EIF programme brochure 2008 by Edinburgh International Festival

We gratefully acknoWledge support from the folloWing: GRANTS

SPoNSoRED BY

Concert performance sung in English

03 by sergei rachmaninov Concert performance sung in Russian Aleko Evgeny Nikitin Zemfira Irina Mataeva Zemfira’s Father Mikhail Petrenko

PHoTo: CHRISTINA CLouSToN

act three

uk premiere

by sergei prokofiev Concert performance sung in Russian Sofiya Irina Mataeva Semyon Victor Lutsiuk Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra Valery Gergiev Conductor Famed for his piano music, Sergei Rachmaninov’s prodigious gifts as a melodist are revealed in his one act opera Aleko, an adaptation of Alexander Pushkin’s poem The Gypsies. The title character, Aleko, tires of his upper class life and runs off to join a gypsy caravan where he falls in love with the gypsy Zemfira, with tragic consequences. The sumptuous scoring and compositional style marked Rachmaninov as a sublimely lyrical composer. Prokofiev’s Semyon Kotko, the tragic story of a young Russian soldier returning from war to a glorious Bolshevik Russia, is an epic work, full of nationalism and hopeful dreams of the future. It contains some of Prokofiev’s finest and most dramatic music, especially in the climax of the thrilling and shocking third act which is performed in this concert. DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

SUNdAy 24 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 2 hOURS 10 mINUTES

SuPPoRTED BY

The Stevenston Charitable Trust

by rodion shchedrin Concert performance sung in Russian

Ivan Severyanovich Flyagin, Storyteller Sergei Alexashkin Grusha the Gypsy, Storyteller Kristina Kapustinskaya Flogged Monk, Prince, Magnetiser, Old Man in the Woods, Storyteller Yevgeny Akimov Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra Valery Gergiev Conductor Shchedrin’s opera is a vision of the Russian soul, steeped in the music of the Russian Orthodox Church and based on a novella by Nikolai Leskov. This epic tale of seduction, murder, obsession, prophesy and destiny is brought to life in an expressive score with influences of both traditional folk tunes and oratorio, and imbued with the energy and passion of gypsy romance. The orchestra is supplemented with exotic instruments from Russian musical traditions including the balalaika and the gusli, a Russian zither. Commissioned by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and premiered in 2002, The Enchanted Wanderer received its Russian premiere in 2007 under the baton of Valery Gergiev and this Festival performance marks its UK premiere. ‘if the ‘russian soul’ indeed exists, then Leskov answers the question better than anyone else.’ rodion SHcHedrin DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

TUESdAy 26 AUGUST 7.15Pm EdINbURGh FESTIvAL ThEATRE FROm £10 APPROx 1 hOUR 50 mINUTES

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

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opera

The Two Widows is brimming with musical wit in some of the most charming, life-affirming music Smetana ever wrote. He reveals a deep understanding of human foibles in this gentle and fun tale of Czech country life in the late 19th century. Two young widows, living a quiet country life, have sharply contrasting attitudes to life: Karolina lives for the future, enjoys life and love and runs her estate with great independence; Anezˇka is in denial of her true feelings, wishes to remain faithful to her husband and buries herself in the past. When a handsome stranger appears, Karolina guesses his reasons and instigates a mischievous game of love and jealousy. The opera is based on a French farce by Jean Pierre Félicien Mallefille which Smetana transposed to the world of the Czech landed gentry. He set out to write an opera in ‘the distinguished salon style’ to show that the Czech repertoire could contain more than folksy or high-toned patriotic pieces. This is a delicate comedy, gentle, warm-hearted and melodic. The directorial partnership between Tobias Hoheisel and Imogen Kogge sets out to transform this drawing room comedy into something that digs deeper without losing the inherent charm of the piece. The salon is a frame for witty exchanges set to Smetana’s delicate folk inspired music – a surreal place where certainties become uncertain and reality is constantly questioned. A co-production between the Edinburgh International Festival and Scottish Opera supported by Lord and Lady Laidlaw and the Scottish Opera Syndicate. Karolina Záleská Kate Valentine Anežka Miletinská Jane Irwin Mumlal Nicholas Folwell Ladislav Podhajsky David Pomeroy Toník, a peasant Ben Johnson Lidka, a maid Rebecca Ryan Francesco Corti Conductor Tobias Hoheisel and Imogen Kogge Directors Tobias Hoheisel Designer Peter Mumford Lighting design Kally Lloyd-Jones Choreographer Micaela von Marcard Dramaturg DATE SATURdAy 9, mONdAy 11 ANd TUESdAy 12 AUGUST 7.15Pm vENuE EdINbURGh FESTIvAL ThEATRE TICKETS FROm £10 DuRATIoN APPROx 2 hOURS 30 mINUTES edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

SuPPoRTED BY

The Scottish Government Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund

SPoNSoRED BY oFFICIAL PuBLIC TRANSPoRT PRovIDER FoR THE EDINBuRGH INTERNATIoNAL FESTIvAL

opera

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DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

EdNESd AUGUST & W mONdAy 25 EATRE FESTIvAL Th EdINbURGh FROm £10 UTES OURS 20 mIN APPROx 2 h

ses s and Mu n o tr a P l estiva Su ritage ational F n r te In tional He h a g N r u d b n in a d The E Culture inistr y of M e th d nd an c of Pola li b u oclaw p e R ity of Wr of the C d n a r ayo and the M PPoRTED BY

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based on a play by szymon anski and a short story by hanna krall

adapted by krzysztof WarlikoWski Performed in Polish with English supertitles The suffering soul of a holocaust victim takes over the body of his American half-brother. A woman is possessed by the spirit of her lover, and must choose between continuing this supernatural union and taking a living but unloved husband. In Jewish folklore, a dybbuk is a restless dead soul which inhabits a living person. This intense and gothic production blends two existing tales of such spirits – a landmark Yiddish play and a short story. In each case, the possessed must decide whether to keep or abandon the past – embrace or exorcise their dybbuk. Through the interweaving of the two stories, director and adaptor Krzysztof Warlikowski raises questions about Poland’s relationship with its Jewish population in the 20th century – to embrace or to exorcise. The superb cast includes Magdalena Cielecka and Andrzej Chyra, most recently seen in the Oscar nominated film Katyn. ‘dybbuk by Warlikowski is the negation of all the sentimental performances and oscar-rewarded movies about ‘Jews and Holocaust’, after which the audience may shed a tear or two and then go home. it’s a cutting honest voice…’ GazeTa Wyborcza

Cast: Ewa Dałkowska, Magdalena Cielecka, Renate Jett, Maja Komorowska, Maria Maj, Andrzej Chyra, Marek Kalita, Redbad Klijnstra, Zygmunt Malanowicz, Jacek Poniedziałek, Jerzy Senator, Maciej Tomaszewski and Tomasz Tyndyk. Krzysztof Warlikowski Adaptation and direction Małgorzata Szcze˛s´niak Set design Paweł Mykietyn Music Felice Ross Lighting design DATE SATURdAy 9 - mONdAy 11 AUGUST 7.30Pm vENuE KING’S ThEATRE TICKETS FROm £10 DuRATIoN APPROx 2 hOURS 20 mINUTES

PHoTo: STEFAN oKoLoWICz

SuPPoRTED BY

The Binks Trust, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland and the Mayor and City of Wroclaw

09 translation by klaudyna rozhin Performed in Polish with English supertitles 4.48am is when the will to live is at its lowest ebb. It is also when the mentally ill feel calmest, while appearing at their most deranged. One of the most cutting-edge theatre companies in Europe presents its version of the astonishing final work by English playwright Sarah Kane. As much modernist poem as play, the piece deals with what happens when the barriers between reality and imagination collapse. Distressing, poignant and beautiful. ‘in order to function in this society you have to cut off at least one part of your mind. otherwise, you’d be chronically sane in a society that’s chronically insane.’ ‘a masterpiece of mental and emotional extremity… an act of artistic heroism.’ THe daiLy TeLeGrapH on 4.48 pSycHoSiS

‘deft, brilliant and unnerving in the extreme.’ Time ouT on 4.48 pSycHoSiS

SuPPoRTED BY

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Cast: Magdalena Cielecka, Katarzyna Herman, Mariusz Benoit, Rafał Mac´kowiak and Janusz Chabior. Grzegorz Jarzyna Director Małgorzata Szcze˛s´niak Set design Piotr Domin´ski, Paweł Mykietyn, Grzegorz Jarzyna Music Felice Ross Lighting design Marcin Wiktorowski Projection DATE FRIdAy 15 - SUNdAy 17 AUGUST 8.00Pm vENuE KING’S ThEATRE TICKETS FROm £10 DuRATIoN APPROx 1 hOUR

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

theatre

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t is ious poe rely consc a his b to a p , u ry to face rt surge a d e e h rc s g fo in e is the po m Follow s and memorie muses on y e ll b H a d . d ty te n li n a hau morta ams, e, his dre rt and his v is a h lo is t d h n rs , fi a fe li nality on his his perso ot write, tion, he did n make up t a g produc th in s ft e li c p n u e d ri n e a p x the e t, poetic poignan culture. A . d y acted Mahmou beautifull poem by ry a ra m o o p fr m d t conte is adapte importan st o Jidariyya m e one of th Darwish, zed es. h was ra ic Arab vo lilee whic a G wn o in is n h a tow ainst a cry ag s born in a is w a y h . y is ri re a Darw cultu ild. Jid that of his was a ch s well as a when he n e. o ti ra f languag oblite e death o personal th knew is l il th st i a t e ined tha ltimate d g u a e im th i t , a th hesia d the ‘i realised of anaest , so i use influence nce them e u th o r n en i e h ro d w p n t u ld no nguage s but cou ad the la state h i a . in n o my word is t life tha s to write re rm ti n fo eath e ’ r rs u e docto and th d et it is o nificance g left… y g ls in si a th in n o g n st si in d ha le aga er death ve strugg poetr y ov f o H h p iS of collecti m triu ud darW ntity. The maHmo of our ide rrection.’ su re f o ing aL-QudS the dawn e heart.’ and in th ry i, o m e the m m Talham tour, Ree ‘lingers in a disi N q a fa li M a i oury, Kh d, Ramz h d K a d J. a H m kra imon Cast: Ma Khoury, R l, Jameel a il B a b u R mbo am Quan ner and Tam nd desig Director a i b a u Z r a Amir Niz Music ehadeh h S esign ib b a H Lighting d x u e ri d n A sign e Philipp stume de alah Co tt A a d a s Ham o Mask lam Abd Abdel-Sa Pm AUGUST 8.00 -SUNdAy 17 14 Ay d RS U Th DATE m ThEATRE ROyAL LyCEU E u vEN FROm £10 TICKETS OUR APPROx 1 h DuRATIoN

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Visiting Arts

after nigel Williams adapted and directed ˇovic’ by haris pas translated by senada kreso Performed in Bosnian with English supertitles In a run down schoolroom a group of foul-mouthed high school students conduct their own lessons as they await teachers who never arrive. Their parents, social workers and society in general have abandoned them. Class Enemy is based on Nigel Williams’s play set in South London in 1978 but Haris Pašovic´ transports us to Sarajevo in 2007, a post war city where social disorder and teenage violence are rife. We witness seven teenagers’ dramatic and poignant life stories which paint a bleak picture of family life, local politics and terror. They are underprivileged but they are gifted and eager to be recognised, acknowledged, confronted and taught about life.

Cast: Amar Selimovic´, Maja Izetbegovic´, Irma Alimanovic´, Nusmir Muharemovic´, Maja Zecc´o, Lidija Stevanovic´, Samir Karic´, Amir Muminovic´ Haris Pašovic´ Adaptation and direction Tamara Curic´ Choreography Lada Maglajlic´, Amir Vuk Zec, Omar Šelo Set design Kao Pao Shu Costume design Bojan Hadžihalilovic´, Goran Lizdek Design Eric Bajramovic´ Composer DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

WEdNESdAy 20 - SATURdAy 23 AUGUST 8.00Pm ROyAL LyCEUm ThEATRE FROm £10 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

In the isolated classroom chairs fly, emotions run high and violence erupts as the pupils burst with adolescent energy, humour and vulnerability. ‘passionate, shocking, awakening!’ oSLobođenJe, SaraJeVo

Please note the performance contains strong language.

east West theatre company PHoTo: GoRAN LIzDEK/EAST WEST THEATER CoMPANY

muziektheater transparant collegium vocale gent

theatre

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Performed in English and German

KARIM HEM

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A recital of beautiful Schubert song is brutally interrupted by people who want to talk about their voluntary enlistment in the SS.

