| Edinburgh International Festival - Edinburgh | 2 May 2024 |
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Duke Bluebeard's Castle
Götterdämmerung
Breaking the Waves
Siegfried
Il barbiere di Siviglia
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Performance reviews
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Dido and AeneasEdinburgh International FestivalNo. of reviews: 9 | 
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Purcell’s best known opera was given a radical new twist |
 27 Aug 13 / Edinburgh Guide |
Unusual bedfellows |
| 26 Aug 13 / The Opera Critic |
Frankfurt Opera's stylish and astutely directed double bill succeeds in shining new light on both Bartók and Purcell |
| 26 Aug 13 / The Guardian |
FidelioEdinburgh International FestivalNo. of reviews: 8 | |
The concept itself was doomed from take off |
| 15 Aug 13 / Opera Britannia |
Futuristic space travel and the Napoleonic era jostle uncomfortably in conceptual production from Lyon |
| 14 Aug 13 / The Arts Desk |
A worthy musical performance compromised by a dog’s breakfast production |
| 14 Aug 13 / Seen and Heard |
more reviews [+]
The production was saved from complete disaster by the music and the singing |
| 13 Aug 13 / Edinburgh Guide |
Fidelio, but not as we know it |
| 13 Aug 13 / The Opera Critic |
The obvious question about Opera de Lyon’s production is what are the effects like? |
| 13 Aug 13 / The Stage |
Gary Hill's intervention robs Beethoven's masterpiece of its essential humanity |
| 12 Aug 13 / The Guardian |
There were boos, there were hisse |
| 12 Aug 13 / The Herald |
associated articles [+]
Kazushi Ono
Edinburgh Festival 2013: Kazushi Ono, conductor of the opera Fidelio, talks to Hugo Shirley.
Edinburgh Festival 2013: Kazushi Ono, conductor of the opera Fidelio, talks to Hugo Shirley.
In the Locked RoomScottish OperaNo. of reviews: 7 | |
Persuasive pieces |
| 10 Sep 12 / Independent on Sunday |
A tale of two operas |
| 5 Sep 12 / The Opera Critic |
Neither Watkins’ score nor Michael McCarthy’s staging differentiate between reality and imagination |
| 4 Sep 12 / Financial Times |
more reviews [+]
There is a real intensity and sense of purpose to both these two new operas |
| 4 Sep 12 / The Stage |
A fine new double bill by Scottish Opera and Music Theatre Wales |
| 2 Sep 12 / The Observer |
There's no spare flesh on Harsent's lapidary text, nor on Watkins's vocal writing |
| 1 Sep 12 / The Guardian |
Both works are well worth hearing and seeing |
| 1 Sep 12 / Telegraph |
Ghost PatrolScottish OperaNo. of reviews: 7 | |
Persuasive pieces |
| 10 Sep 12 / Independent on Sunday |
A tale of two operas |
| 5 Sep 12 / The Opera Critic |
Scottish Opera’s new-writing programme pays off handsomely with Stuart MacRae’s ‘Ghost Patrol’ |
| 4 Sep 12 / Financial Times |
more reviews [+]
There is a real intensity and sense of purpose to both these two new operas |
| 4 Sep 12 / The Stage |
A fine new double bill by Scottish Opera and Music Theatre Wales |
| 2 Sep 12 / The Observer |
Louise Welsh's text is over-wordy and ridden with cliches |
| 1 Sep 12 / The Guardian |
Both works are well worth hearing and seeing |
| 1 Sep 12 / Telegraph |
The Lady from the SeaScottish OperaNo. of reviews: 7 | |
The Lady from the Sea looked more substantial than it sounded |
| 10 Sep 12 / Independent on Sunday |
Scottish Opera brings new opera to the Edinburgh Festival |
| 5 Sep 12 / The Opera Critic |
The Lady from the Sea offers obvious operatic potential |
| 4 Sep 12 / Financial Times |
more reviews [+]
There is something in here, struggling to get out |
| 4 Sep 12 / The Stage |
A first-rate production of Ibsen's The Lady from the Sea by Scottish Opera |
| 31 Aug 12 / Telegraph |
Armstrong’s soundscape is minimal yet lush |
| 31 Aug 12 / Independent |
It just all never engages in the way that any opera based on such a source should |
| 31 Aug 12 / The Guardian |
ClemencyScottish OperaNo. of reviews: 2 | |
An intense, profound experience |
| 5 Sep 12 / The Opera Critic |
