terms. Through the lens of identity, kink becomes an act of defiance and radical self-acceptance in this hybrid work directed by Mark Maughan.
Nominated for multiple dance awards, The Dan Daw Show peeps into the push-pull of living with shame while bursting with pride. Exploring intimacy and resilience, this is an uplifting performance about letting go and reclaiming yourself.
2–4 Aug 8pm
POST SHOW TALK 3 Aug
CAP REL 2–4 Aug
BSL 3 Aug
AD 4 Aug
1hr 30mins approx. | No interval
THE LYCEUM From £12
Dan Daw & Christopher Owen Performers & Collaborators
Mark Maughan Director
Sarah Blanc Movement & Rehearsal Director
Emma Bailey Designer
Nao Nagai Lighting Designer
Guy Connelly Composer & Sound Designer
Brian Lobel Dramaturg
Contains flashing lights, loud noises, depictions of kink experiences (including suffocation, humiliation and dominance) sexually explicit imagery and language, and descriptions of feeling othered
‘dEMANDINg aNd INTENSE, IT WORKS A SLOW MAGIC’
THE GUARDIAN ON OMAR RAJEH'S THE ODOR OF ELEPHANTS AFTER THE RAIN (2021)
DANCE PEOPLE
CIE OMAR RAJEH & MAQAMAT OMAR RAJEH / MIA HABIS
Choreographers Omar Rajeh and Mia Habis invite you to step into the rhythm of creativity in everyday life. Set outdoors against the striking backdrop of Edinburgh’s Old College Quad, LebaneseFrench dance company Maqamat present Dance People – a performance where the line between audience and performer dissolves.
Dance People pirouettes between joy and critique, examining the power structures that influence the artistic process. Democracy, dictatorship and culture are placed under the spotlight, their tensions explored through dynamic choreography and unflinching physicality. Across France, Lebanon and the Arab region, Rajeh is acclaimed for his politically charged works, which merge movement with political activism.
As the performance unfolds, spectators are drawn into its orbit, moving from observers to participants. This promenade production blurs the boundary between stage and reality, making room for unexpected encounters and bold new forms.
7–10 Aug 8.30pm 1hr 30mins approx. | No interval
OLD COLLEGE QUAD £30
Omar Rajeh Concept & Choreographer
Mia Habis Choreographer
Co-produced by Edinburgh International Festival, Kunstfest Weimar, Euro-Scene Leipzig & International Dance Festival München
Presented in association with The University of Edinburgh
This is an outdoor promenade performance
Supported by James and Morag Anderson
‘MYSTERIOUSLY MESMERISINg IN ITS SIMPLICITY’
BREAKING BACH
ORCHESTRA OF THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT KIM BRANDSTRUP
WORLD PREMIERE
Discover Johann Sebastian Bach from a fresh perspective in this world premiere where classical music meets hip hop and contemporary dance. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, performing on 18th-century period instruments, is joined by a troupe of dancers whose new choreography brings Bach’s music to life.
Award-winning choreographer Kim Brandstrup returns to the Festival after his acclaimed Minotaur (2023). This August, he collaborates with professional dancers and young talent from Acland Burghley School in London, where the orchestra is engaged in a groundbreaking residency. Brandstrup's original choreography is inspired by the pulsing rhythms of Bach's music, including his Double Violin Concerto and vibrant Third Brandenburg Concerto.
Enjoy this electrifying fusion of contemporary dance and classical music from the comfort of a beanbag in the stalls or seated upstairs.
20 Aug 7.30pm
1hr 10mins approx. | No interval
USHER HALL From £30
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Kim Brandstrup Choreographer
Programme includes Bach Brandenburg Concerto No.3 Double Violin Concerto
This performance will be filmed
Supported by Scobie Dickinson Ward
DIVE DEEPER
If you're fascinated by the human stories behind these great performances, we offer many ways to satisfy your curiosity.
MEET THE ARTISTS
• Get under the skin of our staged works by hearing from creative teams and performers in our postshow talks
• Our Inside O ut beanbag concert enables you to get in amongst the orchestra, while the conductor guides you through Shostakovich’s epic Fifth Symphony (p67)
• The Hub is our most intimate music venue, with performers only a few feet away. After select performances you’ll have the chance to hear from the musicians in their own words or mingle in the cosy bar (p84)
KEY INFORMATION, WHEN AND WHERE YOU NEED IT
• For concerts and staged works, our keepsake freesheets provide you with all the essential information you’ll need to know about the performance and who’s on stage.
• For concerts, surtitle screens show you which piece of music is being played.
• For Orpheus and Eurydice, you can also buy a souvenir programme – a stylish memento packed with enlightening editorial.
WATCH, READ & LISTEN
• Our audio series, The Warm Up, brings insight and conversation from our artists, with knowledgeable hosts including Festival Director Nicola Benedetti.
• Find behind-the-scenes interviews, insightful articles and the most upto-date information about performances at eif.co.uk
• Before the performance, we’ll send you the most relevant links, along with your tickets, by text message and email.
Continuing our longstanding partnership with the BBC, we’re teaming up once again to record many of our concerts at The Queen’s Hall and Usher Hall for Radio 3. Relive these performances on BBC Sounds for 30 days after the broadcasts, and explore the full list of recordings at eif.co.uk/bbc
KEYNOTE TALKS
WITH MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
THE TRUTH WE SEEK: SIMON FANSHAWE OBE
BSL CAP Date to be announced. See eif.co.uk
THE HUB £15
Listen to Simon Fanshawe – broadcaster, author and University of Edinburgh Rector – explore The Truth We Seek through artistic and academic freedoms, in discussion with a panel of special guests. A leading voice in work on equality, diversity and inclusion in the UK, Fanshawe was one of the six co-founders of the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall. No stranger to our sister festivals, he appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for ten years and won the Perrier Award for Comedy in 1989.
THE UNSEEN TRUTH: SARAH LEWIS
BSL CAP 18 Aug 2pm
THE HUB £15
Sarah Lewis is an art and cultural historian and founder of the civic initiative Vision & Justice. Her research focuses on the intersection of visual representation, racial justice and democracy in the United States from the 19th century to the present day. She is the John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Humanities and Associate Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University. Her recent book The Unseen Truth exposes the lies used to shore up America’s racial divide.
ART OF LISTENING FOR FAMILIES
Do you have a life-long passion for classical music you would love to share with a young family member? Or perhaps it’s a world you’re keen to discover together? This interactive family workshop led by an opera singer, pianist and facilitator celebrates the power of listening deeply, together. Dive into the stories hidden within classical music, tap into its ability to stir your imagination and uncover its power to soothe and relax you. Come together across the generations to learn fresh ways to listen, share and connect. Suitable for children aged 7–11, accompanied by adults of all ages.
‘THAT IS SO COOL, THE pIANO CaN DO ANYTHINg’
PARTICIPANT, AGED 11
4 Aug 10am
5–9 Aug 10am, 1pm & 3pm
1hr 15mins approx.
CHURCH HILL THEATRE STUDIO £10
All children must be accompanied by an adult. This workshop is designed for adults and children to participate together
DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY CONCERT
SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
New to the International Festival this year, a concert designed especially for people living with dementia, their caregivers, family and friends. This relaxed performance by musicians from Scottish Chamber Orchestra enables those who have dementia to enjoy familiar repertoire in a relaxing and flexible environment. Designed to be engaging and enjoyable, audience members will have the chance to move around the auditorium, arrive early and take breaks to accommodate their needs.
REL 19 Aug 3pm 1hr approx. | No interval
THE QUEEN'S HALL
£10 including hot drinks and sweet treats
Companion tickets are free Programme includes Works by Johann Strauss and a selection of Scottish tunes
Presented in association with Alzheimer Scotland
WELCOMING YOUNG AUDIENCES
FREE CONCERT TICKETS FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS
Are you aged 8–18, living in Scotland and passionate about music? Then sign up to our Young Musician's Pass, with more than 2,000 free tickets up for grabs and exclusive access to meet with world-class artists. Booking opens on 19 May. T&Cs apply. Sign up at eif.co.uk/ympass
Supported by The Turtleton Charitable Trust, the Young Musician’s Pass opens the door for young people to explore the power and potential of live music.
HALF-PRICE TICKETS FOR UNDER 18S
‘ THE YOUN g MUSICIAN ¹ S PASS ENABLEd MY dAU g HTER TO SEE THE VERY BEST MUSICIANS. ’ PARENT
Under 18s can access half-price tickets to all Festival shows and concerts. There’s a whole host of inspirational performances to ignite young minds, including:
ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE p16
MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS p34
BREAKING BACH p42
NYO2 RESIDENCY p56
HOLST'S THE PLANETS p59
BEANBAG CONCERTS p66
RISING STARS CONCERTS p81, p89 & p91
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Year-round, we invite people of all ages and backgrounds to fall in love with the performing arts, make the most of their creative potential and come together for communal events. Our collaboration with NHS Lothian Charity brings the joy of live music into NHS settings through monthly pop-up performances for staff, patients and visitors.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS HUB
This year, we spotlight our inaugural Community Connections residency partnership with Space @ The Broomhouse Hub
Together, we are developing long-term initiatives, workshops and opportunities to meet the ideas of local communities and support cultural exchange.
These include skills development, training and paid employment opportunities, dementia-friendly activities, and sharing community meals to help tackle social isolation. During August, we’ll be collaborating on moments of celebration featuring Festival artists. To learn more, go to eif.co.uk/community
‘A NEW dISCOVERY FOR ME. I FELT TRANSPORTEd.’
BROOMHOUSE VISITOR
We are grateful to all our Discovery & Participation supporters who make this work possible, including those who prefer to remain anonymous.
Claire and Mark Urquhart
Binks Trust
The Badenoch Trust
The Castansa Trust
The Cross Trust
The Educational Institute of Scotland
Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust
The Northwood Charitable Trust
Jerry Ozaniec
The Pear Tree Fund for Music
The Stevenston Charitable Trust
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL CHORUS 60TH ANNIVERSARY
In 2025, the Edinburgh Festival Chorus celebrates 60 years of incredible dedication and stirring performances at the very heart of the International Festival.
Since its inception, this leading choir has been performing with the world’s most exciting orchestras and conductors. Brought together by a shared love of singing, the Chorus is made up of over 150 volunteer members.
COULD YOU ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CHORUS?
Hear the Chorus's colossal sound at Usher Hall concerts, from the epic Opening Concert: The Veil of the Temple (p54) to Vaughan Williams's majestic A Sea Symphony (p65). You can also join in the joy of singing with the Chorus in Come and Sing Elijah (p71).
