Bringing the world’s cultures back together

Edinburgh International Festival returns in its full glory

THE WIDE and varied programme of the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) is not grouped according to a theme this year, rather it reflects the way that EIF has brought many world cultures together over the decades. But, the festival will celebrate a relationship with Australia in the biggest programme of artists from Oz in the UK/ Australia season.

There will be 160 performances by 2,300 artists, and 87 events at 14 venues including opera, dance, music and theatre in the last of Fergus Linehan’s festivals before he steps down as Festival Director.

Linehan is rightly praised with the rejuvenation of the festival in his seven year term, introducing large scale events with light projections and contemporary musicians never before included, making it more accessible to all.

EIF will open with a free performance at BT Murrayfield featuring Australian contemporary circus company, Gravity & Other Myths, First Nations dance company Djuki Male, the National Youth Choir of Scotland and Scottish musicians including

Aidan O’Rourke, Brighde Chambeul and Kathleen Macinnes.

More detail of what to expect at the event will be released on 27 June, but it looks like a spectacular to rival the opening event at Tynecastle with the LA Philharmonic at the last festival held in 2019.

The programme highlights will of course depend on individual taste but here are just a few which might catch your eye...

• The Philharmonia Orchestra in a concert performance of Fidelio conducted by Sir Donald Runnicles

• World premiere of Scottish Ballet’s Coppélia with a blend of location and real time filming as well as projection and live performance.

• Herbie Hancock appearing at the festival for the first time

• Jungle Book Reimagined by Akram Khan reinventing Mowgli’s journey through the eyes of a climate refugee • Morning recitals at The Queen’s Hall will be broadcast on Radio 3 and will include chamber music from Chineke! Chamber Ensemble.

• New York born Afro-Puerto Rican rapper Princess Nokia

• The Philadelphia Orchestra is in residence with four concerts along with Karen

Cargill, Angel Blue and the Festival Chorus.

• The first screening of The Ballad of a Great Disordered Heart investigating Edinburgh’s Little Ireland by fiddler Aidan O’Rourke

• If you cannot get to Edinburgh then the Festival’s digital programme At Home will keep you entertained with behind the scenes interviews and exclusive music sessions

General booking for the EIF opens on 8 April. For more information, please visit: www.eif.co.uk