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Ruhe (Silence) is based on a series of 1960s interviews conducted with Dutch veterans who signed up to serve with the Nazis in 1940. These people don’t bitterly regret their choices, but can’t quite rid themselves of their past. A spellbinding theatrical event exploring the dark and light sides of European experience through song, monologues and video. Beauty and brutality, harmony and chaos, an intimate yet shocking performance. Josse De Pauw Concept and direction

by abbas kiarostami Tazieh is an ancient Persian theatrical tradition – a form of Shiite passion play, telling epic tales in memory of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of the prophet Mohammed. Open-air performances draw huge crowds which themselves become part of the experience and are a rare example of popular drama in the Islamic world. Abbas Kiarostami is an internationally acclaimed filmmaker whose films, part documentary and part fiction, are deeply rooted in the Iran of his birth and whose attentive scrutiny of realism is accompanied by a profound interrogation of the language of cinema. Looking at Tazieh is a video installation with separate screens simultaneously showing three perspectives of a Tazieh performance and its audience. Viewers are invited to ‘edit’ their own film, to associate and to interpret the images as they will, encountering Tazieh in all its cultural, religious and social significance. DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

Cast: Dirk Roofthooft, Carly Wijs and Collegium Vocale Gent. ‘beauty and monstrosity can coexist.’ Le Soir DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

ThURSdAy 21 - SUNdAy 24 AUGUST 8.00Pm ThE hUb £17 APPROx 1 hOUR 15 mINUTES

SuPPoRTED BY

The Bacher Trust

FRIdAy 15 - mONdAy 18 AUGUST 6.00Pm ThE hUb £8 APPROx 1 hOUR

SuPPoRTED BY

Visiting Arts and the British Council PHoTo: HERMAN SoRGELooS

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edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

european premiere

muziektheater transparant Composer Stefan Wolpe was one of the leading voices in the stand against facism in Germany during the Weimar Republic. Alongside his contemporaries such as Ernst Krenek, Vladimir Vogel and Kurt Weill he dedicated himself creating agit prop songs and music for workers’ choruses. As with Hanns Eisler’s Wolpe songs became some of the most popular of the time. He was forced to flee Berlin in 1933, eventually settling in New York after a time in Israel.

bazi theatre company

PHoTo: ALI TABRIzI

Five women are living on an abandoned island, all the men have left and they are contemplating whether to leave or to stay. As a strange ship appears on the horizon their peace is shattered. The crescent moon is a common symbol in the Muslim world and when the crescent appears at the bottom of the moon it creates a shape reminiscent of a boat. This is the Devil’s Ship. Bazi Theatre Company was founded in 1989 by Attila Pessyani who as a young actor worked with Peter Brook and the legendary Polish theatre maker Tadeusz Kantor, both of whom visited Iran in the heyday of the Shiraz Festival of Arts.This new play was first seen at the Fadjr International Theatre Festival in Tehran early this year and this Festival 08 appearance marks its European premiere. ‘a theatrical style that combines powerful threads of iranian thought, music and imagery with a deep experience of post-Sixties european theatre from brook to Kantor, and with an unsettling mid-asian magic realism.’

Using texts, songs and piano music the performers of Muziektheater Transparant concentrate on the composer’s work from 1929 to 1945. His music is not easily pigeon-holed with styles ranging from jazz, folk and ethnic influences to sprechgesang and complex composition; fascinating and highly evocative of a very particular place and time in history. This is music as theatre, a staged concert which illustrates the physicality of Wolpe’s music. Viviane De Muynck Actor Johan Bussars Piano Gunnar Brandt Tenor Caroline Petrick Coach DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

THe ScoTSman on bazi THeaTre company

Cast: Fatemeh Naghavi, Setareh Pessyani, Sahar Dowlatshahi, Pegah Tabasi Nejad and Elham Shakib Attila Pessyanii Writer, designer and director Hamid Garshasbi Projection Ankido Darash Sound design and music Ali Tabrizi Film DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

mONdAy 25 - WEdNESdAy 27 8.00Pm ThE hUb £17 APPROx 1 hOUR

SuPPoRTED BY

Visiting Arts and the British Council PHoTo: HERMAN SoRGELooS

FRIdAy 29 & SATURdAy 30 AUGUST 8.00Pm ThE hUb £17 APPROx 1 hOUR 30 mINUTES

World premiere

theatre

Three iconic 20th century texts, the theatrical genius of Heiner Goebbels and the virtuosic vocal talents of the Hilliard Ensemble, specialists in both medieval and contemporary music.

PHoTo: KLAuS GRuNBERG

edinburgh international festival

T.S. Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, Maurice Blanchot’s The Madness of the Day and Samuel Beckett’s Worstward Ho are the basis for an exploration of the meaning of ‘I’ in a world where there are no clearly defined roles or characters.

eif.co.uk

Festival 08 is proud to present the world premiere of the latest work from Edinburgh favourite Heiner Goebbels. From his first visit with Black On White, through the marvellous Hashirigaki and Eislermaterial to the wonderful Eraritjaritjaka, musician and theatre maker Heiner Goebbels has thrilled Festival audiences time and again. His work is by turns gripping, moving, compelling and surreal. Not to be missed. Production by Théatre Vidy-Lausanne ‘pure, unadulterated delight… Hashirigaki is an unclassifiable, unforgettable experience – the stuff that masterpieces are made of.’ THe Guardian ‘This is trademark Goebbels: mixing music and text, casting his stage and figures in riveting games of light, weaving uncategorisable stage magic.’

by heiner goebbels With the hilliard ensemble

FinanciaL TimeS on erariTJariTJaKa

Performed in English

Klaus Grünberg Stage design and lighting Florence von Gerkan Costume Willi Bopp Sound DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

ThURSdAy 28 - SATURdAy 30 AUGUST 8.00Pm ROyAL LyCEUm ThEATRE FROm £10 APPROx 1 hOUR 20 mINUTES

A staged concert in three parts

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edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

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PHoToS: THE STATE BALLET oF GEoRGIA

alanch ck Music George B bald Glu li il W phy h p Christo choreogra uses his e in h c n e urydic nne, Bala us and E In Chaco auty, of Orphe s n great be o f ti o c t u e ll a b l a for prod ssic a neo-cla usic. to create ational m ir sp in ’s k c lu G to set Pm AUGUST 7.30 EdNESdAy 13 W 12 Ay d TUES DATE PLAyhOUSE EdINbURGh E Th vENuE FROm £10 TICKETS 15 mINUTES Ox 2 hOURS PR AP N o DuRATI

Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker Choreography Steve Reich, György Ligeti Music Music performed live by Ictus American composer Steve Reich has inspired Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker throughout her choreographic career. With her second work Fase, four movements to the music of Steve Reich, she made an explosive impact on the international dance scene in 1982. De Keersmaeker’s choreographic style is accentuated in Steve Reich Evening, which brings together seven pieces made over twenty-five years to the music of her favourite composer. Steve Reich found fame as a pioneer of minimalism but his work is also varied and diverse. This performance offers an opportunity to experience the work of two great artists performed by a superb company of dancers to live music from six piece contemporary ensemble, Ictus. ‘De Keersmaeker… has brilliantly understood the magic in Reich’s austerity.’

PHoTo: HERMAN SoRGELooS

THE GuARDiAn

‘among the greatest composers of the century.’ THE nEW YORK TiMES On STEVE REiCH

‘She makes the dance shimmer over the music to hallucinatory effect.’ THE GuARDiAn

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

FRIdAy 15 - SUNdAy 17 AUGUST 7.30Pm EdINbURGh FESTIvAL ThEATRE FROm £10 APPROx 2 hOURS 10 mINUTES

PHoTo: HERMAN SoRGELooS

dance

european premiere

PHoTo: ANDREW CuRTIS

Mortality, sexuality, and desire are central themes in Mortal Engine, which receives its European premiere at the Festival. Lasers and video projections respond to the dancers as they move to create an ever-shifting, shimmering world of illusion where light and shade represent the most perfect or the most sinister of souls. The dancers trigger light patterns and sounds that appear to take on a life of their own. While the scenes are always in the same order, the work is truly live every night, unpredictable and ever changing. Australian contemporary dance group Chunky Move has a reputation for producing performances which make innovative use of new technology to create bold new worlds.

Gideon Obarzanek Direction and choreography Frieder Weiss Interactive system design Robin Fox Laser and sound artist Ben Frost Composer Paula Levis Costume designer Damien Cooper Lighting designer Richard Dinnen and Gideon Obarzanek Set design Please note: this production contains smoke, laser and strobe lighting effects and loud volume audio. ‘intensities of light and sound make mortal engine something of a bodysnatcher. it physically invades the viewer.’ THe auSTraLian DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

SUNdAy 17- TUESdAy 19 AUGUST 8.00Pm ThE EdINbURGh PLAyhOUSE FROm £8 1 hOUR

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

dEdICATEd TO ThE mEmORy OF SIR JOhN dRUmmONd

dance

World premiere

PHoTo: HuGo GLENDINNING

freely adapted from oscar Wilde Oscar Wilde’s gothic fable becomes a darkly seductive dance theatre event from master storyteller, Matthew Bourne. Set in the image obsessed world of contemporary art and politics, this ‘black fairy tale’ tells the story of an exceptionally alluring young man who makes a pact with the devil. Amongst London’s beautiful people, Dorian Gray is the “It Boy” – an icon of beauty and truth in an increasingly ugly world.

dance

The destructive power of beauty, the blind pursuit of pleasure and the darkness and corruption that lie beneath a charming façade; the themes behind Oscar Wilde’s cautionary tale have never been more timely. Matthew Bourne is widely hailed as the UK’s most popular and successful choreographer/director. Dorian Gray is his first new production in three years reuniting his award-winning creative team of Lez Brotherston, Terry Davies and Paule Constable. His company, New Adventures, enjoys enduring success with a series of highly popular productions including nutcracker!, The Car Man, Edward Scissorhands and the now legendary Swan Lake. Matthew Bourne Choreography Lez Brotherston Design Terry Davies Composer Paule Constable Lighting design ‘demolishing conventions, bestriding art forms from ballet to musical comedy to film, bourne’s work isn’t just high-brow or low-brow. it’s all-brow.’ Time maGazine ‘probably the world’s most successful choreographer.’ THe neW yorKer

‘matthew bourne is the undisputed king of dance theatre.’ THe obSerVer

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

FRIdAy 22 - SATURdAy 30 AUGUST 8.00Pm (ExCEPT mONdAy 25 AUGUST) SATURdAy 23 & SATURdAy 30 AUGUST 2.30Pm KING’S ThEATRE FROm £15 TO bE AdvISEd

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

dance PHoTo: GADI DAGoN

PHoTo: GADI DAGoN

dance

Ohad Naharin Choreography An explosion of colour, movement and music. Unforgettable performances by extraordinary dancers. Highly energized, daring and humorous dance from Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company in a programme of works specially devised to showcase the dazzling breadth of choreographer Ohad Naharin’s invention. Deca Dance 2008 features ten scenes from his most celebrated works. From stylized aggression and a fierce lust for life, to capricious dream worlds, Deca Dance 2008 reflects Naharin’s vision of the Company as a meeting place for artists of all disciplines. Deca Dance 2008 includes excerpts from Ohad Naharin’s works MAX, Telophaza, Three, naharin’s Virus, Moshe, Zachacha, Z/na and Anaphaza.

PHoTo: GADI DAGoN

Stunning movement set to thrilling soundtracks embracing everything from classical music to rock and hip hop to Israeli and Arab folk music. If you thought contemporary dance wasn’t for you, think again! ‘dancing that pulls viewers right out of their seats.’ THe neW yorK TimeS DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

ThURSdAy 28 - SATURdAy 30 AUGUST 8.00Pm ThE EdINbURGh PLAyhOUSE FROm £8 1 hOUR 40 mINUTES edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

SPoNSoRED BY

dance

A whirling ceremony and Turkish mystical music performed by the world’s leading group of Whirling Dervishes and musicians. A fascinating evening of poetry and music from the sufi traditions, building through the four steps of the ceremony, culminating in the hypnotic whirling and a reading from the Qur’an.

