Exciting Glimpse of 2015 Edinburgh Festival

Fergus Linehan, Edinburgh International Festival’s new Director has unveiled a dazzling menu of events for this year, covering Drama, Music, Ballet, discussions and something entirely new, The Harmonium Project.

This Project is a very ambitious and huge sound and light spectacular, created by 59 Productions and using technology from the University of Edinburgh. The production combines technology and art. On the opening night, 7 August at 10.30 pm, a specially made recording of John Adams’s choral work, Harmonium, will be relayed across Festival Square. It will be conducted by Peter Oundjun, with animated graphics on the science of singing projected onto the outside of the Usher Hall. The event will be free.

Arguably the most ambitious project will be the world premiere of a new stage production of Alistair Gray’s novel ‘Lanark’. It is a joint project with the Citizens’ Theatre in Glasgow and also celebrates Gray’s 80th birthday. It has been arranged by David Gray and directed by Graham Eatough. This Project will be funded by the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Expo Fund with £200,000 of investment.

There will, of course, be so much more for Festival goers: Antigone, at the King’s Theatre starring Julie Binoche, in Anne Casson’s translation of the tragedy is another world premiere. There will also be a new production of ‘The Last Hotel’ staged by Landmark Productions and Wide Open Opera.

As ever we will be able to enjoy The Queen’s Hall series of music – many concerts in the morning and a few in the evenings. In opera there is Mozart ‘s The Marriage of Figaro, at the Festival Theatre, as well as his famous Magic Flute.

The Edinburgh Festival Chorus will celebrate its 50th Anniversary at the opening concert at the Usher Hall on Saturday 8th August which will feature works by Brahms and Strauss.

Donald Runnicles will conduct the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

The Usher Hall will also be the venue for a number of concerts ranging from acclaimed Chinese pianist, Lang Lang’, the soloist in Bartok’s second piano concerto. In contrast this will also be the venue for HMS Pinafore performed by Scottish Opera and a concert performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter. The Edinburgh Playhouse will have a double bill of Ballet Zurich and Ballet Rhein. New this year will be a Family Concert the day before the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert which ends the Festival.

Festival Director Fergus Linehan Credit Stuart ArmittThis is the first Festival under new director, Fergus Linehan. Previous roles saw this Irishman head up the Sydney and Dublin Theatre Festivals as well as Vivid Life. At the launch, Fergus said: ‘I believe that being in Edinburgh in August opens your mind and makes you more thoughtful, more generous and more connected. Edinburgh in festival season has the power to leave you changed and changed for the better.’

Edinburgh Council is a principal funder along with Creative Scotland. The Council has just appointed Councillor Richard I Lewis to be the new Festival and Events champion.

Janet Archer, the Chief Executive of Creative Scotland said at the launch: ‘We are delighted to continue our support of the Edinburgh International Festival and congratulate Fergus Linehan on the unveiling of his magnificent first programme. It offers moments for contemplation and moments that will take your breath away.’

As well as public sector funders there is an impressive number of corporate bodies, international agencies and individuals and trust which help enormously to fund successive Festivals.

Tickets go on sale on 28 March 2015 at the Festival Headquarters, The Hub at Castlehill.

Enquiries to 0131 473 2000 (there is a 50% discount for young ticket buyers (18 or under, or 26 or under if in full-time education)

Website:  www.eif.co.uk

 

Published by

Christine Richard OBE FRSA

http://www.lothianlife.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Christine.jpg Christine has over 25 years' experience in public life in Scotland in the fields of politics, education, public relations and charity work. For 12 years she served on the City of Edinburgh District Council and was her Group's leader for 4 years. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. In 1992 she was made an OBE. Christine is a member of the Board of The Friends of the Royal Scottish Academy. She has just completed six years on the Board of The Edinburgh International Festival. Christine's business experience has covered the fields of theatre, economic development, science, coal mining, education and training. She has held a number of non-executive directorships in these disciplines. She is a trained and experienced personal relationships counsellor and a business and personal mentor. In 2005 Christine established Christine Richard Associates who undertake Event Management and Public Relations as well as company and individual profiling. She coordinated the 'Yes to Edinburgh' campaign on congestion charging in Edinburgh. ten years ago Christine co-founded West Lothian Women in Business, which is a network for women who are self-employed and also for women managers. Christine has now stepped down from the Chair of this thriving organisation. For 5 years Christine was a magistrate in the District Court. She was also a member of the Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on the appointment of Justices of the Peace. She has been an adviser to Government in various areas of policy, including health, local government and education. Christine is a trained and experienced radio and television broadcaster and writer as well as an entertaining and accomplished speaker. She has a wealth of topics on which she is invited to speak. These range from witty after lunch and after dinner speaking to the more serious topics of the economy, health, education, enterprise, the Powers of the Mind and Life/work balance. She writes reviews and articles for lifestyle magazine, Lothian Life. She took part as a contestant in an ITV gourmet TV show, Chef V Britain, challenging TV chef Gino D'Acampo to cook her signature dish, Posh Cottage Pie. Currently Christine is a member of the Goodison Group in Scotland and Scotland's Futures. Also she is involved in the group Changing the Chemistry of Scottish Boards. Her first novel, Whitewalls, a modern Scottish family saga has been published by New Generation Publishing and is available on all internet books siets and from libraries. She is writing a sequel Autumn at Whitewalls. Her leisure interests include her family, literature, music, theatre, food, wine and horse racing. She is a member of a racing syndicate, which has two horses in training.

2 thoughts on “Exciting Glimpse of 2015 Edinburgh Festival”

  2. Hi Ann,
    Welcome to Lothian Life! Do you want me to submit any Festival reviews this year? It’s an interesting looking programme, and there’s lots to cover. I should be back from my travels for August.
    Cheers, Ros

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