If you have choral experience and know how to read music, then we want to hear from you. For information on how to get in touch and prepare for an audition, head to eif.co.uk/chorus
‘TOGETHER, WE BECOME SOMETHING MUCH gREATER THaN THE MERE SUM OF OUR PARTS, IN THE pRIVILEGE OF COMMUNICATING THE MUSIC TO OUR AUDIENCE.’
ELSPETH SMITH, ALTO
Hear the Chorus at the following concerts:
OPENING CONCERT: THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE p54
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS’S A SEA SYMPHONY p65
PUCCINI'S SUOR ANGELICA p65
BERNSTEIN & STRAVINSKY p68
CLOSING CONCERT: MENDELSSOHN'S ELIJAH p70
Supported by Risk Charitable Fund
HOME TO OUR RESIdENT ORCHESTRaS AND BEANBAG CONCERTS
Encounter outstanding musicianship from all angles at Edinburgh’s beloved concert hall. Here, you can experience scale and spectacle as well as enjoy the informal insights of an innovative beanbag concert. Inspired by our varied music programme, the venue layout changes throughout the Festival to create the best atmosphere for you and for the music.
Our residency model returns with gusto with three outstanding orchestras to add to your Usher Hall experience: dig deeper into their identities and discover their unique sounds.
OPENING CONCERT: THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE
‘A GLORIOUS, TRaNSCENdENT aCHIEVEMENT’ THE INDEPENDENT
Eight hours. 250 singers. One monumental choral work.
Experience a day-to-night concert as Usher Hall transforms into a sanctuary for John Tavener's magnum opus, The Veil of the Temple.
Written just over 20 years ago, The Veil of the Temple isn’t only for religious listeners – Tavener composed it to unlock everyone’s spiritual side. Sung in five different languages and drawing on many of the major world religions, think of The Veil of the Temple as one colossal universal prayer. Fusing Eastern and Western traditions, Tavener’s haunting, meditative music and resonant chants create a sense of mystery and reverence.
In a rare moment of vocal communion, the Monteverdi Choir joins the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and National Youth Choir of Scotland for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Discover Tavener’s ‘supreme achievement of [his] life’ in all its glory.
Comprising eight cycles with short breaks in between, how you choose to experience this is deeply personal: feel free to come and go as you need. Light bites and refreshments will be available throughout. Plus, join us for a celebratory fizz at the finale!
2 Aug 2.30pm 8hrs approx. with intervals
USHER HALL £30
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Sofi Jeannin Conductor
Edinburgh Festival Chorus
James Grossmith Chorus Director
Monteverdi Choir
Jonathan Sells Conductor
National Youth Choir of Scotland
NYCOS Chamber Choir
Christopher Bell Chorus Director
Sophia Burgos Soprano
Tavener The Veil of the Temple
Both beanbags & traditional seating are available for this concert
Sung in English, Aramaic, Church Slavonic, Greek & Sanskrit with English surtitles
Supported by
James and Morag Anderson
NYO2 RESIDENCY
Supported by Dunard Fund
MULTIBUY OFFERS
Youthful ambition meets fearless creativity in this residency. Travelling from New York, Carnegie Hall’s trailblazing youth orchestra, NYO2, lands in Edinburgh for its European debut and to connect with their Scottish peers. Expect vibrant performances that shape tomorrow’s orchestral landscape.
Conductor Rafael Payare is a graduate of Venezuela’s El Sistema music education project, making him the perfect mentor to work with these gifted young people.
PROKOFIEV’S FIFTH SYMPHONY
3 Aug 7.30pm
2hrs approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £12.50
Rafael Payare Conductor
Alisa Weilerstein Cello
Jimmy López Perú Negro
Shostakovich Cello Concerto No.1 in E flat, Op.107
Prokofiev Symphony No.5 in B flat, Op.100
The outstanding young American instrumentalists of NYO2, led by Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare, present a thrilling programme. American cellist
Alisa Weilerstein shines in Dmitri Shostakovich’s gripping First Cello Concerto, followed by the triumphant optimism of Sergei Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony, composed in 1944 reflecting the turning tide of the Second World War.
FAMILY CONCERT
BSL CAP 4 Aug 2pm
1hr approx. | No interval
USHER HALL £10
Greg Lawson Conductor
Lucy Drever Presenter
Back due to popular demand, this special interactive introduction to classical music is perfect for children and their grown-ups. Worlds collide in this transatlantic musical journey, contrasting Scottish musical traditions with the sounds of America, performed by the inspirational young musicians of NYO2. Presenter Lucy Drever welcomes you to the concert, introduces the musicians and shares insights about the music.
Recommended for age 7–11 but suitable for all ages. All adults must be accompanied by a responsible child!
BEST OF MONTEVERDI CHOIR
MONTEVERDI CHOIR / ENGLISH BAROQUE SOLOISTS
4 Aug 7.30pm 2hrs approx. | One interval
The Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists have been at the cutting edge of historically informed performance since their foundation over 60 years ago.
With esteemed Baroque conductor Jonathan Sells, the Monteverdi Choir showcases enthralling works from their repertoire, featuring George Frideric Handel’s Dixit Dominus, which imbues a sacred text with vivid emotional intensity.
USHER HALL From £22.50
Jonathan Sells Conductor
Handel Dixit Dominus
Purcell Funeral Sentences
Bach Motets
Sung in English, German and Latin with English surtitles
Supported by Dunard Fund
HOLST'S THE PLANETS
LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Under principal conductor Edward Gardner, the London Philharmonic Orchestra returns to the Festival for the first time in a decade.
The concert opens with Judith Weir’s Forest, an enchanting work with a fairy-tale quality.
Then, the prodigiously gifted pianist Beatrice Rana performs Sergei Rachmaninoff’s inspired Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Ending with a big bang, Gustav Holst’s The Planets takes you on a cosmic adventure, where each planet becomes a mythological figure.
5 Aug 7.30pm 2hrs approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £22.50
Edward Gardner Conductor
Beatrice Rana Piano
National Youth Choir of Scotland
Christopher Bell Chorus Director
Judith Weir Forest
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.43
Holst The Planets, Op.32
Supported by Dunard Fund and Edinburgh Napier University
MOZART'S LA CLEMENZA DI TITO
Step into ancient Rome with Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito. Vitellia, daughter of a former emperor, seeks to regain the throne as Emperor Tito’s wife. When Tito chooses another bride, she schemes her way through the Roman Empire, manipulating Tito’s closest ally into attempting assassination. What follows is a web of guilt, betrayal and confessions, leading to the ultimate test of mercy and forgiveness.
Written in the year of the composer’s death, La clemenza di Tito is loosely inspired by the life of the first-century Roman Emperor, Titus. Mozart’s dramatic score sets a tale of political intrigue and personal jealousy alight.
Under the baton of Maxim Emelyanychev, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus continue their electrifying explorations of Mozart at the International Festival, following last year’s concert performance of Così fan tutte.
9 Aug 6pm 3hrs approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £22.50
OPERA IN CONCERT
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Maxim Emelyanychev Conductor
Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus
Gregory Batsleer Chorus Director
Giovanni Sala Tito
Angela Brower Sesto
Tara Erraught Vitellia
Hera Hyesang Park Servilia
Maria Warenberg Annio
Ildebrando D'Arcangelo Publio
Mozart La clemenza di Tito
Sung in Italian with English surtitles
BRUCE LIU PLAYS RAVEL
NCPA ORCHESTRA
Myung-Whun Chung conducts the resident orchestra of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing along with Bruce Liu, winner of the 2021 Chopin International Piano Competition. The concert kicks off with Chinese-French composer Qigang Chen's Wu Xing – a mesmerising exploration of nature’s five elements. We then go back in time to visit two staples of the French symphonic and concerto repertoire: Maurice Ravel’s jazz-infused Piano Concerto in G, followed by the majesty of Camille Saint-Saëns’s Organ Symphony – a treat to hear live with the full splendour of the Usher Hall organ.
BACH & BARTÓK BUDAPEST FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
The extraordinary Budapest Festival Orchestra and polymath founder-conductor Iván Fischer return to Edinburgh after their enormously popular 2023 performances. This programme celebrates their Hungarian heritage and pulses with the vibrant contrasts of dance – from the elegance of Baroque to the raw energy of modern ballet.
Johann Sebastian Bach's irresistible Fourth Orchestral Suite and Iván Fischer's own tribute to the German composer contrast with the complete score to Béla Bartok's ballet The Miraculous Mandarin, which caused a scandal in 1926 and remains just as potent today.
6 Aug 7.30pm 2hrs 5mins approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £22.50
Myung-Whun Chung Conductor
Bruce Liu Piano
Qigang Chen Wu Xing (The Five Elements)
Ravel Piano Concerto in G, M.83
Saint-Saëns Symphony No.3 in C minor, Op.78 ‘Organ’
Supported by Léan Scully Endowed Fund
8 Aug 7.30pm
1hr 40mins approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £22.50
Iván Fisher Conductor
Guy Braunstein Violin
Bach Orchestral Suite No.4 in D, BWV 1069
Iván Fischer Dance Suite for Violin and Orchestra in memory of Bach Bartók The Miraculous Mandarin
Supported by James and Morag Anderson
LEOPOLDINUM ORCHESTRA RESIDENCY
FOCUS
ON POLAND
In celebration of the UK/Poland Season 2025, our Focus on Poland strand highlights exceptional Polish artists and repertoire, as part of our commitment to being a window to the world. The series honours our long-standing connection with Poland and showcases the extraordinary richness of its culture, both past and present. See p78, p79, p80, p81 and p89 for more concerts in the series.
The resident orchestra of the National Forum of Music, Wrocław, comes to the International Festival as the flagship ensemble of our Focus on Poland season. This string orchestra has been developing its sound for almost 40 years, now led by British violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky.
BIZET'S CARMEN SUITE
10 Aug 7.30pm
2hrs approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £22.50
Alexander Sitkovetsky Director & Violin
Bacewicz Concerto for String Orchestra
Strauss Metamorphosen
Kilar Orawa
Bizet arr. Rodion Shchedrin Carmen Suite for Strings and Percussion
This diverse programme melds emotional depth with playful invention, opening with Grażyna Bacewicz’s Concerto for String Orchestra, which ranges from intensely rhythmic to sublimely lyrical.
Richard Strauss's Metamorphosen, born from despair, powerfully reflects the devastations of WWII. In contrast, Wojciech Kilar’s symphonic work inspired by the river Orawa which runs through the Polish mountains to the Slovakian border.
Finally, Rodion Shchedrin’s imaginative arrangement of Georges Bizet’s Carmen transforms the opera into a vibrant ballet suite, scored for strings and percussion.
