Arts writers and critics in Edinburgh had today in their diaries for a long time, as the Edinburgh International Festival programme launch took place earlier.
Festival Director Fergus Linehan unveiled his second programme which runs from Friday 5 to Monday 29 August, and will welcome 2,442 artists from 36 nations to perform in Scotland’s capital city. He admitted it was a bit like bringing out a second album after a successful debut, but we think there is a lot in the programme for people of all ages and tastes.
From Barry Humphries to Alan Cumming, Legendary Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour to Young Fathers this is an eclectic mix. Read the full programme here.
Linehan said: ‘The International Festival is an invitation from the people of Scotland to people from all over the world to join us in an unparalleled celebration of creativity, virtuosity and originality. The calibre, ambition and passion of the artists and ensembles in this year’s programme combined with Edinburgh’s electric Festival atmosphere, will make for an unforgettable experience for newcomers and International Festival veterans alike.’
Some of the world’s greatest artists and ensembles perform at the International Festival in 2016
Artists making their first appearance at the International Festival include Cecilia Bartoli, Youssou N’Dour, James Thierrée, Barry Humphries and Mogwai
Major productions from two of the world’s leading opera festivals, Salzburg Festpiele (Norma) and Festival d’Aix en Provence (Cosi fan tutte)
An epic celebration of the start of the festival season, Deep Timeis an animated artwork which will transform Castle Rock and Edinburgh Castle
Major classical music artists include Sir András Schiff, Maxim Vengerov, Daniil Trifonov, Mikhail Pletnev, Anja Kampe, Karen Cargill and Sir John Eliot GardnerCelebrated director John Tiffany returns to Scotland with the European premiere of his Broadway production of Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie
The 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare is celebrated with events across the programme and international re-imaginings of three key plays
Visits from world leading orchestras including the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Russian National Orchestra
Scottish artists take centre stage in a series of concerts celebrating contemporary Scottish music
The Hub plays host to a nightly house show hosted by Scottish stage and screen star Alan Cumming
Events for families and young people, including two contrasting dance theatre works.
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