PHoTo: AYDIN CoSKuN/oz PRoDuCTIoNS

The performance features Turkish sufi music and the whirling ceremony, all closely adhering to a 700 year old mystical tradition. An enchanting experience, evoking the call for human love, brotherhood and tolerance that everyone should see at least once in a lifetime. ‘its yearning for transcendence can speak deeply to any contemporary audience.’ La TimeS ‘The dervishes began to lean forward rhythmically and chant… speeding up like an express train… and out of nowhere emerged a solo voice full of heart-breaking longing.’ THe Guardian DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

FRIdAy 29-SATURdAy 30 AUGUST 7.30Pm EdINbURGh FESTIvAL ThEATRE FROm £10 1 hOUR 50 mINUTES

come, come, Whoever you are. Wanderer, idolator, Worshipper of fire, come even though you have broken your voWs a thousand times, come, and come yet again. ours is not a caravan of despair. come as you are. mevlana Jelaluddin rumi

music

PHoTo: PASHA ANToNov

messiaen 100 naJi hakim

dmitri hvorostovsky Ivari Ilja Piano Dmitri Hvorostovsky has one of the greatest voices of his generation. Oozing charisma, he leaves critics and audiences in awe of the power of his passion as a performer. A committed ambassador for Russian music, this programme of romantic songs by Tchaikovsky, Medtner and Rachmaninov offers a fine showcase for his peerless liquid baritone. ‘one of the great recitalists of our time.’ THe Guardian ‘one of the most remarkable international vocal careers of recent years. His voice is redolent of luxury: beautiful tone, pinpoint intonation, elegant, and impassioned delivery.' THe neW yorK TimeS

‘He is sending aficionados the world over into a collective swoon, inviting an adulation that recalls the advent of baryshnikov in the dance world of the seventies.’ VaniTy Fair

Festival 08 marks the centenary of Olivier Messiaen’s birth with two late night organ recitals in the atmospheric setting of St Giles’ Cathedral. One of the major composers of the 20th century, these concerts reveal Messiaen’s visionary personality and his intense spirituality. Beirut born Naji Hakim has become a central figure in the French tradition of organist as composer. He succeeded Messiaen in 1993 as Organist at the Eglise de la Trinité in Paris. He treats Festival audiences to some of the highlights of the Messiaen organ repertoire together with a selection of his own compositions. Very much in the tradition of Messiaen’s own recitals, each performance concludes with a dazzling display of improvisation. Messiaen Messe de la Pentecôte Naji Hakim Le Tombeau d’Olivier Messiaen Improvisation DATE

SATURdAy 9 AUGUST 10.30Pm

Messiaen Dieu Parmi Nous (from La Nativité du Seigneur) Offrande au Saint-Sacrement Naji Hakim Sakskøbing Præludier Glenalmond Suite Improvisation DATE DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

SATURdAy 9 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £8 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

SPoNSoRED BY

vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

mONdAy 11 AUGUST 10.30Pm ST GILES’ CAThEdRAL £17 APPROx 1 hOUR 15 mINUTES

SuPPoRTED BY

The Director's Circle

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

music messiaen 100 eclairs sur l'au-dela

PHoTo: KAuPo KIKKAS

PHoTo: © LEBRECHT MuSIC & ARTS

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Ilan Volkov Conductor Thomas Adès Tevot Messiaen Eclairs sur l’au-delà Eclairs sur l’au-delà (illuminations of the Hereafter) is Messiaen’s final work. It is a powerful testament to his personal philosophy and an eloquent summary of his colourful musical language. By turns ecstatic and subtle, Eclairs sur l’au-delà also reveals Messiaen’s lifelong fascination with birdsong. This is orchestral music on a grand scale with over 120 players onstage creating an intricate mosaic of sublime sound. Thomas Adès’s new work was commissioned by the Berliner Philharmoniker and premiered to great acclaim last year. Its title derives from a Hebrew word: Tevot imagines a poetic world in which our very existence is transported on an ark swirling through the cosmos. Ilan Volkov’s skills as a conductor are shown to their best effect in this compelling repertoire.

estonian philharmonic chamber choir Paul Hillier Conductor This exceptional Grammy-winning ensemble will fill the Usher Hall with the breathtaking choral sounds of the Baltic; works by Arvo Pärt and Veljo Tormis, central to the choir’s repertoire, are performed alongside pieces by Sibelius, Tulev and Bergman. Conductor Paul Hillier is a longtime collaborator and biographer of Arvo Pärt. Together there are no finer exponents of this repertoire. ‘paul Hillier conducts the estonian philharmonic chamber choir with great panache… The singing estonians, with their ethereally beautiful blend and uncannily precise ensemble, are a delight throughout.’ cHicaGo Tribune ‘the choir’s performances inspired a transporting awe.’ THe WaSHinGTon poST

‘this mystic, poetic music is more profoundly moving and powerful than words can suggest: it demands to be experienced.’ FinanciaL TimeS

‘one of britain’s finest bands.’ THe Guardian

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DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

SUNdAy 10 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 2 hOURS

SuPPoRTED BY

The Director's Circle

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

mONdAy 11 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £8 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

WITH SuPPoRT FRoM

David McLellan

music

PHoTo: SILvIA LELLI

gothenburg symphony orchestra Gustavo Dudamel Conductor Copland Appalachian Spring Ravel La Valse Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique Venezuelan firebrand Gustavo Dudamel was an instant hit at Festival 07 and returns this year at the helm of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, of which he is principal conductor. Copland’s beloved Appalachian Spring evokes an America of innocence and pioneering spirit, of open plains and mountainous wilderness. In La Valse Ravel pays gentle homage to the sophisticated interior world of formal balls and dances in his elegant deconstruction of the waltz itself. Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique is fantastic in every way. Conceived on a grand scale and imbued with a true sense of the romantic spirit, it is a musical journey of enormous historical and cultural significance. ‘one of the world’s most formidable orchestras.’ THe Guardian

‘True class: South america’s lightning conductor.’ THe TimeS

PHoTo: SIMoN FoWLER/vIRGIN CLASSICS

israel in egypt by George Frideric Handel Sung in English Edinburgh Festival Chorus Christopher Bell Chorus Master Scottish Chamber Orchestra Emmanuelle Haïm Conductor Lucy Crowe Soprano Claire Debono Soprano Robin Blaze Countertenor Mark Tucker Tenor Matthew Brook Bass Henry Waddington Bass israel in Egypt is one of Handel’s masterpieces, featuring rousing choruses, descriptive music and sublime arias and duets. The composer brings his opera-sharpened dramatic sense to this biblical oratorio in a world of fire and brimstone, plagues and war as Moses leads the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is reunited with baroque star Emmanuelle Haïm, having triumphed with their 2003 performance of Handel’s Poro. ‘Haïm is pure dynamite.’ THe daiLy TeLeGrapH ‘intelligence and insight marked out emmanuelle Haïm’s handling of the score…’ THe Guardian

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

TUESdAy 12 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 1 hOUR 50 mINUTES

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

WEdNESdAy 13 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 2 hOURS

SuPPoRTED BY

Léan Scully EIF Fund

music

A rare opportunity to spend three evenings in the company of a true musical genius of the 20th century Sergei Prokofiev. These concerts explore the Russian master’s rich orchestral palette – from brooding to playful, meditative to thunderous. The London Symphony Orchestra and Valery Gergiev have a towering reputation in the performance of Russian music. Hear them perform all of Prokofiev’s symphonies alongside his beautiful violin concertos and soulful Sinfonia Concertante – with exceptional soloists Leonidas Kavakos and Tatjana Vassillieva. ‘The London Symphony Orchestra supplied playing of such finesse and clarity that one could really fasten on to every effect.’ THE TiMES

Leonidas Kavakos Violin

Tatjana Vassillieva Cello

Prokofiev Symphony No 1 ‘Classical’ Symphony No 2 Violin Concerto No 1 Symphony No 3

Prokofiev Symphony No 4 (original version) Sinfonia Concertante for Cello and Orchestra Symphony No 5

The neo-classical Symphony No 1 is amongst Prokofiev’s most popular and accessible works – cheerful, uncomplicated yet unpredictable. The lesser-known Symphony No 2 reveals Prokofiev exploring mechanical sounds inspired by the spirit of modernisation in an industrial age. Prokofiev’s well-loved Violin Concerto No 1 is played by Leonidas Kavakos, returning to the Festival after his recital triumph in 2004. Symphony No 3 was adapted from the music of the dark and imposing opera The Fiery Angel.

Symphony No 4 draws on the composer’s ballet The Prodigal Son, which was not performed in his lifetime. Prokofiev is thought to have written the symphony to preserve music of which he was especially proud. Acclaimed Russian cellist Tatjana Vassillieva joins the orchestra for the magnificent Sinfonia Concertante for Cello and Orchestra. Prokofiev regarded Symphony No 5 as one of his best works and said in composing it that he had attempted to glorify the human spirit. Tatjana Vassillieva: ‘full characterisation and superlative technique.’ BBC MuSiC MAGAZinE

Leonidas Kavakos: ‘Technically, he was staggering, surmounting every challenge with a weighty brilliance.’ THE GuARDiAn

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

FRIdAy 15 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 2 hOURS 20 mINUTES

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

SATURdAy 16 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 2 hOURS 20 mINUTES

Leonidas Kavakos Violin Prokofiev Symphony No 6 Violin Concerto No 2 Symphony No 7 Symphony No 6 is modest in scale and pure in tone. Perhaps the darkest of Prokofiev’s seven it is thought to reflect the tragedies of World War II. Leonidas Kavakos returns to perform the graceful and melodic second Violin Concerto. The series concludes with Symphony No 7, often known as The Children’s Symphony, an intricate work and a tour de force of orchestral invention. ‘Valery Gergiev is a born Prokofiev interpreter.’ THE GuARDiAn

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

SUNdAy 17 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 2 hOURS 10 mINUTES

SPoNSoRED BY PHoTo: DECCA/MARCo BoRGGREvE

music

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

PHoTo: LAuRI ERIKSSoN

finnish radio symphony orchestra Sakari Oramo Conductor Karita Mattila Soprano Janáˇcek Overture ‘From the House of the Dead’ Janáˇcek Jenufa’s Prayer ‘Jenufa’ Tchaikovsky Tatiana’s Letter Scene ‘Eugene Onegin’ Sibelius Symphony No 1 The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra presents an exhilarating programme under its chief conductor Sakari Oramo. One of the world’s most exciting dramatic sopranos, Karita Mattila makes a welcome return to the Usher Hall in a concert of popular operatic arias by Janáˇcek and Tchaikovsky. The programme concludes with Sibelius’s magnificent Symphony No 1, containing some of the composer’s most haunting music. ‘The Finnish radio Symphony orchestra is a splendid body indeed: scrupulous in ensemble, refined in tone, almost aristocratic.’ THe TimeS ‘Thank heavens for Karita mattila… her star quality is unquestionable.’ THe daiLy TeLeGrapH ‘every note she sings seems to be sourced from deep inside her.’ THe independenT

PHoTo: SYBILLE YATES

le roi david by Arthur Honegger Edinburgh Festival Chorus Christopher Bell Chorus Master Royal Scottish National Orchestra Stéphane Denève Conductor Angela Denoke Soprano Karen Cargill Alto Yann Beuron Tenor Andrzej Seweryn Narrator The biblical story of David told in a dramatic oratorio, often referred to as a symphonic psalm. An irresistible evening of exquisite music with a stellar cast including, as narrator, the actor Andrzej Seweryn, of Schindler’s List and member of the Comédie Française. Hard on the heels of Festival 07’s triumphant performance of Poulenc’s Stabat Mater, Denève conducts another evening of sensuous French music. ‘denève devotes endless attention to the sensuous surface of the music he conducts.’ THe daiLy TeLeGrapH ‘The edinburgh Festival chorus was outstanding.’ FinanciaL TimeS

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

ThURSdAy 14 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 1 hOUR 40 mINUTES

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

mONdAy 18 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 1 hOUR 10 mINUTES

SuPPoRTED BY

Dunard Fund

music scottish chamber orchestra PHoTo: SHEILA RoCK/DECCA

the monteverdi choir orchestre revolutionnaire et romantiQue

PHoTo: CLIvE BARDA

Sir Charles Mackerras Conductor Alfred Brendel Piano

Sir John Eliot Gardiner Conductor Katharine Fuge Soprano Matthew Brook Bass baritone Brahms Begräbnisgesang Schütz Musikalische Exequien Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem Sir John Eliot Gardiner is a pioneer and a polymath. The range of his musical interests from Bach to Stravinsky, from oratorio to operetta are reflected in performances of exceptional musicality coupled with scrupulous scholarship. At the forefront of the development of original performance practice and early music, John Eliot Gardiner brings his breadth of experience to shine on his interpretations of two of the works most central to the canon of Western music: Schütz’s Musikalische Exequien and Brahms’s Ein Deutsches Requiem. The monteverdi choir: ‘astonishing rich-grained sound.’