BENEDETTI & SITKOVETSKY'S TRIBUTE TO MENUHIN
11 Aug 7.30pm 1hr 45mins approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £22.50
Alexander Sitkovetsky Director & Violin
Nicola Benedetti Violin Rising Stars of Strings
Elgar Serenade for String Orchestra in E minor, Op.20
Panufnik Violin Concerto
Bach Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043
Bartók Divertimento for String Orchestra Sz.113
Yehudi Menuhin, one of the foremost violinists of the 20th century, is celebrated in a tribute conceived by two of his former pupils: our Festival Director, violinist Nicola Benedetti and fellow virtuoso Alexander Sitkovetsky. Benedetti joins the orchestra for the Elgar and Bartók, and Sitkovetsky plays solo violin for the Panufnik. They come together as soloists in Bach's Concerto. In a moving and very personal programme, the soloists and ensemble will be supported by the original cohort of early-career musicians from our Rising Stars mentorship scheme.
FOCUS ON POLAND
LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA RESIDENCY
Supported by Edinburgh International Festival Endowment Fund
The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), founded in 1904 as a pioneer in musicianled ensembles, takes the stage at the International Festival for the first time with their new Chief Conductor, Sir Antonio Pappano. The LSO's performances push the boundaries of orchestral brilliance.
Relish the chance to hear the LSO again, as its members and Pappano perform with tenor Ian Bostridge at The Queen's Hall. See p79.
BEETHOVEN & SHOSTAKOVICH
CAP 12 Aug 7.30pm
2hrs approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £22.50
Sir Antonio Pappano Conductor
Nicola Benedetti Presenter
Beethoven Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op.67
Shostakovich Symphony No.10 in E minor, Op.93
Nicola Benedetti and Sir Antonio Pappano co-present this concert, introducing two monumental symphonies by composers reckoning with mortality and the world around them. Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony opens with its iconic four-note motif, one of the most instantly recognisable musical refrains in history: the sound of fate knocking at the door. Dmitri Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony follows, which premiered shortly after Joseph Stalin's death. Through its powerful portrayal of savagery and, ultimately, liberation, it grapples with the pursuit of truth under oppression.
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS’S A SEA SYMPHONY
14 Aug 7.30pm
2hrs 5mins approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £22.50
Sir Antonio Pappano Conductor
Edinburgh Festival Chorus
James Grossmith Chorus Director
Vilde Frang Violin
Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha Soprano
Will Liverman Baritone
Maconchy Nocturne for Orchestra
Korngold Violin Concerto in D, Op.35
Vaughan Williams Symphony No.1 ‘A Sea Symphony’*
*Sung in English with surtitles
Three striking visions of the 20th century come together in this London Symphony Orchestra concert. Elizabeth Maconchy’s dreamlike Nocturne for Orchestra evokes the stillness of night, while Erich Korngold's Violin Concerto finds inspiration from melodies of 1930s Hollywood. Virtuoso violinist Vilde Frang, hailed by The Arts Desk as the 'reigning queen of [the] concerto' performs the solo. To conclude, Ralph Vaughan Williams’s majestic A Sea Symphony brings the evening to a powerful close, with the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and celebrated soloists Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha and Will Liverman.
Supported by Geoff and Mary Ball
PUCCINI'S SUOR ANGELICA
OPERA IN CONCERT
16 Aug 7pm
2hrs approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £27.50
Sir Antonio Pappano Conductor
Edinburgh Festival Chorus
James Grossmith Chorus Director
RSNO Youth Chorus
Patrick Barrett Chorus Director
Mané Galoyan Suor Angelica
Kseniia Nikolaieva Principessa
Further casting to be announced
Puccini Preludio sinfonico de Sabata Juventus
Puccini Suor Angelica*
*Sung in Italian with English surtitles
Encounter the tragic tale of a nun with a secret. Set in a 17th-century Italian convent, Giacomo Puccini’s opera follows the story of Sister Angelica, whose search for peace is troubled by her past. A ‘Puccinian to the core’ (The Observer), Pappano shares his love for this profoundly moving opera with soprano Mané Galoyan as our protagonist. Also on the programme are Puccini’s impassioned Preludio sinfonico and Victor de Sabata’s colourful symphonic poem Juventus ('Youth').
BEANBAG CONCERTS
SINK INTO SYMPHONY
Experience the thrill of live orchestral music from the comfort of a beanbag. Inspired by conductor and composer Iván Fischer, our beanbag concerts offer an up-close encounter with world-class musicians, creating an intimate and informal setting for classical music. Whether you’re flying solo or bringing friends and family, connect with fellow music lovers and feel the energy of a shared musical moment.
Breaking Bach (p42) and The Veil of the Temple (p54) can also be enjoyed on beanbags.
SHOSTAKOVICH INSIDE OUT
CAP 18 Aug 2pm
1hr 20mins approx. | No interval
USHER HALL
£30
Aurora Orchestra
Nicholas Collon Conductor
Shostakovich Symphony No.5 in D minor, Op.47
Discover Dmitri Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony as you’ve never experienced it before. We invite you to listen to the symphony from the inside out, with a conversational presentation in the round. Founder-conductor Nicholas Collon leads the performance, pausing along the way to offer insights, and illuminate the work’s urgent sense of mortality and peril.
SHOSTAKOVICH’S FIFTH SYMPHONY
18 Aug 7.30pm
1hr 40mins approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £22.50
Aurora Orchestra
Nicholas Collon Conductor
Abel Selaocoe Cello & Voice
Bernhard Schimpelsberger Percussion
Abel Selaocoe Four Spirits for orchestra, cello and voice
Shostakovich Symphony No.5 in D minor, Op.47
Dmitri Shostakovich wrote his Fifth Symphony to save his life, after his compositions were slammed in Joseph Stalin’s Russia. From the militaristic energy of the outer movements to the heartfelt anguish of the Largo, the work is as emotionally layered as it is musically dynamic. From the vantage point of your beanbag, immerse yourself as Aurora Orchestra, led by Nicholas Collon, performs this sensational work from memory. Alongside it, experience Abel Selaocoe’s Four Spirits, a work designed to create a powerful sense of connection with its listeners.
BERNSTEIN & STRAVINSKY
BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
EMERGING TALENT
One of the most in-demand conductors of her generation, Karina Canellakis returns after making her Festival debut in the 2023 Closing Concert. She leads this monumental programme with the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, characterised by thrilling sounds and ideas of love, divine or human. Olivier Messiaen's moving Les Offrandes oubliées and Igor Stravinsky's orchestral reworking of his hit ballet Petrushka bookend the beauty of Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms.
21 Aug 7.30pm 1hr 40mins approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £22.50
Karina Canellakis Conductor
Edinburgh Festival Chorus
James Grossmith Chorus Director
Rising Stars of Voice
Hugh Cutting Countertenor
Messiaen Les Offrandes oubliées
Bernstein Chichester Psalms*
Stravinsky Petrushka (1947 version)
*Sung in Hebrew with English surtitles
Supported by Pirie Rankin Endowed Fund
PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION
MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Take a whistlestop round-the-world trip with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, led by Jaime Martín. Begin in sun-drenched Italy with Edward Elgar’s In the South, before experiencing the evocative sounds of the didgeridoo in a world premiere by Indigenous Australian composer Deborah Cheetham Fraillon. The journey concludes at the ‘Great Gate of Kyiv’, the majestic finale to Modest Mussorgsky’s vivid Pictures at an Exhibition.
22 Aug 7.30pm 1hr 40mins approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £22.50
Jaime Martín Conductor
William Barton Didgeridoo
Elgar In the South, Op.50
Deborah Cheetham Fraillon
Baparripna No.2 WORLD PREMIERE Mussorgsky arr. Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition
As part of our Discovery & Participation programme, the orchestra will perform an open rehearsal for schools. See eif.co.uk/discover to find out more.
MENDELSSOHN'S ELIJAH
ROYAL SCOTTISH NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
EMERGING TALENT
CLOSING CONCERT: MENDELSSOHN'S ELIJAH
24 Aug 7.30pm 2hrs 45mins approx. | One interval
USHER HALL From £22.50
Thomas Søndergård Conductor
Edinburgh Festival Chorus
James Grossmith Chorus Director
Rising Stars of Voice
Christopher Maltman Elijah
Mari Eriksmoen The Widow
Karen Cargill An Angel
Ben Bliss Obadiah
Mendelssohn Elijah, Op.70
Sung in English with surtitles
Felix Mendelssohn’s triumphant oratorio tells the story of the miracle-working prophet Elijah’s life, death and ascension. With a blend of Baroque grandeur and lush Romantic orchestration, Elijah features thrilling choruses and powerful solos, including the dramatic aria ‘Is not his word like a fire?’ and the pensive ‘It is enough.’ The Edinburgh Festival Chorus and Royal Scottish National Orchestra join forces to infuse Mendelssohn’s most famous work with fresh energy.
FOCUS ON POLAND
COME AND SING ELIJAH
23 Aug 10am – 5pm
USHER HALL FREE WORKSHOP
Register in advance at eif.co.uk
All voice types welcome Not suitable for under 18s
Curious about choral singing? This is your chance to take part in one of the most dramatic pieces ever written for choir: Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah. In the morning workshop, join Edinburgh Festival Chorus Director James Grossmith as he guides you through the score, which you’ll receive in advance. In the afternoon, you’ll join the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Søndergård, to perform the full work, filling the hall with the sound of your collective voices.
MULTIBUY OFFER
A 20% discount applies when you buy tickets for three or more morning concerts at The Queen’s Hall. Excludes top-price tickets and concessions.
Escape the August mayhem for a focused morning ritual, with our intimate concerts at The Queen’s Hall.
Most concerts at The Queen’s Hall will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3. For more information, visit eif.co.uk/bbc
COLIN CURRIE & THE KING’S SINGERS
Award-winning ensemble The King’s Singers team up with one of the UK’s leading percussionists, Colin Currie, for a dazzling performance of contemporary music. Steve Martland’s Street Songs mingle with music from all over the world – from South Africa to Japan to the US. Plus, there's the thrilling prospect of a James MacMillan premiere.
