Edinburgh Festival 2010 Opens

The Edinburgh International Festival 2010 will begin Friday, August 13 and last until Sunday, September 5. Jonathan Mills, the festival director, today announced the program for the festival.

Festival 2010 is a journey of discovery through the diverse contemporary cultures of North, Central and South America, and Australasia.

Artists from California, New York and New England, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, as well as Spain, Holland and the UK give Festival 2010 a distinctive feel as it explores the modern-day cultures of the ‘New World'.

The Festival opens with John Adams's El Niño and closes with the annual spectacular Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert this year celebrating music from the movies.

World premieres include political writer Alistair Beaton's exploration of Scotland's futile attempt at establishing a colony in Panama, in Caledonia, directed by Anthony Neilson and co-produced by the Festival and the National Theatre of Scotland, and flamenco dance work Quimeras from Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company.

Peter Carey's novel Bliss is the inspiration for a brand new Australian opera from composer Brett Dean, to be performed by Opera Australia in its European premiere.

Great American composer George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess is updated in a spectacular multi-media production by Opéra de Lyon and the hip-hop and contemporary dance Compagnie Montalvo-Hervieu.

Lee Breuer and Bob Telson's music theatre extravaganza The Gospel at Colonus makes a big colourful splash at the Edinburgh Playhouse with the Festival debuts of The Blind Boys of Alabama and The Abyssinian Chancel Choir from Harlem.

A world premiere from New York Theatre Company Elevator Repair Service, a new play from The Wooster Group and the Festival debut of Meredith Monk broaden New York's influence on the theatre programme in 2010. From South America Teatro Cinema and Teatro en el Blanco are making their Festival debuts, and offering audiences a glimpse of innovative and cinematic theatre from Chile.

In a dance programme which features Brazil, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, flamenco and the late Pina Bausch's tropical Água, the Festival also brings San Francisco based Alonzo King Lines Ballet to the UK for the first time.

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performing alongside Scotland's finest, create an impressive line-up in The Usher Hall.

Popular American music, jazz, features in 2010, bringing the Festival debuts of the legendary classical and jazz musician Gunther Schuller, and saxophonists Joe Lovano and Tommy Smith.

Explorations, presented in association with the British Council, brings together an international array of academics, cultural commentators and Festival artists in an exchange of ideas and discussions at The Hub.

The Festival remains highly affordable with tickets to performances starting at just £8, and a large range of discounts available. Customers aged 26 and under also have access to £8 on the-day tickets.

Jonathan Mills, Edinburgh International Festival Director, said ‘This year the Festival takes us on a journey around the contemporary cultures of the Americas and Australasia. We have shifted our centre of gravity from Europe towards these intriguing and complex continents. As these diverse cultures, separated by vast oceans, converge in Edinburgh, I hope you will join us to celebrate the synergies and revelations they offer.

Public booking opens Saturday 27 March. Call +44 (0)131 473 2000 or visit online at www.eif.co.uk.

 

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