Edinburgh sets the stage for an unparalleled celebration of musical brilliance, as the city hosts a series of concerts that promise to captivate and inspire. From the ethereal choral compositions of Sir John Tavener to the orchestral grandeur of Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Mahler, these events showcase the talents of world-renowned conductors, singers, and orchestras. Join us on a journey through sound as we explore the remarkable performances and unique contributions of artists at the Edinburgh International Festival.

A Symphony of Voices: Unveiling Edinburgh's Musical Extravaganza

Edinburgh is set to resonate with the sounds of a vibrant musical tapestry in 2025. From the ethereal choral harmonies of John Tavener's 'The Veil of The Temple' to the orchestral grandeur of Vaughan Williams' 'A Sea Symphony', this year's lineup at the Edinburgh International Festival promises to captivate. Highlights include the return of conductor Karina Canellakis with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the powerful narrative of Mahler's Symphony No. 2. Join us as we delve into these remarkable performances, bringing to life the stories and artists behind the music.

A Harmonious Journey: Edinburgh's 2025 Musical Extravaganza

Edinburgh's storied Usher Hall comes alive this festival season, hosting a captivating series of concerts that traverse the realms of choral and orchestral music. From the transcendent sounds of John Tavener’s 'The Veil of the Temple' to the cosmic journey of Mahler's 'Resurrection Symphony', these performances promise profound musical experiences. Featuring the talents of distinguished orchestras like the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra, alongside a slew of renowned performers, this lineup is set to enchant audiences with its rich tapestry of sound and emotion.

Symphonic Splendor: A Tapestry of Choral and Orchestral Masterpieces in Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s Usher Hall is set to host a series of captivating performances that promise to immerse audiences in diverse choral and orchestral masterpieces. From the monumental 'The Veil of the Temple' by John Tavener to Mahler's cosmic 'Resurrection Symphony,' these events bring together renowned orchestras and accomplished performers. The Edinburgh International Festival and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra present an extraordinary program featuring Karina Canellakis and the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Antonio Pappano, offering a rich tapestry of sound and emotion that transcends time and tradition.

A Symphony of Voices and Emotions at Edinburgh's Usher Hall

A man stands alone at the grave of a friend. Shattered by grief, he shakes his fist at the heavens and begins a journey that will take him to the end of the world and beyond. The sheer ambition of Gustav Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony staggers the imagination—an emotional odyssey on a cosmic scale, embracing tragedy, hope, dark humour, and even Judgement Day itself.

Mahler's Symphony No.2 ‘Resurrection' in Edinburgh

Usher Hall

In this Closing Concert, discover Felix Mendelssohn's triumphant oratorio anew as the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and Royal Scottish National Orchestra breathe life into his most famous work.

Closing Concert: Mendelssohn's Elijah

The in-demand Karina Canellakis returns after making her International Festival debut in the 2023 Closing Concert. She leads this monumental programme with the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and the BBC SSO, characterised by thrilling sounds and ideas of love, divine or human.

Bernstein & Stravinsky

The in-demand conductor Karina Canellakis returns after making her Edinburgh International Festival debut in the 2023 Closing Concert. She leads this monumental programme with the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and the BBC SSO, characterised by thrilling sounds and ideas of love, divine or human.

EIF: Bernstein & Stravinsky

The Usher Hall

Join the London Symphony Orchestra and their new Chief Conductor, Sir Antonio Pappano, for this celebration of early 20th-century works.

LSO: Vaughan Williams’s A Sea Symphony

LSO: A Sea Symphony

The Usher Hall transforms into a sanctuary for John Tavener’s magnum opus, The Veil of the Temple. This is only the second time it has ever been performed in the UK.

EIF: Opening Concert: The Veil of The Temple

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

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

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

Immerse yourself in the profound beauty of Verdi's Requiem at the Edinburgh International Festival, a performance that promises to be a highlight of the cultural calendar. Under the baton of Principal Conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali, this event will take place at the prestigious Usher Hall in Edinburgh on Saturday, 24 August 2024, at 8pm.

Verdi's Requiem, a cornerstone of 19th-century music, is renowned for its intense emotional depth and dramatic scope. Santtu-Matias Rouvali, leading the Philharmonia, along with the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and soon-to-be-announced soloists, will explore the full range of human emotion encapsulated in this choral masterpiece. From the thunderous "Dies Irae" to the ethereal "Agnus Dei," audiences can expect a performance filled with both grandeur and intimate beauty.

Ticket prices start from £22.50, with special concessions available for D/deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent people, under 18s, arts workers, and those under 30. Additionally, a limited number of £10 Affordable Tickets are on offer to ensure everyone has the opportunity to experience this magnificent work. No proof of eligibility is required for the Affordable Tickets, but they are subject to availability and can be claimed using the promo code INVITED at checkout.

The performance will last approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, presented without an interval, making for an evening of uninterrupted musical splendor. For more information or to book your tickets, contact the Edinburgh International Festival box office at 131 473 2000. Don't miss this opportunity to witness one of the most powerful pieces of music ever written, performed by a world-class orchestra and chorus at one of the most celebrated festivals in the world.

Edinburgh International Festival: Santtu conducts Verdi's Requiem

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

Experience the profound beauty of Bach's St Matthew Passion like never before at the Edinburgh International Festival. This exceptional performance, led by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under the baton of Ryan Wigglesworth, showcases Felix Mendelssohn's transformative arrangement of Bach's masterpiece. Set to take place at Usher Hall, Edinburgh, on Sunday, 4th August 2024, at 3:00 pm, this concert promises to be a historic event that revisits and celebrates the monumental impact Mendelssohn had on Bach's revival in the 19th century.

The concert will feature an impressive lineup of soloists, including Elizabeth Watts (Soprano), Dame Sarah Connolly (Alto), Laurence Kilsby (Tenor), James Atkinson (Bass), Ed Lyon (Evangelist), and Neal Davies (Christus), alongside the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, and the RSNO Youth Chorus. Together, they will bring to life the urgent narrative and potent emotions of the Passion story, from Christ’s capture to his trial and crucifixion.

This rendition of St Matthew Passion not only highlights Mendelssohn's role in the Bach revival but also offers audiences a chance to immerse themselves in the dramatic and emotional depth of the work. Tickets start from £22.50, making this a must-attend event for classical music enthusiasts and those looking to experience the power of Bach's music, reimagined by Mendelssohn's genius.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a musical journey that bridges history and emotion, set against the backdrop of one of the world's most prestigious festivals. Book your tickets now for an unforgettable afternoon at Usher Hall.

Eif: St Matthew Passion

Judgement Day: drums roar, trumpets blast, and hundreds of voices cry to heaven. Arguably no composer had a deeper understanding of the human heart, or a more potent sense of drama, than Giuseppe Verdi. Blazing with emotion and conceived on the grandest possible scale, Verdi’s Requiem has been described as the greatest opera he never wrote. It’s raw sonic theatre, and 150 years after its first performance, our Chief Conductor Ryan Wigglesworth has assembled the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, the BBC SSO and a stellar team of solo singers – all ready to storm the ramparts of death itself.

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