2 Aug 11am
1hr 30mins approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN'S HALL From £15.50
Colin Currie Marimba
Martland Poor Roger Glasser Lala Mtwana
Martland Green Gravel (from Street Songs)
Weelkes Death hath deprived me
Roderick Williams Death be not proud
WORLD PREMIERE ARRANGEMENT
Francesca Amewudah-Rivers Alive
Sir James MacMillan New commission
WORLD PREMIERE
Bryce Dessner Tromp Miniature
Martland Jenny Jones (from Street Songs)
Makiko Kinoshita Ashita no uta
Missy Mazzoli A Year of our Burning
WORLD PREMIERE ARRANGEMENT
Martland Oranges and Lemons (from Street Songs)
Sung in Japanese, Zulu and English with English surtitles
In Memory of Peter Diamand
MARÍA DUEÑAS & ALEXANDER MALOFEEV
A passionate early sonata by Karol Szymanowski contrasts with a subversive late work from Claude Debussy. The recital ends with one of the most beloved works in the violin and piano repertoire, César Franck's Violin Sonata, written in 1886 to celebrate its first performer’s wedding. This full-blooded programme is brought together by the vivacious partnership of María Dueñas and Alexander Malofeev.
4 Aug 11am
1hr 30mins approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN'S HALL From £15.50
María Dueñas Violin
Alexander Malofeev Piano
Szymanowski Violin Sonata in D minor, Op.9
Debussy Violin Sonata in G minor
Franck Violin Sonata in A
PAVEL KOLESNIKOV & SAMSON TSOY
Creative collaborators Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy have been lauded for the ‘electrifying intimacy’ of their recitals (The Guardian). They perform a deeply spiritual programme of piano works, including a set of exquisite miniatures by Johann Sebastian Bach and the intoxicating and sumptuous Visions de l’Amen by Olivier Messiaen.
5 Aug 11am
2hrs approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN'S HALL From £15.50
Pavel Kolesnikov Piano
Samson Tsoy Piano
Bach arr. György Kurtág & Busoni Chorales
Messiaen Visions de l’Amen
HUGH CUTTING & GEORGE IRELAND
Countertenor Hugh Cutting, winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Award in 2021, is joined by celebrated pianist George Ireland for a thrillingly eclectic recital. Alongside ancient and modern operatic arias, the programme embraces German Lieder, French melodies and some extraordinary contemporary pieces, including Piers Connor Kennedy’s Rough Rhymes, written for Cutting himself.
7 Aug 11am
1hr 40mins approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN’S HALL From £15.50
Hugh Cutting Countertenor
George Ireland Piano Programme includes works by Debussy, Fauré, Grainger, Hahn, Handel, Howells, Piers Connor Kennedy, Monteverdi, Mussorgsky, Schubert, Vaughan Williams & Wolf
Sung in English, French, German and Italian with English surtitles
MARK SIMPSON & RICHARD UTTLEY
Multi-gifted virtuoso clarinettist and composer Mark Simpson joins forces with Richard Uttley, Piano Professor at the Royal College of Music. Their programme brings together two cornerstones of the clarinet repertoire by Johannes Brahms with composers from across the UK, including works written for Simpson – by Gavin Higgins and Mark-Anthony Turnage – and by Simpson himself.
LEONARD
ELSCHENBROICH & ALEXEI GRYNYUK
Discover music steeped in romance from three passionate composers. Clara Schumann’s aptly titled Romances were written in the same year she and husband Robert met the 20-year-old Johannes Brahms, whose unrequited love for Clara would shape his artistic voice.
FIBONACCI QUARTET
Helen Grime’s intimate and meditative First Quartet joins two autobiographical works by Leoš Janáček and Bedřich Smetana, both infused with love and anguish. The ‘friendly circle’ of the string quartet, as Smetana put it, is the perfect space to explore the breadth of human experience. The award-winning Fibonacci Quartet brings this very personal programme to vivid life.
6 Aug 11am 1hr 30mins approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN'S HALL From £15.50
Mark Simpson Clarinet
Richard Uttley Piano
Sir James Macmillan After The Tryst
Mark-Anthony Turnage Cradle Song
Jay Capperauld So My Tears Flow
Mark Simpson Lov(escape)
Brahms Clarinet Sonata in F minor, Op.120 No.1
Gavin Higgins Three Broken Love Songs
Mark Simpson Echoes and Embers
Brahms Clarinet Sonata in E flat, Op.120 No.2
8 Aug 11am 1hr 40mins approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN'S HALL From £15.50
Leonard Elschenbroich Cello
Alexei Grynyuk Piano
Robert Schumann Three Romances for oboe, Op.94
Clara Schumann Three Romances for violin, Op.22
Brahms Vier ernste Gesänge, Op.121
Brahms Cello Sonata No.2 in F, Op.99
Supported by Tanya and David Parker
9 Aug 11am 1hr 40mins approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN'S HALL From £15.50
Helen Grime Quartet No.1
Janáček String Quartet No.2 ‘Intimate Letters’
Smetana String Quartet in E minor, ‘From my Life’ (1876)
Supported by Niall and Carol Lothian
BOMSORI KIM & THOMAS HOPPE
Award-winning violinist Bomsori Kim is joined by the eminent collaborative pianist Thomas Hoppe for a stunning programme of Polish music. Karol Szymanowski’s Nocturne and Tarantella, infused with Spanish colour, is sultry and fiendish by turn. Henryk Wieniawski brings a touch of romance to the programme, alongside the fiercely individual style of Grażyna Bacewicz.
FOCUS ON POLAND
14 Aug 11am
1hr 45mins approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN’S HALL From £15.50
Bomsori Kim Violin
Thomas Hoppe Piano
Fauré Violin Sonata No.1 in A, Op.13
Szymanowski Nocturne and Tarantella Op.28
Bacewicz Kaprys Polski (Polish Caprice) for solo violin
Paderewski Violin Sonata in A minor, Op.13
Wieniawski Faust Fantasy, Op.20
Supported by Focus on Poland partners
PIOTR ANDERSZEWSKI
Polish pianist Piotr Anderszewski performs an exquisite recital of small-but-perfectly formed works. Johannes Brahms’s graceful late works demonstrate stylistic freedom, expressive of a personal world. Béla Bartók’s Bagatelles reveal an astonishing range of moods despite their pithiness; Anderszewski is capable of drawing ‘meaning out of every wisp’ from the collection (Financial Times).
SITKOVETSKY TRIO
The ‘glittering’ (BBC Music Magazine) Sitkovetsky Trio showcases the expressive range and emotional depth of piano trio repertoire. Their captivating programme spans haunting works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Dmitri Shostakovich, the rediscovered brilliance of 19th-century composer Cécile Chaminade, and a bold, evocative UK premiere by Iranian composer Mahdis Golzar Kashani, rich in modern influences.
BOSTRIDGE, PAPPANO & MEMBERS OF THE LSO
Benjamin Britten’s songs celebrating the tenor voice are paired with Ralph Vaughan Williams’s exquisite cycle On Wenlock Edge, which infuses the composer’s ‘English’ style with a noticeable French shimmer. Edward Elgar’s Piano Quintet – one of his late works – is both elegy and statement of defiance, composed at the end of World War I.
11 Aug 11am
2hrs approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN’S HALL From £15.50
Piotr Anderszewski Piano
Brahms Selections from Fantasies, Op.116
Three Intermezzi, Op.117
Six Pieces, Op.118
Four Pieces, Op.119
Bartók 14 Bagatelles, Op.6
Supported by Focus on Poland partners
12 Aug 11am
2hrs approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN’S HALL From £15.50
Beethoven Piano Trio in D, Op.70 No.1 ‘Ghost’
Chaminade Piano Trio No.2 in A minor, Op.34
Mahdis Golzar Kashani To the Pointer Stars UK PREMIERE
Shostakovich Piano Trio No.2 in E minor, Op.67
13 Aug 11am
1hr 45mins approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN’S HALL From £15.50
Ian Bostridge Tenor
Sir Antonio Pappano Piano
Britten Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo
Vaughan Williams On Wenlock Edge
Elgar Piano Quintet in A minor
Sung in Italian and English with English surtitles
Supported by Susie Thomson
RYAN WANG
Crowned BBC Young Musician of the Year 2024, the exceptional pianist Ryan Wang plays an all-Chopin programme. From the bold energy of a Polonaise to the tender lyricism of a Ballade and the grandeur of a Sonata – plus all 24 Preludes – this recital showcases Frédéric Chopin’s remarkable range of expression and mastery of the piano.
FOCUS ON POLAND
18 Aug 11am
2hrs approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN’S HALL From £15.50
Ryan Wang Piano
Chopin 24 Preludes, Op.28
Polonaise No.6 in A flat ‘Heroic’, Op.53
Ballade No.4 in F minor, Op.52
Mazurkas, Op.59
Sonata No.2 in B flat minor, Op.35
Variations on ‘La ci darem la mano’, Op.2
Supported by Focus on Poland partners Sheila Colvin and an anonymous donor
FLORIAN BOESCH & MALCOLM MARTINEAU
Baritone Florian Boesch and accompanist Malcolm Martineau's collaborative performances strike a perfect balance of depth and sensitivity. Their programme of German Lieder zooms in on Johannes Brahms and his mentor, Robert Schumann, culminating in Dichterliebe (‘A Poet's Love’), Schumann’s song cycle drawn from Heinrich Heine’s poetry.
WROCŁAW BAROQUE ENSEMBLE
The prize-winning Wrocław Baroque Ensemble specialises in music of the Polish Renaissance and Baroque eras. Under the baton of Andrzej Kosendiak, one of the most active organisers of musical life in Poland, they perform a stunning 17th-century choral work, Mikołaj Zieleński’s substantial Offertoria et communiones totius anni – a work that ranges from celebratory to solemn.
RISING STARS OF VOICE
Emerging vocalists, selected through auditions, perform Johannes Brahms's Liebeslieder Waltzes. With a professional mentor by their side, the up-and-coming singers perform this romantic and intricate cycle, capturing both its elegance and intimacy. This concert promises a glimpse of the next generation of vocal talent, guided by mentorship, at the International Festival.
15 Aug 11am 2hrs approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN’S HALL From £15.50
Programme includes Robert Schumann Gesänge des Harfners Dichterliebe, Op.48
Lieder by Schumann and Brahms
Sung in German with English surtitles
16 Aug 11am 1hr 40mins approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN’S HALL From £15.50
Andrzej Kosendiak Conductor
Zieleński Offertoria et communiones totius anni
Sung in Latin with English surtitles
Supported by Focus on Poland partners
19 Aug 11am 1hr 45mins approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN’S HALL From £15.50
Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes
Sung in German with English surtitles
Part of the Rising Stars multibuy offer. See p109
Supported by David and Brenda Lamb and Finlay and Lynn Williamson
EMERGING TALENT FOCUS ON POLAND
EMILY D’ANGELO & SOPHIA MUÑOZ
Mezzo soprano Emily D’Angelo and pianist Sophia Muñoz present a diverse programme anchored in the natural world. This is a concert of epic scope, from Béla Bartók’s mountains to Jeanine Tesori’s desert. Each song explores the relationship between nature and human experiences, brought together through a striking musical collaboration.