Mozart Mozart Dvoˇrák Dvoˇrák

Symphony No 40 in G minor Piano Concerto No 24 in C minor Nocturne in B major for strings Czech Suite in D major

A concert of Festival favourites with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra paired with its Conductor Laureate, Sir Charles Mackerras, and joined by legendary pianist Alfred Brendel. Two of Mozart’s late masterpieces are followed by a brace of Dvoˇrák’s richly-textured, romantic, Bohemian gems. No-one interprets the Czech repertoire better than Mackerras – the man responsible for bringing a great deal of it to wide popularity. ‘past voyages have fused mackerras, brendel and the Scottish chamber orchestra into perfect partners…’ THe TimeS ‘The Sco is one of the finest ensembles of its kind.’ THe daiLy TeLeGrapH

THe daiLy TeLeGrapH

John eliot Gardiner: ‘i wanted his concert to go on all night.’ THe TimeS

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

TUESdAy 19 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 2 hOURS 20 mINUTES

SuPPoRTED BY

Dunard Fund

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

WEdNESdAy 20 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL £10 APPROx 2 hOURS 10 mINUTES

SuPPoRTED BY

Dunard Fund

music

budapest Iván Fischer Conductor festival Jósef Lendvay Jr Violin orchestra Jósef Lendvay Sr Violin Oszkár Ökrös Cimbalom

Improvisation Gypsy music for violin and cimbalom Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No 3 Brahms Hungarian Dance No 15 Sarasate Zigeunerweisen Brahms Hungarian Dance No 1 Brahms Piano Quartet in G minor (orch Schoenberg)

The sound of the Budapest Festival Orchestra is truly unique. Imbued with gypsy fire and searing folk motifs, these programmes provide the perfect opportunity to hear this dazzling orchestra at its best. This concert begins with an exhilarating performance of authentic gypsy melodies, to be heard alongside popular orchestral offerings revealing how composers such as Liszt, Brahms and Sarasate were themselves in thrall to the restless souls of musical nomads.

DATE vENuE

SATURdAy 23 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL

Iván Fischer founded this orchestra in 1983 with the idea that every member should feel like a soloist. The result is playing of unparalleled passion, verve and excitement with an emotional intensity that has been stunning audiences ever since. budapest Festival orchestra: ‘the very quintessence of the Hungarian soul.’ THe TimeS

‘iván Fischer and… budapest Festival orchestra deliver an electrifying performance.’ THe neW yorKer TICKETS DuRATIoN

FROm £10 APPROx 1 hOUR 50 mINUTES

PHoTo: BALoGH ATTILA

PHoTo: BuDAPEST FESTIvAL oRCHESTRA

music soloists from the budapest festival orchestra

budapest festival orchestra

Hummel Piano Quintet in E flat Op 87 Bartók Contrasts for Violin, Piano and Clarinet Bartók Piano Quintet Bartók’s sparkling Contrasts is one of his best loved chamber works. Commissioned for the unlikely combination of Bartók’s compatriot, Hungarian virtuoso violinist Josef Szigeti, and US jazz clarinettist Benny Goodman, Contrasts is a study of different instrumental colours and musical styles. Bartók’s piano quintet is less known, an early work in a more romantic style than is often associated with the composer. This programme of music by Hungarian composers begins with the piano quintet by Johann Nepomuk Hummel who succeeded Haydn as composer at the court of Esterházy.

Iván Fischer Conductor Dutch National Youth Choir Dvoˇrák Four Moravian duets (arr Gátay) Bartók Romanian Folk Dances Bartók Seven pieces for choir and chamber orchestra Bartók Three Village Scenes Dvoˇrák Symphony No 7

‘Supremely lyrical and furiously intense.’ THe Guardian

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

SUNdAy 24 AUGUST 2.00Pm ThE QUEEN’S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 50 mINUTES

‘budapest Festival orchestra has become one of the world’s great ensembles, playing to packed houses at home and astounding audiences abroad with its brilliance and intensity.’ THe Guardian

DATE If their opening concert explores music influenced vENuE by their Hungarian home, here Iván Fischer and the TICKETS Budapest Festival Orchestra cast their net wider to seek DuRATIoN out the melodies of their Czech and Romanian neighbours. Both Dvoˇrák and Bartók collected folk tunes and incorporated them in their music. Some of the most sumptuous examples of those musical journeys are included here.

mONdAy 25 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

music les arts florissants

PHoTo: PHILIPS AND BENJAMIN EALovEGA

alfred brendel Haydn Variations in F minor Hob:XVII/6 Mozart Piano Sonata in F K 533/K 494 Beethoven Piano Sonata in E flat Op 27 No 1 Schubert Piano Sonata in B flat D960 One of the greatest pianists of our time and beloved of Festival audiences, Alfred Brendel is a true poet and philosopher of the keyboard. His interpretations of the classical repertoire are benchmarks by which other pianists judge themselves. As he will retire from the concert platform at the end of 2008 this is the last chance to hear him at the Edinburgh International Festival. It is fitting that he has chosen to perform Schubert’s final piano sonata for his finale at the Usher Hall. ‘in this most deeply nuanced recital you felt the entire classical era of music inside him, keeping him company, guiding and shaping.’ THe TimeS ‘an icon amongst pianists of his generation… any chance to hear him weave his magic in the flesh is an occasion not to miss.’ THe ScoTSman

PHoTo: T. KLEMENTSSoN

William Christie Conductor Anne Sophie von Otter Mezzo Soprano An unmissable delight for lovers of the baroque, this concert presents a programme of French arias and orchestral music by Rameau, Lambert and Charpentier. William Christie’s ensemble, Les Arts Florissants, is at the forefront of baroque music groups worldwide. Loved by audiences and acclaimed by critics, Anne Sophie von Otter is one of the most versatile and vocally agile mezzo sopranos performing today. anne Sophie von otter: ‘the kind of panache and invention that leaves other singers slack-jawed in amazement.’ independenT on Sunday

anne Sophie von otter: ‘her artistry brings ever richer rewards.’ THe Sunday TimeS

‘William christie and his brilliant early-music ensemble, Les arts Florissants, have long been dependable sources not only of historical elucidation but also of vibrant entertainment.’ THe neW yorK TimeS

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

ThURSdAy 21 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £8 APPROx 2 hOURS 10 mINUTES

SuPPoRTED BY

Dunard Fund

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

FRIdAy 22 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

music staatskapelle dresden PHoTo: ERIC LARRAYADIEu

collegium vocale gent i solisti del vento PHoTo: MATTHIAS CREuTzIGER

Philippe Herreweghe Conductor Stravinsky Symphonies of wind instruments Henri Pousseur Mnémosyne Stravinsky Anthem (The Dove descending breaks the air) Stravinsky Mass Bruckner Mass in E minor Acclaimed throughout the world the Collegium Vocale Gent and Philippe Herreweghe have been at the forefront of baroque performance for thirty years. In this, its Festival debut, this exquisite choir performs highly personal and heartfelt works by Stravinsky and Bruckner in which each composer reaffirms, in different ways, their own deep spirituality. Stravinsky’s setting for a Roman Catholic Mass is a sumptuous blend of voices and wind instruments. Bruckner’s strong Catholic faith produced some of the most wonderful music in the 19th century sacred choral repertoire, and nowhere is that more evident than in his Mass in E minor.

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

TUESdAy 26 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £8 APPROx 1 hOUR 40 mINUTES

Fabio Luisi Conductor Jan Vogler Cello Strauss Don Juan Bernhard Lang Monadology II for large orchestra Strauss Don Quixote Ever since its foundation in 1548, the Staatskapelle Dresden has maintained a reputation as one of the world’s leading orchestras. Here they present their former conductor Richard Strauss’s tone poems Don Juan and Don Quixote. The concert also features the UK premiere of Austrian composer Bernhard Lang’s Monadology ii. ‘This ensemble is the richard Strauss orchestra par excellence.’ THe TimeS

‘The playing is gorgeous.’ THe Guardian

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

WEdNESdAy 27 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

music scottish chamber orchestra

PHoTo: MAT HENNEK

staatskapelle dresden Fabio Luisi Conductor Hélène Grimaud Piano Weber Overture ‘Oberon’ Schumann Piano Concerto Strauss Ein Heldenleben The overture to Weber’s opera Oberon is one of his most popular and elegant works. The spirit of romanticism burns bright in Schumann’s much loved piano concerto, performed in this concert by exuberant soloist Hélène Grimaud. Richard Strauss’s tone poem Ein Heldenleben is a masterpiece of musical narrative and characterisation, weaving the episodes in the life of a fictional hero around a texture of rare orchestral colour and virtuosity. ‘The dresdeners make a marvellous soft-grained sound, with brass playing of ethereal delicacy.’ THe daiLy TeLeGrapH

‘Grimaud brings her characteristic electricity to every moment she touches.’ THe pHiLadeLpHia inQuirer

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

ThURSdAy 28 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 1 hOUR 50 mINUTES

PHoTo: CLIvE BARDA

Oliver Knussen Conductor Scriabin Scriabin Settings (arr Knussen) Janáˇcek On the Overgrown Path Book I (arr David Matthews) Stravinsky The Fairy’s Kiss Glasgow born Oliver Knussen, one of the most respected figures in British music, leads the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in this evening of inventive re-interpretations. Janáˇcek drew on Slovak folk music for his piano collection, On the Overgrown Path. This is the world premiere of an arrangement for orchestra by British composer David Matthews – an Edinburgh International Festival commission for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, made possible by Donald MacDonald. Also originally for the piano, Scriabin Settings are arranged here for orchestra by the conductor. The programme is completed by Stravinsky’s rarely-performed masterpiece The Fairy’s Kiss, which draws on Stravinsky’s deep love of Tchaikovsky’s sublime melodies and weaves them into an enchanting musical web.

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

FRIdAy 29 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

SuPPoRTED BY

Donald and Louise MacDonald

music bank of scotland fireWorks concert PHoTo: ALEX PoIGNANT

a child of our time by Sir Michael Tippett PHoTo: EDINBuRGH INSPIRING CAPITAL

Edinburgh Festival Chorus Christopher Bell Chorus Master BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Gennadi Rozhdestvensky Conductor

Scottish Chamber Orchestra Nicolae Moldoveanu Conductor

Nicole Cabell Soprano Jane Irwin Mezzo Soprano John Mark Ainsley Tenor Sir John Tomlinson Bass

Dvoˇrák Slavonic Dances (Excerpts) Brahms Hungarian Dances (Excerpts) A wildly exuberant finale to the Festival with the swirling rhythms of central European folk dance music.

When a young Polish Jew shot a German diplomat in Paris the Nazis used the incident to justify the Kristallnacht attacks on Jewish businesses. Michael Tippett took these grim events as the inspiration for one of the greatest 20th century choral works.

Dvoˇrák captures the spirit of his native Bohemia, as well as Slovakia, Moravia, Silesia, Serbia, Poland, and Ukraine while Brahms pays a lively and sparkling tribute to Hungarian folk music.

A Child of Our Time is a brave statement of optimism from a composer whose pacifism and personal integrity were tested to the limit by World War ll. Tippett recalls Handel and Bach but expands on the oratorio form, drawing on a range of musical influences including negro spirituals.

Ross Theatre tickets (£25) go on sale with all other Festival tickets. Princes Street Gardens tickets (£10) are allocated in three ways:

The work is an infectious celebration of compassion and brotherhood, an evocation of hope and a statement against all religious and racial divisions. ‘Gennadi rozhdestvensky is one of the most distinguished conductors alive.’ THe daiLy TeLeGrapH

Due to the popularity of this event, please note the special ticket sales arrangements:

1) By postal ballot, limited to six per customer. Please send separate payment and application with SAE. Closing date for the ballot is Monday 19 May 2008. 2) Online – an allocation will be released for sale at 11.00am on Monday 21 July at www.eif.co.uk These are limited to four per customer. 3) The final allocation will go on sale on Sunday 24 August at 10.00am only from the counter at The Hub. These are limited to four per customer.

