Get Ready for the 2023 Edinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival was founded in 1947 to transcend political boundaries through a global celebration of performing arts, presenting a programme featuring the finest performers and ensembles from the worlds of dance, opera, music and theatre. Their vision is to provide the deepest experience of the highest quality of art for the broadest possible audience. So let's take a look at some of the highlights of their 2023 programme.
Classical
- Immerse yourself in Dvořák’s lively Eighth Symphony in this evening of music and conversation, presented in the round by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra
- Academy award winner Tan Dun conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Edinburgh Festival Chorus in the Scottish premiere of his own Buddha Passion
- Pianist Yuja Wang joins the Oslo Philharmonic for a programme of 20th-century masterpieces by Ravel and Shostakovich
- Charismatic Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel takes to the podium for an odyssey through his country’s folk roots, followed by Mahler's spectacular First Symphony
- Sir Simon Rattle conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in Messiaen’s sensational Turangalîla Symphony
Opera
- In this radical retelling of one of opera’s great masterpieces, Bluebeard’s Castle, a husband and wife face the reality of living with dementia while celebrating their long love and shared memories
- Join a cast of exciting singers and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus, led by their Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev, for a concert performance of Mozart’s enchanting masterpiece The Magic Flute
- Expert Wagnerian Sir Donald Runnicles’s interpretation of Tannhäuserat the 2013 BBC Proms was rapturously received and he now conducts the Deutsche Oper Berlin in what promises to be an unforgettable concert performance
Theatre
- Euripides’ classic Greek tragedy Trojan is breathtakingly reimagined by 25 singers, actors and musicians in this epic production Trojan Women from the National Changgeuk Company of Korea: the cherished art of pansori (Korean folk opera) creates a stunning whirlwind of music, dance and theatre
- Brazilian film and theatre director Christiane Jatahy brings her theatrical work to the UK for the first time in this arresting performance of Dusk, based on Lars von Trier’s film Dogville.
- Award-winning international theatre company Cheek by Jowl presents a radical new version of a Spanish classic Life is a Dream –listed as one of the 40 greatest plays of all time – performed by an ensemble of Spanish actors.
- Why would you risk your life to save others? Through captivating storytelling, As Far As Impossible reveals the motivations of humanitarian workers who work every day in dangerous environments to save the lives of strangers.
- Glasgow-based writer, actor and movement specialist Nat McCleary joins forces with director and performer Johnny McKnight to create this uniquely Scottish play Thrown which gets to grips with belonging and identity in Scotland.
Dance
- The legendary American dance company Alvin Ailey Dance Theater dazzles with technical brilliance and passionate energy, bringing audiences to their feet at every performance and presenting a festival programme of contemporary choreography, completed by the beloved classic Revelations
- A sensational double bill pairing Benjamin Britten’s final vocal work, the powerful cantata Phaedra, with the thrilling new dance piece Minotaur – brought together by opera and theatre director Deborah Warner and choreographer Kim Brandstrup
- Dancers from across Africa perform Pina Bausch’s acclaimed choreography of The Rite of Spring in a double bill with the duet common ground[s]by Germaine Acogny and Malou Airaudo
Contemporary Music
- The Grammy Award®-nominated, genre-defying artist Anoushka Shankar returns to the International Festival following her acclaimed performance in 2017
- Founding member of The Velvet Underground, Avant-garde and provocative, John Cale inspires and amazes with his innovative and radical album, Mercy
- The queen of Portuguese fado Mariza mesmerises with her remarkable singing, charismatic stage presence and powerful blend of traditional and contemporary song forms
- Irish radical folk group Lankum reimagines folk songs in an intense, gothic style marrying horror and gothic darkness with the soft vocals of Radie Peat
- Japanese singer-songwriter Ichiko Aoba’s mysterious modern folk music transports her audiences to ethereal dreamscapes they never want to leave