22 Aug 11am
1hr 30mins approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN’S HALL From £15.50
Emily D’Angelo Mezzo soprano
Sophia Muñoz Piano
Bartók If I Go Up to the High Mountains Black Is the Earth Dance of Buchum
Kodály Evening Song
Handy Morning Star
Jeanine Tesori Night Drive / The Desert Moon Change
McPeake / Tannahill Wild Mountain Thyme
Britten The Last Rose of Summer
Clarke The Cloths of Heaven
MacNutt Take Me to a Green Isle
Barber Of That So Sweet Imprisonment
Clarke Down by the Salley Gardens
Vaughan Williams The Brewer
Gustav Mahler Starke Einbildungskraft
Alma Mahler 5 Lieder
Korngold Liebesbriefchen
Ullmann Wenn je ein Schönes mir zu bilden glückte
Sung in English, German and Hungarian with English surtitles
Supported by Brenda Rennie
BELCEA QUARTET
Belcea Quartet brings its electrifying energy to a programme that spans Ludwig van Beethoven’s late works, Felix Mendelssohn’s youthful and autumnal moods and Mozart’s ‘Dissonance’ Quartet, so-called because of the unusual opening harmonies. With precision and passion, this exceptional ensemble transforms chamber music from the 18th and 19th centuries, offering a provocative experience that will leave you rethinking these familiar works.
DUNEDIN CONSORT & JOHN BUTT
Clori, Tirsi e Fileno is the pastoral tale of an indecisive shepherdess who can't choose between two lovers. Little is known about the genesis of this comic cantata by George Frideric Handel, but the score was mined for a number of hits in later operas such as Acis and Galatea. Who better to bring this once neglected comedy to fizzing life than Dunedin Consort, their Music Director, John Butt, and a cast of astonishing soloists.
LEONIDAS KAVAKOS & THE APOLLON ENSEMBLE
Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos has called Johann Sebastian Bach’s compositions ‘the most perfect music ever written’. Renowned worldwide for his vibrant and intuitive interpretations, Kavakos is joined by The Apollon Ensemble in this concert, their oneper-part precision illuminating the intricacies of Bach’s music. Together, they perform Bach’s violin concertos, with their usual ‘rigour and flair’ (Gramophone Magazine).
20 Aug 11am
1hr 40mins approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN’S HALL From £15.50
Mendelssohn Four Pieces for String Quartet
No.4 Fugue in E flat, Op.81 No.4
No.3 Capriccio in E minor, Op.81 No.3
Beethoven String Quartet No.16 in F, Op.135
Mozart String Quartet No.19 in C, K465 ‘Dissonance’.
Supported by David Millar and Romanian Cultural Institute in London
21 Aug 11am
1hr 45mins approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN’S HALL From £15.50
John Butt Director
Julie Roset Soprano
Nardus Williams Soprano
Reginald Mobley Countertenor
Handel Clori, Tirsi e Fileno
Sung in Italian with English surtitles
23 Aug 11am 1hr 40mins approx. | One interval
THE QUEEN’S HALL From £15.50
Leonidas Kavakos Violin
Bach Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor, BWV1041
Violin Concerto No.2 in E, BWV1042
Violin Concerto in G minor, BWV1056r
Violin Concerto in D minor, BWV1052r
Supported by Sheila Colvin
MUSIC TRAdITIONS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE
Discover a huge range of musical styles in our intimate concerts at The Hub. Experience traditional music from Scandinavia to the Middle East, get to know the rising stars of classical music and keep the celebrations going late into the night with electronic gigs.
Need help reaching The Hub? Use our free Access Shuttle. For details see p98.
The Hub is your International Festival home. Learn more about our Festival story, grab a drink at the bar and meet the artists.
FIRST NIGHT AT THE HUB
Kick off the Festival in style with a concert hosted and curated by Festival Director Nicola Benedetti. Set to be an exhilarating evening, this mixed bill of outstanding artists will be revealed on the night.
A celebration of artistry and anticipation, it’s the perfect introduction to the Festival programme, setting the stage for a vibrant cultural journey ahead.
4 Aug 10pm 1hr 30mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £40
PREVIEW NIGHT: KINNARIS QUINTET
This Glasgow-based group combines fiddles, mandolin and guitar to create their inventive approach to traditional music. Their 2021 International Festival debut was described as bursting 'with energy and ideas' (The Scotsman) and 'a true string highlight' (The Strad). Drawing on influences from bluegrass to classical, the quintet performs evocative arrangements in their typical joyous style.
ROBY LAKATOS & ENSEMBLE
Roby Lakatos and his ensemble create a musical storm. Famed for his improvisations and fast-paced violin flair, Lakatos effortlessly switches genres – from classical to Hungarian folk and klezmer. Descended from a long line of Romani violinists, Lakatos combines his family’s musical tradition with his own unique style.
HANNI LIANG: DREAMS
What do you dream about? Dreams offer a glimpse into the subconscious truths hidden within us. Pianist Hanni Liang is redefining the way we experience classical music. Inspired by Claude Debussy’s lulling Rêverie, she has created a concert rooted in personal truths. Through drawing or writing, share your dreams for all to see and Liang will transform them into a living, musical extension of Rêverie.
30 Jul 8pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £15
5 Aug 8pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
7 Aug 8pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
UP LATE WITH ALABASTER DEPLUME
Jazz musician, spoken word poet and activist Alabaster DePlume combines his atmospheric saxophone melodies with his personal politics. A musical maverick, DePlume’s last two albums were created on the premise of giving his fellow musicians little time to practice, encouraging true improvisation and a raw, eclectic sound. Expect the unexpected as DePlume’s saxophone riffs create a distinctive, warm atmosphere, where spontaneity and creativity lead the way.
8 Aug 10pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
RISING STARS OF WOODWIND
Rising Stars gives the world’s most promising young musicians a chance to shine on an international stage. In this edition of our Rising Stars concerts, catch a glimpse into the future of woodwind music. Clarinettist Mark Simpson, described by the Evening Standard as having ‘bucketloads of panache’, mentors the wind players before they perform together at The Hub.
VOŁOSI
This string quintet from Poland’s Beskidy Mountains blends folk with classical traditions. Rooted in their heritage and driven by improvisation, their music shifts from haunting melodies to unrestrained energy. With over 900 global concerts, VOŁOSI's performances are rich in emotion, transcending musical boundaries and captivating audiences worldwide.
UP LATE: EVERYTHING IS RECORDED
Famed record producer Richard Russell has collaborated with music legends like Bobby Womack, Peter Gabriel and Ibeyi. In 2018, he channelled his vast expertise into his debut album, Everything is Recorded. Resulting in work that is rich, collaborative and warm, Russell demonstrates his encyclopaedic knowledge of the genre and invites you to be surrounded in dub, soul and garage.
8 Aug 7pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
Part of the Rising Stars multibuy offer. See p109
9 Aug 7pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
Supported by Focus on Poland partners
9 Aug 10pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
FOCUS
THE SIDIKI DEMBELE ENSEMBLE
Following his spiritually charged 2024 Festival appearance, Sidiki Dembele returns to The Hub – this time, with his ensemble. A virtuoso of the djembe, a West African goblet drum with a remarkable range of pitches, Dembele hails from a family of griots who preserve oral traditions. Rooted in the djembe’s power to unite, this concert explores West African rhythms and sounds, honouring the community-driven essence of his heritage.
12 Aug 8pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
TRIPTIC
Three award-winning musicians from Glasgow’s freewheeling music scene come together for a new project. Greg Lawson, Phil Alexander and Mario Caribé (formerly of fusion band Moishe’s Bagel) explore their shared love of global folk music, combining folk-infused originals with jazz and Latin grooves. Embark on an aural journey from Armenia to Brazil – with many melodic stops along the way.
ÍMAR
Named after a ninth-century Viking leader, Celtic supergroup Ímar blends the musical traditions of Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man into a vibrant celebration of shared heritage. With award-winning members from groups like Mànran and Talisk, their latest album, Awakening (2023), delivers infectious energy through instruments like the bouzouki and bodhrán, bound to captivate you from the first note.
EMERGING TALENT
RISING STARS: CLASSICAL JAM
Inspired by the spirit of jazz, emerging musicians play side-by-side with professionals. Blending the precision of the composed score with the relaxed atmosphere of friends playing together, this unrehearsed performance harnesses the power of instinct and spontaneity. And the repertoire? You get to choose.
11 Aug 8pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
14 Aug 8pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
Supported by Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
15 Aug 7pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
Part of the Rising Stars multibuy offer. See p109
CATRIN FINCH & AOIFE NÍ BHRIAIN
Soak up the captivating artistry of Irish fiddle player Aoife Ní Bhriain and Welsh harpist Catrin Finch. The duo is known for their ‘ingenious blend of myriad influences’ (The Arts Desk), with their debut album Double You mixing classical compositions from the likes of Johann Sebastian Bach, Felix Mendelssohn and Pietro Locatelli with the rich musical traditions of Ireland and Wales.
18 Aug 8pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
Supported by
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
UP LATE: JAZZ JAM
Indulge in the vibrant energy of a jazz jam at The Hub, where emerging talent improvise alongside seasoned professionals. With jazz standards at the heart of the session, the musicians will create fresh, dynamic takes on timeless classics. Don’t miss this chance to witness exciting improvisation and raw creativity in action.
ØSTERLIDE
Norwegian trio Østerlide breathes new life into traditional folk melodies. Liv Ulvik's soaring, crystal-clear vocals are shrouded in a meditative soundscape crafted by string player Andreas Haddeland and percussionist Ulrik Ibsen Thorsrud. Østerlide creates atmospheric music that shifts the boundaries of Nordic folk.
UP LATE WITH KAITLYN AURELIA SMITH
Electronic artist Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith transforms synth-driven soundscapes into otherworldly experiences. Known for her ethereal vocals and futuristic electronic elements, Smith creates music that feels both mystical and deeply human. With each album release, she challenges the conventions of electronica, blurring the lines between ambient, experimental and dance music.
15 Aug 10pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
16 Aug 7pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
Supported by Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
16 Aug 10pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
THE AGA KHAN MUSIC PROGRAMME
These concerts are presented and curated in collaboration with the Aga Khan Music Programme. Since its founding in 2000, the Music Programme has championed the preservation and promotion of diverse musical traditions from regions including Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia and East Africa. Rooted in the belief that music fosters cultural understanding and social cohesion, the Aga Khan series at the International Festival connects global audiences through the power of music to bridge cultures.