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

SATURdAy 30 AUGUST 8.00Pm UShER hALL FROm £10 APPROx 1 hOUR 10 mINUTES

SPoNSoRED BY

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

SUNdAy 31 AUGUST 9.00Pm PRINCES STREET GARdENS TICKETS £25 (ROSS ThEATRE – SEATEd) £10 (GARdENS) APPROx 45 mINUTES

SPoNSoRED BY

late night music

PHoTo: LAKAToS vzW

PHoTo: SHEILA RoCK

gabriela montero Fabulous Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero has a very special talent for improvisation around all kinds of musical styles. In this concert she may invite her audiences to suggest a melody and whether it be a theme from a Haydn symphony or from Star Wars her unique interpretations lend new insights. The passion, poetic musicality and sense of structure Gabriela brings to classical works translate wonderfully to her stylish improvisations. No matter how complex the variations, the original melody always emerges triumphantly from a musical tapestry that might weave blues, jazz, tango, Bach or Debussy. Such a skill for improvisation makes Gabriela an extremely rare talent. This is an opportunity to glimpse the spirit and musicianship behind more formal performances in a relaxed and expansive mood. You can hear Gabriela Montero perform in The Queen’s Hall Series on Tuesday 12 August at 11.00am. ‘charismatic and brilliant.’ neW yorK TimeS

roby lakatos and ensemble Roby Lakatos is a musician who defies definition. He has been called a gypsy violinist or devil’s fiddler; a classical virtuoso; a jazz improviser; a composer and arranger and a 19th century throwback. He is actually all of these things at once and his performances show his extraordinary stylistic versatility. When Roby Lakatos mixes classical music with the magic of Hungarian gypsy vitality it reflects a deep tradition rooted in the cultural heritage of the gypsy people and offers new, refreshing insights into the music. These concerts are for all of us in whose veins still pulses at least a trace of the blood of the wandering spirit. Roby Lakatos Violin Lászlo Bóni Violin Jeno Lisztes Cimbalom Laszlo Balogh Guitar Robert Fehér Double bass Frantisek Janoska Piano ‘preposterously exuberant.’ THe TimeS ‘a stunning display of finger blurring virtuosity... mesmerizing playing.’ LoS anGeLeS TimeS

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

TUESdAy 12 AUGUST 10.30Pm ThE hUb £17 APPROx 1 hOUR

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

FRIdAy 15 - SUNdAy 17 AUGUST 10.30Pm ThE hUb £17 APPROx 1 hOUR

song and civilization Greyfriars Kirk provides the perfect setting for this week-long survey of traditional choral music from Europe and the Middle East. A rare opportunity to hear authentic and expert performances of great beauty. PHoTo: vASSILI KoRETSKI

chant Wars dialogos (director katarina livlJanic) seQuentia (director benJamin bagby)

the music of buhurizade mustafa itri efendi

The voices from two of Europe’s most innovative ensembles specialising in medieval music, Sequentia and Dialogos, join forces in a performance exploring the legendary confrontation between the various styles of Gregorian Chant found across Medieval Europe. The 9th century saw the development of a politically fuelled conflict between these different chant traditions; each claiming to be ‘purer’ than and superior to the other. This performance is interspersed with readings from witnesses to this medieval confrontation.

kudsi erguner ensemble

DATE

PHoTo: TAuNo NovEK

Virtuoso nay player Kudsi Erguner, an authority on the music of Itri, brings his ensemble of vocalists, percussionists and traditional instrumentalists to perform music composed for the entrancing Whirling Dervishes ceremony and for the glorification of the classical Ottoman Court. DATE

mONdAy 11 AUGUST 5.45Pm

psalms and canticles from the eastern churches sister marie keyrouz l’ensemble de la paiX Lebanese by birth and raised Catholic, Sister Marie is a musicologist, an anthropologist and singer. Her work has involved the unearthing, re-working and performance of music of ancient middle-eastern chant traditions. With the chorus and instrumentalists of her Ensemble for Peace, Sister Marie performs chants from the Byzantine, Melkite and Maronite traditions of the Eastern Catholic church. DATE

TUESdAy 12 AUGUST 5.45Pm

vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

GREyFRIARS KIRK £17 APPROx 1 hOUR 10 mINUTES

WEdNESdAy 13 AUGUST 5.45Pm

sacred and secular songs from corsica a cumpagnia A Cumpagnia continues the long tradition of Corsican vocal polyphony. Here they perform folk song and sacred works (including a traditional Corsican Mass) with a unique and passionate virtuosity. Some of the works have been composed and developed by the performers themselves while many others have evolved over centuries, passed on from singer to singer. Intoxicating, primal harmonies. DATE

ThURSdAy 14 AUGUST 5.45Pm

secular and spiritual music from georgia anchiskhati choir The twelve male voices of the Anchiskhati Choir are the finest exponents of Georgian polyphonic choral music in the world and over the years they have researched and collected a huge amount of their native music. For its Greyfriars concert the choir presents regional songs, feast songs and songs of religious celebration. Passionate singing in a unique harmonic language. DATE

FRIdAy 15 AUGUST 5.45Pm

PHoTo: GERARD RoNDEAu

PHoTo: BMG

ysaye Quartet Haydn String Quartet Op 54 No 2 Stravinsky Three Pieces for String Quartet Szymanowski String Quartet No 2 Debussy String Quartet

paul meyer clarinet

After an outstanding debut in Festival 07, the Ysaÿe Quartet returns with a beautifully varied programme featuring a rare opportunity to hear Szymanowski’s second string quartet alongside masterpieces by Haydn, Stravinsky and Debussy. ‘an outstanding group and a wholly absorbing concert.’ THe HeraLd

eric le sage piano Brahms Sonata Op 120 No 1 Martinu Sonatina Lutosławski Dance Preludes Berg 4 Pieces Brahms Sonata Op 120 No 2 Brahms’s sonatas, in all their monolithic grandeur, offer the perfect opportunity to enjoy the exceptional virtuosity of Paul Meyer, joined at the piano by long time recital partner Eric Le Sage. ‘meyer’s playing was magnificent... [he] made his clarinet sing with the vocal intensity of a cantor.’ THe Guardian

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

SATURdAy 9 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

SuPPoRTED BY

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

mONdAy 11 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

Léan Scully EIF Fund, set up with a legacy from the late Léan Scully,

supports young and emerging talent at the Edinburgh International Festival.

the Queen's hall series PHoTo: SHEILA RoCK

gabriela montero piano Bach Chaconne (arr Busoni) Chopin Ballade No 3 in A flat major Chopin Ballade No 4 in F minor Debussy L’isle joyeuse Schumann Carnaval Liszt Mephisto Waltz No 1 Gabriela Montero has been causing a stir in musical circles ever since her acclaimed debut with the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra at the tender age of eight. A protégé of Martha Argerich, Gabriela Montero is a young artist with a very bright future.

PHoTo: NATALIE BoTHuR, CoLoGNE

christiane oelze soprano

olaf bar

Join Gabriela Montero for an evening of improvisation at The Hub on Tuesday 12 August at 10.30pm (see page 40).

baritone

‘astonishingly brilliant.’ cHicaGo Tribune

piano

helmut deutsch Wolf Italienisches Liederbuch The Italian Songbook is as close as Hugo Wolf came to writing opera. This entrancing love story, perfectly cast in an expressive coupling of soprano and baritone voices, is a touching and highly dramatic song cycle. Wolf’s special genius is to integrate the narrative of the poetry with remarkable melodic invention. christiane oelze: ‘flame-toned and glorious.’ THe Guardian

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

TUESdAy 12 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

WEdNESdAy 13 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

PHoTo: SHEILA RoCK, EMI CLASSICS

keith leWis tenor

melvyn tan piano

belcea Quartet

Beethoven An die ferne Geliebte Liszt Selected songs Hahn Selected songs Janáˇcek Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs (selection)

Bartók’s string quartets are the pinnacle of achievement in the 20th century of this most exacting of musical forms. Over two morning recitals the acclaimed Belcea Quartet leads you through the brooding, intense and rhapsodic world of these fascinating quartets with their references to both classical and folk idioms.

This recital reveals Franz Liszt’s talents as a song writer of rare skill placing his songs alongside Beethoven’s only song cycle and songs by Janáˇcek and Hahn. They are performed by the exceptional pairing of tenor Keith Lewis and virtuoso pianist Melvyn Tan.

The Belcea Quartet has gained a reputation as one of the world’s leading chamber ensembles and is familiar to Festival audiences from previous sold out concerts, most recently in 2006.

‘Keith Lewis imbues the music with an exquisite gentleness and assurance borne on a voice of muted gold.’

THe independenT on Sunday

THe neW yorK TimeS

‘Sublime playing, elegantly and eloquently shaped.’ Bartók Quartets Nos 1, 3 & 5 DATE FRIdAy 15 AUGUST 11.00Am Bartók Quartets Nos 2, 4 & 6 DATE SATURdAy 16 AUGUST 11.00Am

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

ThURSdAy 14 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

the Queen's hall series PHoTo: YANNIS BouRNIAS

leonidas kavakos violin

enrico pace PHoTo: SuSSIE AHLBuRG

piano Schnittke Suite in the Old Style Shostakovich Violin Sonata R Strauss Sonata for violin and piano Leonidas Kavakos has established himself as a violinist of rare artistry and natural virtuosity. He is acclaimed for superb musicianship and the integrity of his playing. This programme of 19th and 20th century masterworks offers a wonderful opportunity to experience his special brand of musical wizardry. ‘as he plays, he reveals himself as a magician of the violin, who infuses even the slightest breath of a tone with expression.’ der TaGeSSpieGeL

susan bullock soprano

malcolm martineau piano Programme includes works by Schubert, Grieg, Liszt and Britten. For her much anticipated Festival debut Susan Bullock performs songs by composers exploring languages other than their own. Her expressive programme includes Schubert’s Italian settings, Grieg’s German settings, Liszt’s French songs and Britten’s settings of Pushkin in Russian and of French folksongs. ‘Widely regarded as the finest dramatic soprano to have emerged in the uK for some years.’ THe Guardian

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

mONdAy 18 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

TUESdAy 19 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

PHoTo: DoRoTHEE FALKE

PHoTo: SERGE DERoSSI

fazil say piano

mischa maisky cello

lily maisky piano

Mozart Piano Sonata in A K331 Bach Passacaglia (arr Say) BWV 582 Beethoven Piano Sonata in F minor Op 57 ‘Appassionata’ Liszt Piano Sonata in B minor Born in Ankara, Turkey, Fazil Say has entered the top flight of international concert pianists, playing with some of the world’s finest orchestras including the New York and St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestras. Also a composer and arranger, Say’s recital includes his own arrangement of Bach’s virtuosic Passacaglia as well as Mozart’s rondo Alla Turca and Liszt’s mighty Piano Sonata in B minor. ‘undoubtedly he will be one of the great artists of the twenty-first century.’ Le FiGaro

Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Rubinstein, Rimsky-Korsakov, Cui, Glazunov, Rachmaninov Songs transcribed for cello by Mischa Maisky Shostakovich Cello Sonata Cello virtuoso Mischa Maisky is joined by his daughter Lily in a programme which includes the cellist’s own transcriptions of romantic Russian songs for cello and piano and is completed by Shostakovich’s virtuosic Cello Sonata. As a young cellist Maisky studied with Mstislav Rostropovich and enjoys an extensive recording career with regular collaborations with artists such as Gidon Kremer and Martha Argerich. ‘maisky’s playing is marked by razor-sharpness and biting humour, studded with moments of deep longing… the audience went wild with appreciation.’ HamburGer abendbLaTT

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

WEdNESdAy 20 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

ThURSdAy 21 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

the Queen's hall series PHoTo: WWW.MARCoBoRGGREvE.CoM

pavel haas Quartet Haas String Quartet No 3 Prokofiev Quartet No 1 Janáˇcek String Quartet No 2 ‘Intimate Letters’ This terrific young quartet takes its name from the Czech composer Pavel Haas, a pupil of Leoš Janáˇcek, who was deported from Czechoslovakia and died in Auschwitz. In 2007 the Quartet was awarded the Gramophone Award for chamber music and also named Newcomer of the Year in the BBC Music Magazine Awards. Specialising in the music of Czech composers, for their Festival debut the Pavel Haas Quartet sets Janáˇcek’s heartfelt second quartet alongside Haas’s own third quartet with its intense lyricism and influences of Moravian folk music. ‘a unique mix of impeccable technique and warm, interactive ensemble playing… sensational.’ THe ScoTSman

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

FRIdAy 22 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

PHoTo: oLIvER HERMANN, voGuE

christine schafer soprano

graham Johnson piano Programme includes works by Wolf, Schumann and Brahms. German soprano Christine Schäfer has a hugely successful international career that spans the concert hall, opera house and recital platform and this performance marks her Festival debut. Her recital programme, linked by a gypsy theme, includes the ‘Mignon’ songs of Wolf and Schumann as well as Brahms’s Mädchenlieder.

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

SATURdAy 23 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

the Queen's hall series

PHoTo: BALoGH ATTILA

PHoTo: RoBIN D'AMoRE

irvine arditti violin

rudiger lotter violin/baroQue violin

lyriarte Programme includes works by Biber and Berio. Heinrich Biber was a violinist and Bohemian innovator within the musical world of 17th century Salzburg. Luciano Berio, who died in 2003, was renowned for the originality and eclectic range of his compositions. Although separated by three hundred years, Biber’s music resonates beautifully with the work of Berio. Violinist Rüdiger Lotter and his early music ensemble Lyriarte are joined by renowned contemporary violinist Irvine Arditti.

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

mONdAy 25 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

soloists from the budapest festival orchestra Seiber Serenade for winds Enescu Dixtuor Dohnányi Piano Quintet No 1 in C minor Hungarian Mátyás Seiber’s serenade for six wind instruments is a magnificent piece of music and was a favourite of fellow countryman Béla Bartók. Works by Romania’s most prominent 20th century composer Enescu and Hungarian Ernst von Dohnányi complete this rich Eastern European programme. The soloists of the Budapest Festival Orchestra are renowned internationally for their performance of this repertoire. Soloists of the Budapest Festival Orchestra will also give an afternoon recital on Sunday 24 August at 2pm in The Queen’s Hall (see page 35).