Clemency never quite lives up to its promise |
| 4 Sep 12 / The Stage |
King ArthurEdinburgh International FestivalNo. of reviews: 2 | |
A highlight of this year’s Festival |
| 30 Aug 12 / Edinburgh Guide |
The trio of principal soloists was very stylish |
| 29 Aug 12 / Seen and Heard |
Tristan und IsoldeEdinburgh International FestivalNo. of reviews: 4 | |
An emotion-packed production |
| 28 Aug 12 / Edinburgh Guide |
Jennifer Wilson thrills as Isolde |
| 20 Aug 12 / The Opera Critic |
Welsh National Opera translates its experience of the theatre to the concert platform |
| 19 Aug 12 / Financial Times |
more reviews [+]
Shimmering orchestral playing in WNO’s Tristan und Isolde |
| 17 Aug 12 / Seen and Heard |
Vec MakropulosEdinburgh International FestivalNo. of reviews: 11 | |
Ylva Kihlberg delivered a fuller, more emotive voice as the plot developed |
| 28 Aug 12 / Edinburgh Guide |
A great musical account of Janácek’s penultimate opera |
| 25 Aug 12 / Telegraph |
The evening gradually became something more rather than less of the sum of its parts |
| 21 Aug 12 / Opera Britannia |
more reviews [+]
Opera North's production of Janacek's bristling comedy of ageing and identity is stylish, salty, sardonic |
| 20 Aug 12 / Independent on Sunday |
Ylva Kihlberg had a handsome stage presence and performed well |
| 19 Aug 12 / The Observer |
The Makropulos Case fails to catch fire |
| 16 Aug 12 / The Opera Critic |
Excellent account of Janáèek opera from Opera North |
| 16 Aug 12 / Seen and Heard |
Kihlberg is in many ways exceptionally fine |
| 14 Aug 12 / The Guardian |
A vibrant production to die for |
| 14 Aug 12 / The Stage |
The evening’s star is Richard Farnes |
| 14 Aug 12 / Telegraph |
Richard Farnes and his orchestra alone made this otherwise disappointing production worthwhile |
| 13 Aug 12 / Financial Times |
associated articles [+]
'I used to wish I didn’t have to go on’
Swedish soprano Ylva Kihlberg, who appears in The Makropulos Case at Edinburgh Festival 2012, tells Claire Prentice how she had to overcome crushing nerves to make her British debut.
Swedish soprano Ylva Kihlberg, who appears in The Makropulos Case at Edinburgh Festival 2012, tells Claire Prentice how she had to overcome crushing nerves to make her British debut.
David et JonathasEdinburgh International FestivalNo. of reviews: 4 | |
William Christie brings the score dazzlingly to life |
| 23 Aug 12 / The Guardian |
Raw emotions in this superb David et Jonathas |
| 23 Aug 12 / The Opera Critic |
In many ways the most striking innovation of the evening comes in Paul Zoller’s set |
| 22 Aug 12 / Telegraph |
more reviews [+]
The business on stage did little to enhance the thrill and excitement of hearing Les Arts Florissants |
| 21 Aug 12 / Opera Britannia |
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News & Articles
| Nicola Benedetti appointed new director of Edinburgh Festival |
On October 1, 2022, she will become Festival Director, and will be the first woman and Scottish person to hold the position since the festival began in 1947. |
| 4 Mar 2022 / OperaWire |
| Edinburgh International Festival preview |
Three operas, and only one staged, form part of this year's Edinburgh International Festival. |
| 3 Jun 2021 / The Scotsman |
| Edinburgh International Festival plans outdoor return for 2021 |
Organisers hope outdoor pavilions and shorter performances will make event ‘relatively bulletproof.’ |
| 14 Apr 2021 / The Guardian |
| Edinburgh International Festival announces virtual program |
Karen Cargill, Anne Sofie von Otter, Florian Boesch and Soraya Mafi lead Edinburgh International Festival summer digital edition. |
| 4 Aug 2020 / OperaWire |
| Edinburgh International Festival cancelled |
The five festivals that take place over August - the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Edinburgh Book Festival, the Edinburgh Art Festival and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo - have all been cancelled. |
| 2 Apr 2020 / Edinburgh Guide |
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