YAHYA HUSSEIN ABDALLAH & JASSER HAJ YOUSSEF
19 Aug 8pm
1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
Tanzanian singer and composer Yahya Hussein Abdallah, winner of the 2022 Aga Khan Music Award, invites you to a captivating recital of Sufi poetry and Eastern literature exploring faith, belief and spirituality. Yahya’s soulful voice is enhanced by Tunisian-born Jasser Haj Youssef on viola d’amore. Together, they weave a rich tapestry of meditative music and poetry.
CANVAS OF SOUND WITH TAZEEN QAYYUM
21 Aug 8pm
1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
Watch as visual artist Tazeen Qayyum creates an intricate calligraphic drawing in real-time, inspired by the expressive power of Urdu, Arabic and Farsi. With music blending Middle Eastern rhythms and jazz by Basel Rajoub (saxophone, duclar and percussion) and qanun player Feras Charestan, this contemplative performance – which acts as a counterforce to the tragedies of our times – invites you to slow down, observe and reflect to find a state of harmony and mindfulness.
MASTER MUSICIANS WITH PEIRANI AND SEGAL
22 Aug 7pm
1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
Ancient traditions meet musical innovation as the Aga Khan Master Musicians join forces with two European musical visionaries, accordionist and vocalist Vincent Peirani and cellist Vincent Segal. Also among the line-up is pipa player Wu Man, an International Festival favourite. The six musicians from Asia, Europe and the Middle East together create new music that connects distant eras and diverse cultures.
WILLIAM BARTON
Indigenous Australian composer and multi-instrumentalist William Barton was hypnotised by the didgeridoo’s earthy sound in childhood. His lifelong fascination with the instrument has led him to perform with the likes of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Hear the didgeridoo virtuoso perform experimental compositions that stem from Barton’s Kalkadunga heritage and a musical upbringing of Elvis Presley, AC/DC and Antonio Vivaldi.
23 Aug 7pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
UP LATE WITH SISSOKO, SEGAL, PARISIEN & PEIRANI
Experience true fusion music, combining neoclassical, jazz and West African influences. Malian kora star Ballaké Sissoko returns to the International Festival with versatile French musicians Vincent Segal, Émile Parisien and Vincent Peirani on the cello, soprano saxophone and accordion respectively.
UP LATE WITH JOEP BEVING & MAARTEN VOS
Joep Beving, celebrated for his emotive piano work that melds minimalist and modern influences, joins forces with Maarten Vos, a Berlin-based composer and electronic innovator. Together, they craft a mesmerising performance, blending classical piano, experimental electronics and avant-garde textures in fresh, unexpected ways.
UP LATE WITH ENDEA OWENS
Endea Owens returns to bring the Festival to an exhilarating finale. The irresistibly charismatic Grammy and Emmy Awardwinning bassist and composer is once again joined by her sextet The Cookout. Their original renditions of jazz standards and Owen’s own compositions create the ideal party atmosphere for this last night at The Hub.
22 Aug 10pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
23 Aug 10pm 1hr 15mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £25
24 Aug 10pm 1hr 30mins approx. | No interval
THE HUB From £40
ACCESSING THE HUB
The Hub, our Festival home, is situated near the top of the hilly Royal Mile, surrounded by cobblestones and the buzz of the crowd.
Recent renovations outside The Hub have widened pavements, removed curbs and created a flat route into the courtyard.
We’re closely coordinating with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo to ease your visit to The Hub.
During road closures – which prevent car or taxi drop-offs – The Hub Shuttle connects Johnston Terrace to The Hub. It’s accessible for wheelchair users and those using mobility aids. Journeys last approximately five minutes. Friendly ushers and stewards will also be stationed along Johnston Terrace and Lawnmarket to assist with directions or other needs.
For more information and The Hub Shuttle schedule, visit eif.co.uk/access
WAEL SHAWKY
TALBOT RICE GALLERY
Wael Shawky’s solo exhibition transforms Talbot Rice Gallery’s spaces, featuring Drama 1882, his operatic film on the 1882 Urabi revolution. This gripping work interrogates colonial histories with striking visuals and live performances, building on Shawky’s Cabaret Crusades, an epic video trilogy. Alongside his films, sculptures and drawings, the exhibition honours the Byzantine and Islamic Art Historian who gave the gallery its name 50 years ago – David Talbot Rice. It marks a bold new chapter for the gallery, sparking global conversations on art, politics and the histories that continue to shape our world.
28 Jun – 28 Sept 10am–5pm Tue – Sat (Mon – Sun throughout Aug)
TALBOT RICE GALLERY FREE, unticket ed
This exhibition is part of Edinburgh Art Festival 2025. Talbot Rice Gallery is the public art gallery of Edinburgh College of Art / The University of Edinburgh
ACCESS
Accessible performances and access provisions are supported by Claire and Mark Urquhart
AD AUDIO DESCRIBED
PRODUCTION
DATE & TIME VENUE
DESCRIBERS
The Dan Daw Show (p38) 4 Aug 8pm THE LYCEUM Myra Galletly
Make it Happen (p24) 6 Aug 2.30pm FESTIVAL THEATRE See eif.co.uk/access
Works and Days (p26) 10 Aug 3pm THE LYCEUM Lydia Kerr, Bridget Stevens
Orpheus and Eurydice (p16) 16 Aug 3pm EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE Veronica Kinahan, Trina Gillies
Book of Mountains and Seas (p18) 16 Aug 8pm THE LYCEUM Amanda Drollinger
Cutting the Tightrope (p30) 17 Aug 7.30pm CHURCH HILL THEATRE Amanda Drollinger, Jonathan Penny Mary, Queen of Scots (p34) 17 Aug 3pm FESTIVAL THEATRE Emma-Jane McHenry, Fiona Pedgrift Faustus in Africa! (p28) 23 Aug 7.30pm THE LYCEUM John Cummings Figures in Extinction (p36) 24 Aug 3pm FESTIVAL THEATRE See eif.co.uk/access
BSL BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETED
PRODUCTION
DATE & TIME VENUE INTERPRETERS
The Dan Daw Show (p38) 3 Aug 8pm THE LYCEUM Greg Colquhoun
NYO2: Family Concert (p57) 4 Aug 2pm USHER HALL Paul Whittaker
Make it Happen (p24) 5 Aug 7.30pm FESTIVAL THEATRE See eif.co.uk/access
Cutting the Tightrope (p30) 16 Aug 7.30pm CHURCH HILL THEATRE Rachel Amey
The Unseen Truth: Sarah Lewis (p45) 18 Aug 2pm THE HUB See eif.co.uk/access
The Truth We Seek: Simon Fanshawe OBE (p45) See eif.co.uk THE HUB See eif.co.uk/access
CAP CAPTIONED
PRODUCTION
DATE & TIME VENUE CAPTIONERS
The Dan Daw Show (p38) 2, 3, 4 Aug 8pm THE LYCEUM Integrated
NYO2: Family Concert (p57) 4 Aug 2pm USHER HALL Claire Hill
Make it Happen (p24) 8 Aug 7.30pm FESTIVAL THEATRE See eif.co.uk/access
Beethoven and Shostakovich (p64) 12 Aug 7.30pm USHER HALL Claire Hill
Cutting the Tightrope (p30) 17 Aug 7.30pm CHURCH HILL THEATRE Louisa McDaid
The Unseen Truth: Sarah Lewis (p45) 18 Aug 2pm THE HUB See eif.co.uk/access
Shostakovich Inside Out (p67) 18 Aug 2pm USHER HALL Claire Hill
Faustus in Africa! (p28) 22 Aug 7.30pm THE LYCEUM Glenda J. Carson
Figures in Extinction (p36) 23 Aug 8pm FESTIVAL THEATRE Nederlands Dans Theater
The Truth We Seek: Simon Fanshawe OBE (p45) See eif.co.uk THE HUB See eif.co.uk/access
REL RELAXED
PRODUCTION
DATE & TIME VENUE DETAILS
The Dan Daw Show (p38) 2, 3, 4 Aug 8pm THE LYCEUM See eif.co.uk/access
Dementia-Friendly Concert (p47) 19 Aug 3pm THE QUEEN'S HALL See eif.co.uk/access
We recognise that some people face barriers to engaging with the International Festival. To address this, we provide a range of services designed to remove these barriers, available to anybody, with no proof of eligibility required.
ACCESS PASS
The Access Pass is a free membership scheme for anybody who needs additional support when booking events, navigating our venues or enjoying a performance. Access Pass members have exclusive access to provisions:
Reserved Seating: including wheelchair spaces, seats with extra legroom, aisle seats, seats near exits and those close to toilets. For BSLinterpreted performances, seats with the best sightlines of interpreters are also reserved.
Relaxed Performances: performances are adapted to make the experience more accessible to certain audiences, including neurodivergent people and people with dementia.
Touch Tours: tactile interactions with set pieces, props, and costumes, allowing blind and partially sighted people a deeper connection with a production.
Sign up to the Access Pass at eif.co.uk/access
ACCESS GUIDE
Our Access Guide provides additional information about our accessible performances and comprehensive access information about each of our venues.
The Access Guide and this brochure are available in a range of accessible formats: large print, digital PDF, braille and plain text. Contact us to request a version of your choice.
ACCESS BOOKINGS
Access booking line +44 (0) 131 473 2056
See p108 for box office opening times.
From 27 March – 29 July, in-person booking is by appointment only, contact us by email or phone.
BSL VIDEO BOOKINGS WITH SIGNLIVE
We’ve teamed up with SignLive for ticket booking via an online BSL interpreting service. Download the SignLive app and find the Edinburgh International Festival listed in the SignLive Community Directory or visit signlive.co.uk
CONCESSIONS
D/deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent individuals are eligible for a 50% concession on full-price tickets and can book a free ticket for an essential companion.
Guided by the Social Model of Disability, we recognise that D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people experience increased barriers due to systemic inequalities in society, and we work to remove these barriers wherever possible.
• Disabled: We use this term inclusively, covering people with physical, sensory or cognitive impairments, or long-term health conditions.
• D/deaf: ‘Deaf’ refers to British Sign Language (BSL) users, while ‘deaf’ refers to people with hearing loss including deaf, deafblind and hard-ofhearing individuals.
• Neurodivergent: This term refers to people whose brains process information in ways that differ from neurotypical standards.
