Artists without Borders

Today Jonathan Mills announced the programme for the 62^nd Edinburgh International Festival, his second as Director. He has taken as his theme an evolving Europe and the cultures which surround it, a dynamic Europe, where borders are changing, new countries are emerging, and here in Scotland strong feelings about our own identity are being expressed.
“These are exciting times in which to live in Europe,” he said. “Political borders have been redrawn in every direction. Festival 08 invites you to embark upon an exciting and often confronting journey along these cultural borders and beyond. Artists from Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bosnia and Georgia are juxtaposed with work from Lebanon, Turkey, Palestine, Israel and Iran – all countries with particular challenges.”

The opening concert on 8^th August at the Usher Hall is a staged opera performance with the Edinburgh Festival Chorus of “Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny” by Weill and Brecht, Other highlights are Scottish Opera performing Smetana’s “The two Widows”, and the Mariinsky Opera Company with conductor Valery Gergiev performing a fully staged production of “Krol Roger”

Dance highlights include the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey, the world premiere of Matthew Bourne’s new work ‘Dorian Gray’, with music composed by Terry Davies, and “Giselle” from the State ballet of Georgia.

TR Warszawa from Poland are bringing two dramatic productions – “Dybbuk” and “4.48 Psychosis”, while the Bazi Theatre Company, an all female group from Iran, (whose founder worked with Tadeusz Kantor) bring the European premiere of “Devil’s Ship”. There is also drama from Bosnia and Palestine while the National Theatre of Scotland will present a new play by David Harrower “365 One Night to Learn a Lifetime”.

On the music programme is the Budapest Festival Orchestra and lots of gypsy music, Alfred Brendel playing his last concert, and Valery Gergiev leading the London Symphony Orchestra in all seven of Prokofiev’s symphonies and violin concertos. There is a rich and varied mixture of international music on offer, with everything from plain chant to devotional masterpieces from Islam. The Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel who took Edinburgh by storm last year returns to conduct the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.

It’s certainly a challenging programme. At the launch, Richard Holloway called the Festival a “magnet that seems to be more powerful than ever”, and Councillor Steve Cardownie spoke of the economic benefits that come to the city of Edinburgh. Both wore a sprig of white heather in their buttonholes. The Festival will run this year from August 8th-31st, ending as usual with the Bank of Scotland Fireworks concert.

Tickets will go on sale on Saturday 12^th April at www.eif.co.uk