The largest Arts festival in the world
The Festival's Origins
This year marks the 55th Edinburgh International Festival of Music, Dance and Drama which began in the difficult, empty days immediately after the end of the Second World War, in August 1947. But does anyone know or can recall why and how Edinburgh was selected to host this festival in the first place? Sorry, there are no prizes for the correct answer! Not even a Tartan Umbrella.
Well, you can blame the whole fandango on the late Harry Harvey -Wood. His daughter Alison recalls how her father became known as the "father of the Edinburgh Festival" :
"Rudolf Byng, of Glyndebourne Opera, very much wanted to plan an international festival but he did not know in which European city it should take place. My father was the representative of the British Council in Edinburgh at the time and had been involved in arranging many cultural events in the capital during the war.. He knew that Edinburgh was undoubtedly the most suitable city for such a festival and had much to offer.
My father convinced Byng to come to Edinburgh to meet the Lord Provost, John Falconer, to see what could be arranged. The Lord Provost was enthusiastic from the start but then the City Council had to be persuaded. The decision was soon taken and everything agreed and settled. The first festival was an enormous success, the critics went mad and it took off in a big way; there was no doubt people would come the next year. Edinburgh had quickly become a Mecca.
I am sure my father would be delighted to know that it was now in its 55th year."
This Year's Festival
This year the Festival, running from 12th August to 1st September, will present 161 performances of 121 productions, including 4 world premieres and 20 British premieres. Key companies and performers include The Vienna Brugtheater, giving their first performance in the UK, the outstanding dancer, Mikhail Baryshnikov, New York City Ballet, The St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Alfred Brendel, Donald Runnicles and Andras Schiff.At the launch of the Festival programme, the Festival Director, Brian McMaster stressed the vital underlying aims which he hoped to achieve in the selection of performances:
" The festival celebrates new experiences " he said, " whether through new or rarely performed works, exciting new artists or innovative styles of working. This year`s programme offers an opportunity to experience some of the world`s best artists. It reflects the increasingly diverse sources of inspiration and the blurred distinctions between art forms."
The Festival opens with a concert performance of Berlioz` Les Troyans at the Usher Hall (pictured above) conducted by Donald Runnicles with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Soloists include Lorraine Hunt Lieberson and John Mark Ainsley. The closing night offers a performance of Wagner`s Die Walkure, performed by Scottish Opera as well as the Fireworks Concert, when thousands of spectators - citizens and visitors alike - congregate on Princes Street for a spectacular display from the Castle Rock, accompanied by an all American concert taking place in the gardens below, featuring the music of Copland, Barber and Bernstein.
Theatre offers a wide selection of international productions including Too Late for Logic, a philosophical view of marriage by the Irish writer, Tom Murphy. There is an intriguing performance of John Cage`s "surreal" play about the meeting of three characters: Duchamp, Joyce and Satie; a world premiere of Office, by Scottish writer Shan Khan - his first play, but already winner of a major award, and a production of Chekhov`s The Seagull, directed by Luc Bondy, performed in German, by the Burgtheater, Vienna.
The Festival has for many years brought some exhilarating classical and particularly contemporary dance. The New York City Ballet, established more than 50 years ago, will bring three separate programmes of new work, never seen outside their home town.
With music from Mozart - with performances of Cosi Fan Tutte and The Magic Flute - to Messiaen and James McMillan, the highly acclaimed young Scottish composer, there is a concert for every taste - and at every time of day. The extremely popular and sold out Queens Hall recitals take place each morning and there is a series of late night Bach piano concertos, performed by Andras Schiff, a regular friend of the festival.
To fill in the gaps between performances, visit the four National Galleries (that's the National Gallery of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy above) where there are numerous exhibitions - from Rembrandt to photographs by Lee Miller and a diverse range of contemporary art in several private commercial galleries.
What about the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with more than 2,000 productions of drama, comedy, music and children`s events, the Film Festival and the Book Festival? You can read about the Festival Fringe here
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