ACCESS CONTACT:
Callum Madge Access Manager Online
eif.co.uk/access
Email access@eif.co.uk
Telephone +44 (0) 131 473 2056
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
PUBLIC FUNDERS
FOCUS ON POLAND PARTNERS
MAJOR PARTNERS
SUPPORTING PARTNER
PARTNERS
PRINCIPAL SUPPORTERS
James and Morag Anderson
Sir Ewan and Lady Brown
Dunard Fund
Edinburgh International Festival Endowment Fund
Pirie Rankin Endowed Fund
Léan Scully Endowed Fund
Claire and Mark Urquhart
FESTIVAL SUPPORTERS
Geoff and Mary Ball
Cruden Foundation Limited
Flure Grossart
Donald and Louise MacDonald
Anne McFarlane
Vivienne and Robin Menzies
BENEFACTORS
Carola Bronte-Stewart
Richard and Catherine Burns
Sheila Colvin
Lori A. Martin and Christopher L. Eisgruber
David and Judith Halkerston
J Douglas Home
Peter Hunter
David and Brenda Lamb
Niall and Carol Lothian
Hugh and Moira MacDougall
James and Katie McNeill
David Millar
Keith and Lee Miller
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
National Forum of Music in Wrocław
PWM Edition
Romanian Cultural Institute in London
TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS
The Badenoch Trust
The Castansa Trust
The Cross Trust
Cullen Property
The Peter Diamand Trust
The Donnelly Foundation
The Evelyn Drysdale Charitable Trust
Educational Institute of Scotland
Edwin Fox Foundation
The Negaunee Foundation
Sir Keith and Andrea Skeoch
Jonathan Rozoff
Anonymous Supporters
Jerry Ozaniec
Tanya and David Parker
Sarah and Spiro Phanos
Brenda Rennie
George Ritchie
Susie Thomson
Scobie Dickinson Ward
Willie and Jo Watt
Finlay and Lynn Williamson
Judith Zachs
Zachs-Adam Family
Anonymous Supporters
Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust
Northwood Charitable Trust
The Pear Tree Fund for Music
Penpont Charitable Trust
Risk Charitable Fund
The Stevenston Charitable Trust
The Sym Charitable Trust
The Turtleton Charitable Trust
The Viewforth Trust
We would like to thank all of our supporters listed here, as well as our Ambassador Circle and Friend Circle members, and those who choose to remain anonymous. Listing as of 20 January 2025.
SUPPORT US
Ticket sales cover less than 25% of our costs. As a charity, we rely on support from members, donors, funders and partners to fulfil our mission. People like you, who understand the value of the arts, can secure the brilliance of the Festival for generations to come.
BECOME A MEMBER
The best way to experience the International Festival is as a member of our Friend or Ambassador Circles. From just £60 a year, you can access priority booking for Festival performances and behind-the-scenes events exclusively for members. Your membership also supports the Festival, helping us to continue programming spectacular performances year after year.
AMERICAN SUPPORTERS OF THE FESTIVAL
CREATE YOUR FESTIVAL LEGACY
Making a gift in your will is a simple way to show your support for the Festival that you know and love. By leaving even just 1% of your estate, you could make a huge difference –supporting the highest quality of performing arts; and ensuring that young people and communities have a pathway to discover and be a part of the Festival.
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL ENDOWMENT FUND
Edinburgh International Festival Society is registered as a company in Scotland (No SC024766) and as a Scottish Charity (No SC004694).
Registered address: The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE.
Through the International Festival’s US Fund with the Chapel and York Foundation, American donors and Patron members can make taxdeductible gifts to a registered 501(c)3 whilst supporting the Festival.
The Endowment Fund was created with a vision to provide a stable and long-term source of funding for the Festival. The Fund, governed by an independent board of trustees, supports the Festival with significant annual grants that enable the Festival to programme special initiatives and exceptional projects.
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS
The Festival works with businesses to develop collaborative partnerships that are tailored to the partner's objectives. Whether you are looking for creative brand activation, unique hospitality opportunities or to align your brand with the arts on an international stage, we can work with you to design a package that meets our shared goals. Edinburgh International Festival Society is registered as a company in Scotland (No SC024766) and as a Scottish Charity (No SC004694). Registered address: The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE.
CREDITS
CO-PRODUCTION AND COMMISSION CREDITS
Book of Mountains and Seas (p18)
Co-Produced by Beth Morrison Projects, The Big Sing, Ars Nova Copenhagen, and Soundstreams. Commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech, Toronto Soundstreams, Koorbiennale, Hong Kong New Vision Arts Festival, and Linda and Stuart Nelson.
Works and Days (p26)
Co-produced with Piccolo Teatro di Milano –Teatro d’Europa and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg.
Faustus in Africa! (p28)
The 2025 version is produced by Quaternaire/ Paris and restaged with co-production support of The Baxter Theatre Centre at the University of Cape Town (Cape Town), Centre d'art Battat (Montreal), Kunstfest (Weimar), Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels), Thalia Theater GmbH (Hamburg), Théâtre de la Ville/ Festival d'Automne (Paris).
Mary, Queen of Scots (p34)
Commissioned by Scottish Ballet with support from the company’s Five in Five Campaign patrons.
Figures in Extinction (p36)
Co-produced by Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) and Complicité. Co-commissioned by Factory International. Co-produced by schrit_tmacher Festival, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg and Montpellier Danse
This brochure is printed in Glasgow by J Thomson Colour Printers – now the largest Certified Carbon Balanced commercial printer in Scotland. Rather than simply buying carbon credits, J Thomson is offsetting their carbon by supporting the global conservation charity World Land Trust in their crucial efforts to protect and preserve threatened, carbonrich habitat around the world.
This year we’re reducing the number of brochures we print, ensuring they go to the people who really value them and producing a smaller highlights guide to reduce wastage.
When you’ve finished using this brochure to plan your Festival, please keep it as a souvenir, pass it on to a friend who might be interested, or recycle it.
All brochure information correct at the time of printing, subject to change.
We are so proud of the world-class performing arts we present, yet we recognise that the internationalism of our work has an environmental impact. That’s why we have embedded sustainable initiatives at the heart of everything we do to help create a brighter future for Scotland and beyond.
This includes presenting climate stories on stage with Figures in Extinction (p36) and Works and Days (p26) making strong statements in this year’s Festival. To reduce unnecessary travel, we create artist residencies and align to wider UK and European tours. We’re always working to improve the efficiency of equipment at our home, The Hub; and have introduced electric vehicles and e-bikes to our Festival fleet to move around the city in a cleaner and greener way.
We are following international and national standards to reduce our carbon footprint in line with the British Standards Institute Net Zero Pathway.
Find out more about our sustainability progress at eif.co.uk/sustainability
BOOKING INFORMATION
HOW TO BOOK
Online eif.co.uk
Public booking opens 27 March, 12noon
MEMBERS ’ PRIORITY BOOKING
20 March, 12noon Gold Ambassador
21 March, 12noon Silver Ambassador & Ambassador
24 March, 12noon Gold Friend & Silver Friend
25 March, 12noon Friend
To find out how you can access priority booking by becoming a member, visit eif.co.uk/membership or call +44 (0) 131 473 2065
TELEPHONE BOOKING
Telephone +44 ( 0 ) 131 473 2000
20 March – 26 March (Members only)
Monday to Friday 12noon – 4pm Saturday and Sunday closed
27 March – 29 July
Monday to Friday 12noon – 4pm Saturday and Sunday closed
30 July – 24 August
Monday to Sunday 10am – 8pm
IN-PERSON BOOKING
The International Festival box office is open for in-person bookings throughout the Festival.
30 July – 24 August
Monday – Sunday 12noon – 5pm (open until show start time on performance nights at The Hub)
The Hub, Castlehill EH1 2NE
Box office services will be available at all venues at least one hour prior to performance start times.
If you require in-person assistance with your booking prior to the Festival, you can book an appointment. (See p101 for details).
Box office opening times may be subject to change. Visit eif.co.uk for more information.
TICKET PRICES & FEES
Ticket prices may vary from previously published prices, according to demand. This flexible pricing model helps fund our affordable ticketing initiatives.
Ticket prices are inclusive of fees, except for events at the Edinburgh Playhouse, where a £1.75 theatre restoration levy will be applied to each ticket. If you choose to receive your tickets by post, a £3 charge will be applied.
TICKET EXCHANGES & REFUNDS
No refunds will be given except in the event of cancellation of a performance. Tickets may be exchanged up to 48 hours before a performance to another performance of the same show, subject to availability. A £1.50 fee per ticket exchanged will be charged.
We have partnered with TicketPlan to offer optional ticket protection. This allows you to recoup 100% of the paid ticket price (including any fees) if you are unable to attend your event for any number of covered reasons, including illness, travel delays, adverse weather conditions and more. For more information, visit ticketplangroup.com/eifrefundpromise
Refund Protection is an optional service offered by Edinburgh International Festival and administered by TicketPlan. It is not an insurance policy.
YOUNG CHILDREN POLICY
We adhere to each venue’s individual policy and advise that you visit eif.co.uk/venues or contact our box office for further information before booking tickets.
HOW TO SAVE
AFFORDABILITY
Cost shouldn’t be a barrier to cultural discovery.
A limited amount of £10 Affordable Tickets are available for every event in the programme for those who need them. Enter promo code INVITED to unlock these seats and add them to your basket. Subject to availability, limited to two per customer per event, and only available in certain areas of the auditorium. For details, visit eif.co.uk
• D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people and under 18s are entitled to a 50% concession discount off the standard price.
• Anyone who requires an Essential Companion can claim one free ticket with one paid ticket.
• Arts workers and under 30s are entitled to a 30% concession discount off the standard price, available from 27 March.
All concessions are subject to availability. Proof of eligibility may be requested at venues.
£10 ON THE DAY
All our concession customers are eligible for £10 on-the-day tickets. A limited number of these tickets are available for selected performances. Proof of eligibility may be requested at venues.
GROUP BOOKINGS
Groups of ten or more receive a 10% discount on full-price tickets for selected performances. Group discounts are available from 27 March. For groups of more than 20, email groups@eif.co.uk or call +44 (0) 131 473 2001
MULTIBUY OFFERS
A 20% discount applies when you buy tickets for three or more morning concerts at The Queen’s Hall. Excludes top-price tickets (prices A and J) and concessions.
A 20% discount applies when you buy tickets for all three Rising Stars concerts (at The Queen's Hall and The Hub). Excludes top-price tickets (prices A and J) and concessions.
YOUNG MUSICIAN’S PASS
Young musicians or singers aged 8–18 who live in Scotland are eligible for free tickets to Festival concerts and exclusive access to meet with world-class artists. Booking opens on 19 May. T&Cs apply.