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

TUESdAy 26 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

PHoTo: ANoST NoSEK

PHoTo: CHRISTIAN STEINER

ivan moravec piano

katarina karneus mezzo soprano

Johan ullen piano Programme includes works by Szymanowski, Respighi, Grieg and R Strauss. Since winning the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition in 1995 Swedish mezzo Katarina Karnéus has established a major international career in opera, concert and recital. The folk-inspired Love Songs of Hafiz by Polish composer Karol Szymanowski and song settings by Respighi, Grieg and Strauss provide a delightful opportunity to hear her outstanding vocal qualities.

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

WEdNESdAy 27 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

Chopin Two Nocturnes Op 27 Barcarolle in F sharp major Ballade No 1 in G minor Janáˇcek Selection from ‘On the Overgrown Path’ 'In the Mists' Debussy Pour le Piano Consummate musicianship and elegant style ensure Ivan Moravec’s performances are truly memorable. In his Queen’s Hall recital works by Chopin and Debussy are beautifully balanced by 20th century works from Czech composer Leoš Janáˇcek with whom Moravec is strongly associated. ‘utterly spellbinding… direct, honest and supremely expressive playing.’ THe denVer poST

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

ThURSdAy 28 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

the Queen's hall series

PHoTo: MARCo BoRGGREvE/WARNER CLASSICS

PHoTo: LEoN SoKoLETSKY

Jerusalem Quartet Haydn String Quartet Op 76 No 5 Smetana String Quartet No 1 ‘From my Life’ Brahms String Quartet Op 51 No 2 in A minor Works by three chamber music masters make a thrilling combination and offer an opportunity to experience the full beauty, power and versatility of the string quartet. The Jerusalem Quartet’s energetic, youthful enthusiasm and musicianship are perfectly suited to this lively programme marking the ensemble’s Festival debut.

beauX arts trio Mendelssohn Piano Trio No 1 in D minor Kurtág Hommage à Christian Wolff Beethoven Piano Trio in B flat Op 97 ‘Archduke’ The Beaux Arts Trio first appeared in the Festival in 1960 and over the course of its extraordinary career has performed over 6,000 concerts. Their superb musicianship, distinguished history and expansive repertoire have earned the trio a well deserved reputation as among the finest chamber music ensembles in the world. ‘The beaux arts Trio has become the gold standard for trios throughout the world.’ THe WaSHinGTon poST

‘This very young ensemble has achieved something remarkable – fresh, vital playing and blistering intensity.’ THe VancouVer Sun

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

FRIdAy 29 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

SATURdAy 30 AUGUST 11.00Am ThE QUEEN'S hALL FROm £7 APPROx 1 hOUR 45 mINUTES

4.48 PSyChOSIS

mAhmOUd dARWISh

Grzegorz Jarzyna of TR Warszawa, Dr Richard Holloway, playwright David Greig and writer Zenon Bankowski talk about Sarah Kane’s play 4.48 Psychosis and how theatre can respond to complex issues of mental health.

Readings of his poetry

DATE

SATURdAy 16 AUGUST 2.30Pm

Professor Sabry Hafez explores the work of Palestinian writer Mahmoud Darwish to gain a deeper understanding of the Palestinian National Theatre’s staging of his poem Jidariyya. DATE

ThURSdAy 14 AUGUST 11.00Am

JIdARIyyA

GET dANCING WITh bAL mOdERNE

Amir Nizar Zuabi of the Palestinian National Theatre, poet Fiona Sampson and the Reverend Donald Reid of the Festival of Spirituality and Peace explore the stage adaptation of Mahmoud Darwish’s poem Jidariyya.

Everyone can take part in this active workshop – even those with two left feet! All over Europe dance education specialists Bal Moderne bring together ordinary people to dance. Discover your hidden talent through the choreography of Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker.

SUNdAy 17 AUGUST 2.30Pm , NIGEL WILLIAmS S CLASS ENEmy DATE

Playwright Nigel Williams discusses his seminal play Class Enemy with Haris Pašovic, ’ director of the East West Theatre Company of Sarajevo. DATE

FRIdAy 22 AUGUST 2.30Pm

RUhE Writer Istvan Pogany looks at how the arts might engage with the profound ethical and political questions raised in Ruhe with Muziektheater Transparant’s Dirk Roofthooft. DATE

SATURdAy 23 AUGUST 2.30Pm

Suitable for ages 12 and upwards. DATE

mONdAy 18 AUGUST 2.30Pm

CAPTAIN OvERLORd’S FOLLy OR ThE FOOL’S REvENGE EdINbURGh INTERNATIONAL FESTIvAL AWARd WINNER: CLANCy PROdUCTIONS NyC

A well-made 19th century play is hijacked by a gang of buffoons (evil clowns) who are subsequently driven from the stage by a trio of theatre critics and academics. Winner of the inaugural EIF Award in 2007, Clancy Productions of New York presents Captain Overlord’s Folly Or The Fool’s Revenge, a workshop presentation created specially for Behind the Scenes.

mATThEW bOURNE’S dORIAN GRAy

DATE

Choreographer Matthew Bourne in conversation about the inspiration behind his new work.

OPENING UP RUmI’S mASNAvI

DATE

WEdNESdAy 27 AUGUST 2.30Pm

ISTANbUL mUSIC ANd SEmA GROUP (WhIRLING dERvIShES OF TURKEy) Musician Hakan Talu, choreographer Nadir Karnýbüyükler and producer Ozlem Bas talk about the ancient sufi ceremony that continues to speak to contemporary audiences of all denominations. DATE

SATURdAy 30 AUGUST 5.00Pm

SuPPoRTED BY THE

Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust

behind the scenes

TUESdAy 19 & WEdNESdAy 20 AUGUST 2.30Pm

Readings of sufi poetry in English and Persian Dr Alan Williams presents the poetry of Muslim mystic Rumi in this reading, illuminating some of the influences behind the spellbinding performances by the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey. DATE

ThURSdAy 28 AUGUST 11.00Am

EAST WEST ThEATRE COmPANy What is happiness? How can we create it? Haris Pašovi’c of the East West Theatre Company explores Bertrand Russell’s work The Conquest of Happiness, as a possible basis for a future production. DATE

ThURSdAy 28 AUGUST 2.30Pm

COmbINING mUSIC, dRAmA ANd dESIGN

hEINER GOEbbELS

Tobias Hoheisel, director and designer of Scottish Opera’s production of Smetana’s The Two Widows, and his co-director Imogen Kogge reveal how they reach creative decisions.

Heiner Goebbels works with texts by Samuel Beckett, T.S. Eliot and Maurice Blanchot and with early music specialists The Hilliard Ensemble for his new Festival event. He takes us on a journey through the complexity and invention that goes into the making of such an unique production.

DATE

SUNdAy 10 AUGUST 2.30Pm

TRANSFORmING TExTS FOR CONTEmPORARy dRAmA Director Krzysztof Warlikowski of TR Warszawa and his creative team share the vision behind their fascinating production combining Hannah Krall’s 1996 short story and Szymon Anski’s play Dybbuk. DATE

mONdAy 11 AUGUST 2.30Pm

DATE

SATURdAy 30 AUGUST 2.30Pm

vENuE TICKETS

ThE hUb £6

festival insights

conversations

borderlines ‘ThE NEW EUROPE ShOULd PREFER ThE NEW AThEISm’

EUROPE’S bORdERS: SymbOLIC ANd PhySICAL

Dr John Lennox, Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy and Chaplain at Green College Oxford.

A talk by György Schöpflin

Christopher Hitchens, journalist, author, television commentator and one of the ‘new Atheists’. Would the new Europe be better off jettisoning its religious past and welcoming the new atheism? A discussion between a scientist who thinks God is great and a cultural commentator who doesn’t. in association with The Trinity Forum. DATE vENuE TICKETS

9 AUGUST 11.00Am UShER hALL £10

György Schöpflin, Hungarian MEP and formerly Professor of Politics at University College London, explores identity, nationalism and borders. This talk is part of the University Association for Contemporary European Studies Conference and is presented under the auspices of the Europa Institute of the University of Edinburgh. DATE vENuE TICKETS

SUNdAy 31 AUGUST 2.30Pm ThE hUb FREE

ThE NEW vISIbILITy OF RELIGION Professor Graham Ward Author Graham Ward, Professor of Contextual Theology and Ethics at the University of Manchester examines shifts in modern religious belief and behaviour. DATE vENuE TICKETS

TUESdAy 12 AUGUST 5.00Pm ThE hUb £6

EUROPE – NOT AN hEIR bUT A PREGNANT WIdOW neal Ascherson Former Foreign Editor of the Observer, Neal Ascherson has written and lectured extensively on Scottish, Polish and Eastern European affairs. Ascherson considers concepts of European political identity in the light of the recent expansion of the European Union, including former Soviet block countries. DATE vENuE TICKETS

WEdNESdAy 20 AUGUST 5.00Pm ThE hUb £6

ThE ART OF RESISTANCE Ahdaf Soueif

EUROPEAN yEAR OF INTERCULTURAL dIALOGUE WhAT dOES ThE NEW EUROPE mEAN FOR ARTISTS ANd CULTURAL POLICy mAKERS? This debate brings artists, politicians and cultural policy makers together to discuss how Europeans relate to each other, define their sense of community and imagines what it means to be European in the context of a Festival programme dedicated to exploring shifting borders. For details call 0131 473 2000. FOTO: mOdERNITy IN CENTRAL EUROPE, 1918 - 1945 This superb exhibition, part of the National Galleries of Scotland’s summer season explores the breathtaking success of modernist photography in central Europe during a time of tremendous social and political upheaval. Organised by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, the National Galleries of Scotland is the only European venue for this magnificent exhibition. DATE vENuE TICKETS

7 JUNE - 31 AUGUST dEAN GALLERy, SCOTTISh NATIONAL GALLERy OF mOdERN ART, 73 bELFORd ROAd, EdINbURGh TICKETS AvAILAbLE FROm ThE GALLERIES £6 CONCESSIONS £4

Egyptian born novelist and political commentator, Ahdaf Soueif explores how artists respond when a community lives with daily conflict. DATE vENuE TICKETS

ThURSdAy 28 AUGUST 5.00Pm ThE hUb £6

PHoTo: HERMAN SoRGELooS

masterclass ROSAS A unique opportunity to work with the Rosas company from Brussels. Advanced class for professional dancers. Masterclass places can be booked through Dancebase for £6. DATE TEL

16 AUGUST 1.00Pm 0131 225 5525

sharing the festival Sharing the Festival explodes beyond Edinburgh’s city limits with East West Theatre Company's passionate production of Class Enemy. In addition to three public performances there is an extensive education programme in partnership with each of the venues, working with local young people. DATE vENuE TICKETS TEL

WEdNESdAy 27 AUGUST 7.30Pm RUThERGLEN TOWN hALL, SOUTh LANARKShIRE £6 0141 613 5700

DATE vENuE TICKETS TEL

TUESdAy 2 SEPTEmbER 7.30Pm mACRObERT ARTS CENTRE, STIRLING £10 CONCESSIONS £6 01786 466 666

DATE vENuE TICKETS TEL

ThURSdAy 4 SEPTEmbER 7.45Pm CUmbERNAULd ThEATRE, CUmbERNAULd £10 CONCESSIONS £6 01236 732887

bank of scotland connecting to culture TWITTERING mAChINE The Edinburgh International Festival joins forces with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in a celebration of the 100th anniversary of composer Olivier Messiaen’s birth and of the work of visual artist Paul Klee. In Paul Klee’s Twittering Machine a complex array of small mechanical birds sing into infinity and this is the starting point for local primary school children to explore the light and environs of the gardens. This work will be displayed in the Lower Temperate Walkway foyer. Young musicians are working with established composer Alasdair Nicolson to create their own musical responses to nature. The music will be played for short periods daily during the Festival in the Temperate Palmhouse in addition to two special live performances. DATE vENuE TICKETS DuRATIoN

festival insights

FRIdAy 15 ANd ThURSdAy 21 AUGUST 6.00Pm TEmPERATE PALmhOUSE £6 APPROx 20 mINUTES

bAL mOdERNE Europe’s dance experts Bal Moderne will work with children in Edinburgh Primary and Secondary schools during August with workshops based on the choreography of Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. bORdER CONTROL The Festival is working with young people in schools and youth projects throughout the summer to explore how walls and borders affect them. The young people then explore their ideas visually on walls erected around The Hub. SPoNSoRED BY

PHoTo: zIJAH GAFI’C/EAST WEST THEATRE CoMPANY

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

visiting edinburgh inspiring festivals

Edinburgh is Scotland’s beautiful capital, known the world over as the Festival City. Visitors flock to Edinburgh in August to experience a feast of summer festivals offering a diverse variety of artists and events. EdINbURGh INTERNATIONAL FILm FESTIvAL 18 -29 June Tel: 0131 228 4051 www.edfilmfest.org.uk Please note change of dates – this will be the annual timing in the future. EdINbURGh JAzz ANd bLUES FESTIvAL 25 July - 3 August Tel: 0131 467 5200 www.edinburghjazzfestival.co.uk EdINbURGh ART FESTIvAL 31 July - 31 August www.edinburghartfestival.org

There is something for everyone so come to Edinburgh and be inspired!

