The Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) has launched its programme for this year.
Here, The Scotsman takes a look at ten of the highlights of this year’s EIF, which is centred around an overarching theme of “The Truth We Seek”.
Major productions in the programme unveiled today include Make it Happen, a new play by renowned playwright James Graham and starring Brian Cox, about the financial crash of 2008 in Scotland. Classical music fans will also be able to enjoy the Veil of the Temple by John Tavener in its eight-hour entirety.
Scottish Ballet is performing a new production based on the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, while Breaking Bach will combine hip hop and 18th-century musical instruments.
The programme includes seven world premieres, eight UK and Scottish premieres, and two European premieres.
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9. The Planets and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Under the baton of principal conductor Edward Gardner, the London Philharmonic Orchestra returns to the International Festival for the first time in a decade with a programme that includes Sergei Rachmaninoff’s inspired Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with pianist Beatrice Rana, and Gustav Holst’s The Planets, exploring our true place in the universe. | EIF
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10. Dementia friendly shows
This year, for the first time, a Dementia-Friendly concert will be presented for people living with dementia, their caregivers, family and friends. This performance from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, in association with Alzheimer Scotland, enables those who have dementia to enjoy familiar repertoire in a relaxed and flexible environment. The wider 2025 programme features 33 accessible performances, including nine audio described performances, seven BSL interpreted performances, thirteen captioned performances and four relaxed performances. | EIF