Join us at the Edinburgh International Festival for a captivating evening with the "Capriccio" by the Philharmonia, taking place at Usher Hall, Edinburgh, on Sunday, 25 August 2024, at 6pm. This remarkable event features the world-renowned British conductor Sir Andrew Davis, alongside a stellar cast including Malin Byström as Countess Madeleine, Bo Skovhus as Count, Sebastian Kohlhepp as Flamand, and many more talented artists.

"Capriccio," Richard Strauss's final opera, is a masterful exploration of the eternal debate between music and poetry, brought to life through the story of Countess Madeleine, torn between her two suitors: a composer and a poet. The opera is celebrated for its wit, dynamism, and the profound musical and poetic inquiry at its heart. Highlights include the soulful opening String Sextet and the lyrical closing monologue by Countess Madeleine, reflecting on the inseparability of music and poetry.

This performance is especially significant as Sir Andrew Davis returns to "Capriccio" in his 80th birthday year, having made his operatic debut with this very work. With a cast led by the much-admired Malin Byström, known for her role as Salome at the 2022 Festival, this promises to be an unforgettable evening.

Tickets start from £27.50, with concessions available for D/deaf, disabled, neurodivergent people, under 18s, arts workers, and under 30s. A limited number of £10 Affordable Tickets are also available to ensure everyone has the opportunity to experience this magnificent work. Don't miss your chance to witness this extraordinary blend of music, poetry, and performance at one of the world's most prestigious festivals.

Edinburgh International Festival: Capriccio

The Usher Hall

Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem tackles the taboo subject of death head on. Written in memory of the Italian writer Alessandro Manzoni, this choral prayer tells the story of Judgement Day through dramatic choruses and exquisite solos. With its operatic directness and intensity, it is no wonder that the composer Johannes Brahms declared this the creation of ‘a genius’.

Philharmonia Orchestra Residency: Verdi’s Requiem

Usher Hall

Philharmonia Orchestra Residency: Verdi's Requiem

This concert marks Sir Mark Elder’s farewell to the Hallé Orchestra, drawing his tenure as music director to a close after 24 remarkable years. And what a way to bow out, with two commanding works from the era in which he has attracted his greatest acclaim.

Mahler's Fifth Symphony

Mahler’s Fifth Symphony

Alexander Grechaninov’s Passion Week (1912) for unaccompanied choir was virtually unknown until it was first recorded in the 1990s. It is now recognised as ‘a milestone in Russian choral music’ (Gramophone).

Edinburgh Festival Chorus

The young Felix Mendelssohn transformed Johann Sebastian Bach’s majestic St Matthew Passion for modern orchestra. His groundbreaking performances of his impassioned arrangements in Berlin (1829) and Leipzig (1841 – the version heard in this concert) changed the course of music history. Without these, the great Bach revival might never have happened.

EIF Opening Concert: St Matthew Passion

Our regular performance partners Belfast Philharmonic Choir have a special birthday this year, and we’re delighted to be part fo their 150th celebrations! ‘The Phil’ are one of only a handful of choral societies that have an unbroken record of performance since their inception and their first performance in 1874 of Mendelssohn’s Elijah. The date and music couldn’t be better, so join the celebrations with a performance of Mendelssohn’s dramatic, epic oratorio that depicts earthquake, fire and the still, small voice of God.

James Grossmith

Events

Upcoming events

Nov 29, 2024

Elijah: The Power of Sound · Ulster Orchestra

Past events

Aug 25, 2024

Edinburgh International Festival: Capriccio · Philharmonia Orchestra

Aug 24, 2024

Philharmonia Orchestra Residency: Verdi’s Requiem · Edinburgh International Festival

Future and recently performed repertoire

Conductor in Elijah by

Ulster Orchestra

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