EdINbURGh INTERNATIONAL bOOK FESTIvAL 9 - 25 August Tel: 0131 718 5666 Tel: 0845 373 5888 admin@edbookfest.co.uk www.edbookfest.co.uk

EdINbURGh mILITARy TATTOO 1 - 23 August Tel: 0131 225 1188 www.edintattoo.co.uk EdINbURGh FESTIvAL FRINGE 3 - 25 August Tel: 0131 226 0026 Tel: 0131 226 0000 (box office from 9 June) www.edfringe.com FESTIvAL OF SPIRITUALITy ANd PEACE 3 - 24 August Tel: 0131 221 2273 www.festivalofspirituality.co.uk

FESTIvAL OF POLITICS 20 - 23 August Tel: 0131 348 5000 www.festivalofpolitics.co.uk

EdINbURGh mELA 25 - 31 August Tel: 0131 347 2600 www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk Please note new venue, beside Ocean Terminal, Leith. NATIONAL GALLERIES OF SCOTLANd Tel: 0131 624 6200 www.nationalgalleries.org

getting here... LOThIAN bUSES EdINbURGh AIRPORT FIRST SCOTRAIL TRAvELINE NATIONAL RAIL ENQUIRIES Tel: 0131 555 6363 (24h) Tel: 0870 040 0007 Tel: 0845 748 4950 Tel: 0871 200 22 33 Tel: 0845 755 0033 www.edinburghairport.com www.nationalrail.co.uk www.traveline.org.uk www.firstgroup.com/scotrail www.lothianbuses.com

Where to stay... vISITSCOTLANd One-stop shop for all your accommodation needs. Tel: 0845 2255 121 Tel: +44 (0)1506 832 121 info@visitscotland.com www.visitscotland.com

edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

FESTIvAL bEdS Accommodation in private homes in the city and surrounding area. Tel: 0131 225 1101 admin@festivalbeds.co.uk www.festivalbeds.co.uk

once you’re here... EdINbURGh FESTIvALS dAILy GUIdE Free official daily listings magazine, produced in association with The Guardian, includes every event across all the summer festivals. ThE OFFICIAL EdINbURGh FESTIvALS mAP Pick up a copy to help you get around all the summer festivals. Available at most venues around town. www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk Keep up to date with news and events across all the festivals.

O UG O HT N ST

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Edinburgh Festival Theatre

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Greyfriars Kirk

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Festival of Politics

ILE AL M Festival ROY Fringe Box Office St Gilesʼ Cathedral

RID IV B

Royal Lyceum Theatre

RG E

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RIDG TH B

The Hub Edinburgh Festival Centre

Edinburgh Castle

Usher Hall

ROAD

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Tattoo Office

EET S TR CES N I PR Ross Theatre

PRINCES STREET GARDENS

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Tourist Information Centre

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The Queenʼs Hall

Kingʼs Theatre

THE MEADOWS

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EdINbURGh FESTIvAL ThEATRE Nicolson Street

ThE QUEEN’S hALL Clerk Street

ThE EdINbURGh PLAyhOUSE Greenside Place

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ThE hUb Edinburgh Festival Centre, Royal Mile

TRE KS

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ROyAL LyCEUm ThEATRE Grindlay Street

GREyFRIARS KIRK Greyfriars Place

UShER hALL Lothian Road

ST GILES' CAThEdRAL Royal Mile

ROSS ThEATRE Princes Street Gardens

OThER FESTIvALS

KING’S ThEATRE Leven Street

JAzz FESTIvAL bOx OFFICE The Hub

TATTOO OFFICE

FESTIvAL FRINGE bOx OFFICE

bOOK FESTIvAL

FESTIvAL OF POLITICS Scottish Parliament

TOURIST INFORmATION CENTRE Princes Street

hoW to book and access hOW TO bOOK

TICKET COLLECTION

ONLINE

www.eif.co.uk

TELEPhONE

0131 473 2000

OvERSEAS

+44 131 473 2000

Hub Tickets, The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE

If you do not ask for your tickets to be posted to you, or if you book too close to the performance date, you can collect them from the venue one hour before the performance starts. Prior to that, tickets held are at Hub Tickets until lunchtime on the performance day, or the evening before for morning or afternoon events.

Wednesday 2 April Priority booking for Festival Patrons and Muses, fax, postal and online.

TICKETS FOR bANK OF SCOTLANd FIREWORKS CONCERT

Saturday 12 April Public booking opens, telephone, postal, in person and online.

ACCESS INFORmATION ANd dISCOUNTS

hUb TICKETS OPENING hOURS Saturday 12 April- Friday 25 July Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 5.00pm Saturday 26 July-Saturday 30 August Monday to Saturday 9.00am to 7.30pm Sunday 10.00am to 7.30pm Sunday 31 August 1.00pm to 6.00pm

TICKET SALES AT vENUES During the Festival, tickets are available during the day to personal callers at Festival venues except King’s Theatre, St Giles’ Cathedral and Greyfriars Kirk. Any unsold tickets go on sale at those venues an hour before the performance.

ThE EdINbURGh PLAyhOUSE Tickets for all Festival events are available to personal callers to the Box Office of the Edinburgh Playhouse from Thursday 1 May.

For special arrangements see page 39.

The Edinburgh International Festival welcomes disabled visitors. An Access Guide with full details of all facilities for disabled visitors is available on request and both the Access Guide and the Festival brochure can be requested in Braille, audio and large print formats. Wheelchair users, people with severe mobility difficulties or with visual or hearing impairment and a companion will be sold seats/spaces at £10 in the area of the venue most appropriate to their needs (dress circle normally excluded). To claim an access discount, to request information or for advice on any aspect of your Festival experience please call the access line +44 (0)131 473 2089 or email access@eif.co.uk

AUdIO dESCRIbEd PERFORmANCE WITh TOUCh TOUR The Two Widows Tuesday 12 August, 7.15pm Touch Tour begins at 6.00pm. Please call the access line to book your place.

PERFORmANCES WITh ENGLISh SUPERTITLES The Two Widows page 4, Dybbuk page 7, 4.48 Psychosis page 8, Jidariyya page 11, Class Enemy page 12, Król Roger page 6, Devil’s Ship page 16, I went to the house but did not enter page 17, Wolpe! Page 16

you make all the difference – thank you! Your charitable donations make a real difference towards the work of the Festival; without your contributions the Festival would be considerably smaller. Your generosity helps enable the Festival to present the very highest standard of opera, music, theatre, and dance to the widest possible audience. Ways in which you can make a difference:

We are very grateful for any contribution you are able to make; no gift is too small or too large! Call 0131 473 2000 or visit www.eif.co.uk for further information. The Edinburgh International Festival is registered Charity Number: SC004694

• Make a donation when you book your tickets – simply round it up • Become a Patron or a Member from as little as £20 edinburgh international festival eif.co.uk

• Make regular donations • Support a performance • Remember us in your will PHoTo: MAREK GRoToWSKI

discounts and ticket prices TICKET dISCOUNTS

ThE EdINbURGh PLAyhOUSE

Young People – Half Price from Saturday 12 April 50% discount on selected performances from 12 April for all young people under the age of 18 and students in full time education.

State Ballet of Georgia Giselle & Mixed Bill

Standby – Half Price from Wednesday 30 July

Mortal Engine, Deca Dance

50% discount for senior citizens, unemployed people, Young Scot, Equity and MU card holders in addition to all young people as above, for selected performances, from 30 July.

Circle £28, £23, £18, £12 Stalls £23, £20, £15, £12, £9, £8

Youth Tickets £6 Youth Tickets for selected performances on the day of performance only. Available to all people aged 26 and under. Proof of age required.

Circle £42, £36, £28, £24 Stalls £36, £32, £24, £18, £12, £10 Balcony £20, £15, £10

365 one night to learn a lifetime Circle £25, £20, £10 Stalls £25, £20, £15, £10 KING’S ThEATRE

Dybbuk, 4.48 Psychosis Grand circle £25, £23, £17.50† Stalls £24, £20, £12, £10

Group Bookings 10% discount for groups of 10 or more on selected performances.

Matthew Bourne’s Dorian Gray

We welcome groups to any of our performances subject to availability. Please contact our dedicated Groups Staff on 0131 473 2089 or email groupbookings@eif.co.uk

ROyAL LyCEUm ThEATRE

TICKET PRICES ThE QUEEN’S hALL

The Queen’s Hall Series and Soloists of the Budapest Festival Orchestra Centre stalls £26.50 Rear stalls £23.50 Side stalls £19.50, £16 Centre gallery £24.50 Side gallery £19.50 Limited view seats £10† No view £7† ThE hUb (UNRESERvEd)

Behind the Scenes All seats £6 Borderlines, Conversations All seats £6 Looking at Tazieh All seats £8 Gabriela Montero, Roby Lakatos and Ensemble, Ruhe, Devil’s Ship, Wolpe! All seats £17 GREyFRIARS KIRK

Song and Civilization All seats £17 EdINbURGh FESTIvAL ThEATRE

The Two Widows, Król Roger Dress Circle £64, £56, £42†, £35†, £14† Centre stalls £56, £50† Front/side stalls £40, £25* Rear stalls £36*, £25* Upper circle £40, £35, £27.50, £14

Grand circle £30, £26, £10† Stalls £30, £26, £20, £15 The Tell-Tale Heart, Jidariyya, Class Enemy, I went to the house but did not enter Grand circle £25, £21†, £15† Stalls £25, £21, £15† Upper circle £18, £15†, £10† ThE UShER hALL

Opening Concert, Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny Circle £45, £40† Stalls £45, £38, £32 Upper circle £20, £17.50, £15, £12.50, £10 Orchestral Concerts/Opera in Concert Circle £39, £34† Stalls £39, £34, £27, £24 Upper circle £20, £17, £14, £12, £10 Organ gallery £10 (nb not available on 8, 10, 13, 18, 19, 24, 25 & 30 August) Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Alfred Brendel, Collegium Vocale Gent Circle £30, £24† Stalls £30, £24, £19, £17 Upper circle £16, £14, £12, £10, £8 Organ gallery £8 ST GILES’ CAThEdRAL

Messiaen 100 Naji Hakim All seats £17 bANK OF SCOTLANd FIREWORKS CONCERT

Ross Theatre Seated £25 Princes Street Gardens Standing £10

The Enchanted Wanderer Dress Circle £38, £34, £22.50†, £15† Centre stalls £36, £33† Front/side stalls £25, £15* Rear stalls £22.50, £18.50* Upper circle £20, £15, £10

* Supertitles not visible from these seats

Steve Reich Evening, Istanbul Music and Sema Group (Whirling Dervishes of Turkey)

NO bOOKING FEE

Dress Circle £28, £25, £18†, £10† Centre stalls £28, £23, £18 Front/side/rear stalls £18, £12

† 60 seats or fewer please give an alternative where possible Please note the Edinburgh International Festival does not charge a booking fee. A charge will be made for posting out tickets – 60p per booking.

diary festival 08

August VENUES 08 Friday

09 Saturday August

THE QUEEN’S HALL SERIES

11.00am Ysaÿe Quartet (p42)

Clerk Street r WS T H Wc c

THE HUB

10 Sunday August

2.30pm Behind the Scenes: Scottish Opera (p51)

Castlehill r LF WS T H Wc c

11 Monday August

12 Tuesday August

13 Wednesday August

11.00am Paul Meyer, Eric Le Sage (p42)

11.00am Gabriela Montero (p43)

11.00am Christiane Oelze, Olaf Bär, Helmut Deutsch (p43)

2.30pm Behind the Scenes: TR Warszawa (p51)

5.00pm Borderlines: Professor Graham Ward (p52) 10.30pm Gabriela Montero (p40)

GREYFRIARS KIRK

5.45pm The Music of Buhurizâde Mustafa Itri Efendi (p41) Kudsi Erguner Ensemble

Greyfriars Place p L WS Wc

OTHER VENUES (see entry for access details)