Sign up at eif.co.uk/ympass
TICKETS FOR GOOD
Continuing our work with Tickets for Good, this year we are donating tickets to NHS staff, charity workers and low-income benefit recipients. Find out more at ticketsforgood.org
All special offers are subject to availability.
1 Fri 2 Sat 3 Sun 4 Mon 5 Tue 6 Wed CHURCH HILL
Opening Concert: The Veil of the Temple (p54)
Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony (p57)
The Big Singalong (p12)
First Night at The Hub (p86)
Roby Lakatos & Ensemble (p87)
Pavel Kolesnikov & Samson Tsoy (p75)
Mark Simpson & Richard Uttley (p77)
BSL
Family Concert (p57) 7.30pm Best of Monteverdi Choir (p58)
The Ceilidh Sessions (p12)
Holst's The Planets (p59)
Bruce Liu Plays Ravel (p61)
Thu 8 Fri
10am, 1pm & 3pm
Art of Listening for Families (p46)
10am, 1pm & 3pm Art of Listening for Families (p46)
10am, 1pm & 3pm Art of Listening for Families (p46)
7.30pm Make It Happen (p24)
8pm Hanni Liang: Dreams (p87)
7.30pm CAP Make It Happen (p24)
2.30pm Make It Happen (p24)
7pm Rising Stars of Woodwind (p89)
10pm Up Late with Alabaster DePlume (p88)
7pm VOŁOSI (p89) 10pm Up Late: Everything Is Recorded (p89)
8pm Works and Days (p26) 8pm Works and Days (p26) 8pm Works and Days (p26) 3pm AD Works and Days (p26)
8pm Triptic (p91)
8pm The Sidiki Dembele Ensemble (p90)
11am
Hugh Cutting & George Ireland (p76) 11am Leonard Elschenbroich & Alexei Grynyuk (p77) 11am Fibonacci Quartet (p77) 11am Piotr Anderszewski (p79) 11am Sitkovetsky Trio (p79)
7.30pm Bach & Bartók (p61) 6pm Mozart's La clemenza di Tito (p60)
7.30pm Bizet's Carmen Suite (p63)
8.30pm Dance People (p40) 8.30pm Dance People (p40) 8.30pm Dance People (p40) 8.30pm Dance People (p40)
Wael Shawky Monday-Sunday 10am-5pm (p99)
7.30pm Benedetti & Sitkovetsky's Tribute to Menuhin (p63)
7.30pm CAP Beethoven & Shostakovich (p64)
13 Wed 14 Thu 15 Fri 16 Sat 17 Sun
7.30pm
Cutting the Tightrope (p30)
8pm
Orpheus and Eurydice (p16)
11am
Bostridge, Pappano & Members of the LSO (p79)
8pm Ímar (p91)
8pm
Book of Mountains and Seas (p18)
11am
Bomsori Kim & Thomas Hoppe (p78)
7.30pm Vaughan Williams's A Sea Symphony (p65)
7.30pm Cutting the Tightrope (p30)
7.30pm BSL Cutting the Tightrope (p30)
7.30pm AD CAP Cutting the Tightrope (p30)
8pm
Orpheus and Eurydice (p16)
3pm AD
Orpheus and Eurydice (p16)
7.30pm Mary, Queen of Scots (p34)
2.30pm & 7.30pm Mary, Queen of Scots (p34)
3pm AD Mary, Queen of Scots (p34)
7pm Rising Stars: Classical Jam (p91)
10pm Up Late: Jazz Jam (p93)
8pm
Book of Mountains and Seas (p18)
11am
Florian Boesch & Malcolm Martineau (p81)
7pm Østerlide (p93)
10pm Up Late with Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith (p93)
8pm AD
Book of Mountains and Seas (p18)
11am
Wrocław Baroque Ensemble (p81)
7pm
Puccini's Suor Angelica (p65)
2pm BSL CAP
The Unseen Truth: Sarah Lewis (p45)
8pm Catrin Finch & Aoife Ní Bhriain (p92)
11am
Ryan Wang (p80)
2pm CAP
Shostakovich Inside Out (p67)
7.30pm Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony (p67)
19 Tue 20 Wed 21 Thu 22 Fri
8pm As You Like It A Radical Retelling (p31)
8pm As You Like It A Radical Retelling (p31)
8pm As You Like It A Radical Retelling (p31)
8pm As You Like It A Radical Retelling (p31) 8pm Figures in Extinction (p36) 2pm & 8pm CAP Figures in Extinction (p36)
8pm
Yahya Hussein Abdallah & Jasser Haj Youssef (p95)
11am Rising Stars of Voice (p81)
3pm REL Dementia-Friendly Concert with SCO (p47)
7.30pm Faustus in Africa! (p28)
11am Belcea Quartet (p83)
7.30pm Breaking Bach (p42)
8pm Canvas of Sound with Tazeen Qayyum (p95)
7.30pm Faustus in Africa! (p28)
11am
Dunedin Consort & John Butt (p83)
7pm Master Musicians with Peirani & Segal (p95) 10pm Up Late with Sissoko, Segal, Parisien & Peirani (p97)
7.30pm CAP Faustus in Africa! (p28)
11am
Emily D'Angelo & Sophia Muñoz (p82)
7pm William Barton (p96)
10pm Up Late with Joep Beving & Maarten Vos (p97)
7.30pm AD Faustus in Africa! (p28)
3pm AD Figures in Extinction (p36)
10pm Up Late with Endea Owens (p97)
11am
Leonidas Kavakos & The Apollon Ensemble (p83)
7.30pm Bernstein & Stravinsky (p68) 7.30pm Pictures at an Exhibition (p69) 10am Come and Sing Elijah (p71)
Discover inspiration for your trip including local tips and the best of Edinburgh’s food and drink scene on our blog at eif.co.uk
Plan your journey with the help of travelinescotland.com or download the Traveline Scotland app.
Consider the environmental impact of your travel choices. We encourage you to explore the city sustainably – on foot, by bike or using public transport whenever possible. For helpful tips and resources, check out Edinburgh’s online guide to cycling and walking at edinburgh.gov.uk/cycling-walking
To plan your journey by bus or tram, visit transportforedinburgh.com or download the Transport for Edinburgh app.
Waverley Station, situated in the heart of the city, offers convenient access to rail services. Visit nationalrail.co.uk for timetables and fare information. Edinburgh Airport, located just eight miles from the city centre, is easily accessible via regular bus and tram services. For details, visit edinburghairport.com
PARTNER HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
The Hub Bar Castlehill EH1 2NE eif.co.uk/the-hub
Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa 1 Festival Square EH3 9SR +44 (0) 131 229 9131 sheratonedinburgh.co.uk
One Square Bar & Brasserie 1 Festival Square EH3 9SR +44 (0) 131 229 9131 onesquareedinburgh.co.uk
The Caledonian Edinburgh Princes Street EH1 2AB +44 (0) 131 222 8888 edinburghcaledonian.com
SUMMER FESTIVALS
Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival 11–20 Jul | ejbf.co.uk
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 1–23 Aug | edintattoo.co.uk
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 1–25 Aug | edfringe.com
Edinburgh Art Festival 7–24 Aug | edinburghartfestival.com
Edinburgh International Book Festival 9–24 Aug | edbookfest.co.uk
Edinburgh International Film Festival 14–20 Aug | edfilmfest.org
You can find information on Edinburgh’s 11 major festivals throughout the year at edinburghfestivalcity.com
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL VENUES
Church Hill Theatre & Studio Morningside Road EH10 4DR
Edinburgh Playhouse 18–22 Greenside Place EH1 3AA
Festival Theatre 13–29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT
The Hub Castlehill EH1 2NE
The Lyceum Grindlay Street EH3 9AX
Old College Quad – Talbot Rice Gallery
The University of Edinburgh, Old College, South Bridge EH8 9YL
Ross Bandstand Princes Street Gardens EH2 2HG
The Queen’s Hall 85–89 Clerk Street EH8 9JG
Usher Hall
Lothian Road EH1 2EA
‘I'm trying to recognise and excavate what's true…I'm looking for moments of resonance.’ CRYSTAL PITE
‘Culture is how we understand the world.’ SARAH LEWIS
‘For me, the most interesting artworks are the ones that end with a riddle.’ WILLIAM KENTRIDGE
‘A great conductor is somebody who helps you to think and make connections to many different things.’
SIR ANTONIO PAPPANO
‘Of course a large group of musicians in a room, who are clever, accomplished and hardworking, will never all agree on the same way of doing something so it’s also important that I stay true to my musical convictions.’
KARINA CANELLAKIS
‘To help people understand classical music you have to present it in a different way...It’s about being able to tell a story in a great way.’
ABEL SELAOCOE
‘That desire of wanting to know more, wanting to share, and wanting to communicate with other people, and with the environment and society.’
HUANG RUO
‘The work of composing is like sculpting a stone, not like transmitting the sounds of imagination or inspiration.’
GRAŻYNA BACEWICZ
‘There’s a lot of impulse in making work. An intuition that helps decide if something is ‘right’. And we’re two people looking at the same thing and both of us sense that. It’s like having your eyes open to something else all of a sudden.’
SIMON MCBURNEY
‘We have a tendency to be comfortable with the idea that we know.’
CLIFF CARDINAL
‘Music connects people to their own emotions and allows them to express what cannot otherwise be put into words.’ CLARA SCHUMANN
‘The modern composer builds upon the foundation of truth.’
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
‘Through music, we can glimpse the transcendental beauty that lies beyond our physical reality.’ JOHN TAVENER
‘The enormity of the universe revealed by science cannot readily be grasped by the human brain, but the music of The Planets enables the mind to acquire some comprehension of the vastness of space where rational understanding fails.’
GUSTAV HOLST
‘Extending the limits of our being and transcending our everyday presence. We have nothing else other than our decisions, choices, and actions.’
OMAR RAJEH
‘My chief endeavour should be to attain a grand simplicity, and consequently I have avoided making a parade of difficulties at the cost of clearness.’
CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK
‘I start seeing the world in a very different way. I've given myself time and permission to look up and see the world around me and see how others are choosing to interact with the world and that’s something very special that I fight to hold on to.’
DAN DAW
‘It is the minutiae and the detail that I think actually reveals a greater truth about these systems and these institutions that govern us.' JAMES GRAHAM
‘I believe music, and art in general, has the power to contribute to society and shape the world... It’s not just about playing notes; it’s about having something to say.’ HANNI LIANG
‘I have a real interest in portraying the complexity of human nature through dance, while playing with the boundaries of the imagination.’
SOPHIE LAPLANE
‘One must speak the truth about the past or not at all.’