10.30pm St Giles' Cathedral r WS T Messiaen 100 Naji Hakim (p27) Supported by The Director’s Circle

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE

7.15pm The Two Widows (p4) Scottish Opera Sponsor First ScotRail

KING’S THEATRE

7.30pm Dybbuk (p8) TR Warszawa Supported by The Binks Trust

THE EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE

7.30pm Giselle (p18) State Ballet of Georgia Sponsor Baillie Gifford

2.30pm and 7.30pm Giselle (p18) State Ballet of Georgia Sponsor Baillie Gifford

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE

8.00pm The Tell-Tale Heart (p10) Malthouse Melbourne

2.30pm The Tell-Tale Heart (p10) Malthouse Melbourne

11.00am Borderlines: New Europe, New Atheism (p52) Dr John Lennox and Christopher Hitchens 8.00pm Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Ivari Ilja (p27) Sponsor Classic FM

8.00pm Messiaen 100 Eclairs sur l’au-delà (p28) BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Ilan Volkov conductor Supported by The Director’s Circle

8.00pm Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (p28) Paul Hillier conductor With support from David McLellan

Nicolson Street L r LF WS H T Wc c

Leven Street r WS H Wc

Greenside Place r WS H Wc c

Grindlay Street L LF WS T H Wc c

USHER HALL Lothian Road L WS Wc

ACCESS FACILITIES KEY:

7.00pm The Opening Concert: Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (p2) Royal Scottish National Orchestra HK Gruber conductor Sponsor Scottish & Newcastle plc

P Designated Parking

L Level Access

5.45pm Psalms and Canticles from the Eastern Churches (p41) Sister Marie Keyrouz, L’Ensemble de la Paix

5.45pm Chant Wars (p41) Dialogos, Sequentia

7.15pm The Two Widows (p4) Scottish Opera Sponsor First ScotRail

7.30pm Dybbuk (p8) TR Warszawa Supported by The Binks Trust

R Ramped Access

7.30pm Mixed Bill (p19) State Ballet of Georgia

8.00pm Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (p29) Gustavo Dudamel conductor

8.00pm Israel in Egypt (p29) Scottish Chamber Orchestra Emmanuelle Haïm conductor Supported by The Léan Scully EIF Fund

LF Lift

WS Wheelchair Spaces in Auditorium

diary festival 08 14 Thursday August

15 Friday August

16 Saturday August

11.00am Keith Lewis, Melvyn Tan (p44)

11.00am Belcea Quartet (p44) Bartók Quartets Nos 1, 3, 5

11.00am Belcea Quartet (p44) Bartók Quartets Nos 2, 4, 6

11.00am Behind the Scenes: Mahmoud Darwish (p51)

6.00pm Looking at Tazieh (p13) 10.30pm Roby Lakatos and Ensemble (p 40)

2.30pm Conversations: 4.48 Psychosis (p51) 6.00pm Looking at Tazieh (p13) 10.30pm Roby Lakatos and Ensemble (p40)

5.45pm Sacred and Secular Songs from Corsica (p41) A Cumpagnia

5.45pm Secular and Spiritual Music from Georgia (p41) Anchiskhati Choir

17 Sunday August

2.30pm Conversations: Jidariyya (p51) 6.00pm Looking at Tazieh (p13) 10.30pm Roby Lakatos and Ensemble (p40)

18 Monday August

19 Tuesday August

VENUES

11.00am Leonidas Kavakos, Enrico Pace (p45)

11.00am Susan Bullock, Malcolm Martineau (p45)

THE QUEEN’S HALL SERIES

2.30pm Behind the Scenes: Get Dancing with Bal Moderne (p51) 6.00pm Looking at Tazieh (p13)

2.30pm Behind the Scenes: Captain Overlord’s Folly (p51) Clancy Productions NYC

THE HUB

Clerk Street r WS T H Wc c

Castlehill LF WS T H Wc c

GREYFRIARS KIRK Greyfriars Place p L WS Wc

OTHER VENUES (see entry for access details)

6.00pm Temperate Palmhouse, p r WS Wc Royal Botanic Garden Twittering Machine (p53) Sponsor Bank of Scotland

1.00pm Dancebase L LF Wc Rosas Masterclass (p53)

7.30pm Steve Reich Evening (p20) Rosas

8.00pm 4.48 Psychosis (p 9) TR Warszawa

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE

Nicolson Street L r LF WS H T Wc c

KING’S THEATRE Leven Street r WS H Wc

8.00pm Mortal Engine (p21) Chunky Move

8.00pm Jidariyya (p11) Palestinian National Theatre

8.00pm Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (p32) Sakari Oramo conductor Karita Mattila Soprano

8.00pm Prokofiev the 7 Symphonies:1, 2, 3 (p30) London Symphony Orchestra Valery Gergiev conductor Leonidas Kavakos Violin Sponsor Lloyds TSB Scotland

8.00pm Prokofiev the 7 Symphonies: 4, 5 (p30) London Symphony Orchestra Valery Gergiev conductor Tatjana Vassillieva cello Sponsor Lloyds TSB Scotland

8.00pm Prokofiev the 7 Symphonies: 6, 7 (p31) London Symphony Orchestra Valery Gergiev conductor Leonidas Kavakos Violin Sponsor Lloyds TSB Scotland

H Infra Red System

WC Accessible Toilets

8.00pm Mortal Engine (p21) Chunky Move

THE EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE Greenside Place r WS H Wc c

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE

8.00pm Jidariyya (p11) Palestinian National Theatre

T Induction Loop

Grindlay Street L LF WS T H Wc c

8.00pm Le Roi David (p32) Royal Scottish National Orchestra Stéphane Denève conductor Supported by Dunard Fund

C Accessible Catering/Bar

8.00pm The Monteverdi Choir; Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique (p33) Sir John Eliot Gardiner conductor Supported by Dunard Fund

USHER HALL

Lothian Road r WS T Wc c

diary festival 08

August 21 Thursday August VENUES 20 Wednesday

22 Friday August

23 Saturday August

24 Sunday August

25 Monday August

THE QUEEN’S HALL SERIES

11.00am Fazil Say (p46)

11.00am Mischa Maisky, Lily Maisky (p46)

11.00am Pavel Haas Quartet (p47)

11.00am Christine Schäfer, Graham Johnson (p47)

2.00pm Soloists from the Budapest Festival Orchestra (p35) Hummel and Bartók

11.00am Irvine Arditti, Rüdiger Lotter, Lyriarte (p48)

THE HUB

2.30pm Behind the Scenes: Captain Overlord’s Folly (p51) Clancy Productions NYC 5.00pm Borderlines: Neal Ascherson (p52)

8.00pm Ruhe (p13) Muziektheater Transparant, Collegium Vocale Gent Supported by The Bacher Trust

2.30pm Conversations: Nigel Williams’s Class Enemy (p51) 8.00pm Ruhe (p13) Muziektheater Transparant, Collegium Vocale Gent Supported by The Bacher Trust

2.30pm Conversations: Ruhe (p51) 8.00pm Ruhe (p13) Muziektheater Transparant, Collegium Vocale Gent Supported by The Bacher Trust

8.00pm Ruhe (p13) Muziektheater Transparant, Collegium Vocale Gent Supported by The Bacher Trust

8.00pm Devil’s Ship (p16) Bazi Theatre Company

Clerk Street r WS T H Wc c

Castlehill r LF WS T H Wc c

OTHER VENUES (see entry for access details)

6.00pm Temperate Palmhouse, p r WS Wc Royal Botanic Garden Twittering Machine (p53) Sponsor Bank of Scotland

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE

7.15pm Król Roger (p6) Mariinsky Opera Company Supported by The Edinburgh International Festival Patrons and Muses

Nicolson Street L r LF WS H T Wc c

KING’S THEATRE

8.00pm Matthew Bourne’s Dorian Gray (p22) New Adventures

2.30pm and 8.00pm Matthew Bourne’s Dorian Gray (p22) New Adventures

8.00pm Matthew Bourne’s Dorian Gray (p22) New Adventures

THE EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE

7.30pm 365 one night to learn a lifetime (p14) National Theatre of Scotland

2.30pm and 7.30pm 365 one night to learn a lifetime (p14) National Theatre of Scotland

7.30pm 365 one night to learn a lifetime (p14) National Theatre of Scotland

8.00pm Aleko Semyon Kotko (Act III) (p3) Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra Valery Gergiev conductor Supported by The Stevenston Charitable Trust

8.00pm Budapest Festival Orchestra (p35) Iván Fischer conductor

Leven Street r WS H Wc

Greenside Place r WS H Wc c

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE

8.00pm Class Enemy (p12) East West Theatre Company

THE USHER HALL

8.00pm Scottish Chamber Orchestra (p33) Sir Charles Mackerras conductor Alfred Brendel piano Supported by Dunard Fund

8.00pm Alfred Brendel (p36) Supported by Dunard Fund

8.00pm Les Arts Florissants (p36) William Christie conductor Anne Sophie von Otter mezzo soprano

8.00pm Budapest Festival Orchestra (p34) Iván Fischer conductor Jósef Lendvay Jr Violin Jósef Lendvay Sr Violin Oszkár Ökrös cimbalom

Grindlay Street L LF WS T H Wc c

Lothian Road L WS Wc

ACCESS FACILITIES KEY:

P Designated Parking

L Level Access

R Ramped Access

LF Lift

WS Wheelchair Spaces in Auditorium

diary festival 08 26 Tuesday August

27 Wednesday August 28 Thursday August

Friday 29 August

Saturday 30 August

11.00am Soloists from the Budapest Festival Orchestra (p48) Seiber, Enescu, Dohnányi

11.00am Katarina Karnéus, Johan Ullén (p49)

11.00am Ivan Moravec (p49)

11.00am Jerusalem Quartet (p50)

11.00am Beaux Arts Trio (p50)

8.00pm Devil’s Ship (p16) Bazi Theatre Company

2.30pm Conversations: Matthew Bourne’s Dorian Gray (p51)

11.00am Behind the Scenes: Opening Up Rumi’s Masnavi (p51) 2.30pm Behind the Scenes: East West Theatre Company (p51) 5.00pm Borderlines: Ahdaf Soueif (p52)

8.00pm Devil’s Ship (p16) Bazi Theatre Company

31 Sunday August

7.15pm Król Roger (p6) Mariinsky Opera Company Supported by The Edinburgh International Festival Patrons and Muses

8.00pm Matthew Bourne’s Dorian Gray (p22) New Adventures

8.00pm Collegium Vocale Gent; I Solisti del Vento (p37) Philippe Herreweghe conductor

T Induction Loop

8.00pm Staatskapelle Dresden (p37) Fabio Luisi conductor Jan Vogler cello

SHARING THE FESIVAL (P53) Class Enemy East West Theatre Company WEDNESDAY 27 AUGUST RUTHERGLEN TOWN HALL 7.30pm

8.00pm Wolpe! Welche Farbe hat der Vogel (p16) Muziektheater Transparant

2.30pm Behind the Scenes: Heiner Goebbels (p51) 5.00pm Conversations: Istanbul Music & Sema Group (p51) 8.00pm Wolpe! Welche Farbe hat der Vogel (p16) Muziektheater Transparant

2.30pm Borderlines: György Schöpflin (p52)

9.00pm Princes Street Gardens L WS Wc Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert (p39) Scottish Chamber Orchestra Nicolae Moldoveanu conductor 7.15pm The Enchanted Wanderer (p3) Mariinsky Opera and Orchestra Valery Gergiev conductor

7.30pm Istanbul Music and Sema Group (The Whirling Dervishes of Turkey) (p26)

8.00pm Matthew Bourne’s Dorian Gray (p22) New Adventures

2.30pm and 8.00pm Matthew Bourne’s Dorian Gray (p22) New Adventures

8.00pm Deca Dance 2008 (p24) Batsheva Dance Company Sponsor Standard Life

8.00pm I went to the house but did not enter (p17)

8.00pm Staatskapelle Dresden (p38) Fabio Luisi conductor Hélène Grimaud piano

8.00pm Scottish Chamber Orchestra (p38) Oliver Knussen conductor Supported by Donald and Louise MacDonald

8.00pm A Child of Our Time (p39) BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Gennadi Rozhdestvensky conductor Sponsor Lumison

H Infra Red System

WC Accessible Toilets

C Accessible Catering/Bar

TUESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER MACROBERT ARTS CENTRE 7.30pm THURSDAY 4 SEPTEMBER CUMBERNAULD THEATRE 7.45pm

Design: The Leith Agency ÂŠ 2008 Printed by Brightsource

The paper used to produce this booklet is manufactured exclusively from 100% Recovered Cardboard Paper Products originating from selective collection, unsold magazines or newspapers and printed remnants from printers. This paper is recyclable and biodegradable.