Explore the 2019 programme

Komische Oper Berlin return to the International Festival for Tchaikovsky’s best-loved opera, based on Alexander Pushkin’s classic verse novel.

Harry Christophers conducts The Sixteen and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in the first performance of Sir James MacMillan’s Fifth Symphony.

A pair of deeply stirring, richly coloured works, a love song to the late Romantic full of surreal imagery, sensual ecstasy and explosive energy.

Scottish star James McArdle takes the challenging title role in a raucous reboot of Ibsen’s epic play.

Two immensely powerful reflections on our existence, performed by a celebrated International Festival music partnership.

A visually stunning, exhilarating dance reinterpretation of Stravinsky’s masterpiece. 

The Swedish singer, rapper and audacious 80s icon makes her International Festival debut.

The powerhouse Scottish conductor brings his company, with an exceptional cast of international soloists, for this vivid concert performance. 

A timeless love story; an electrifying spectacle. Jets versus Sharks. Loosely based on Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story is a cultural phenomenon.

The Scottish composer’s tumultuous Woman of the Apocalypse and the sonic spectacle and riotous fun of A Scotch Bestiary.

World-renowned British countertenor Iestyn Davies performs one of the most powerful love stories in all of opera.

The LA Phil bring their residency to a stirring conclusion with pieces by Barber, Tchaikovsky and John Adams

The supremely accomplished Wagnerian is joined by the Scottish pianist for this intimate recital.

The poet, rapper, novelist and playwright makes her International Festival debut. 

A dark, compelling award-winning drama adapted from Kate Grenville’s novel. 

Based on the play by Arthur Miller, a brand-new narrative ballet, given its world premiere at the International Festival as one of the highlights of Scottish Ballet’s 50th anniversary year.

The exceptional orchestra launch the 2019 Usher Hall Series with one of the grandest and most gripping of symphonies.

A timeless love story; an electrifying spectacle. Jets versus Sharks. Loosely based on Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story is a cultural phenomenon.

Harry Christophers conducts The Sixteen and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in the first performance of Sir James MacMillan’s Fifth Symphony.

A pair of deeply stirring, richly coloured works, a love song to the late Romantic full of surreal imagery, sensual ecstasy and explosive energy.

Berlioz’s colourful, Byron-inspired tour of Italy and Beethoven’s radiant musical tribute to the natural world.

Joyce DiDonato joins the NYO USA for the sultry opulence of Berlioz’s six ravishing love songs.

The LA Phil bring their residency to a stirring conclusion with pieces by Barber, Tchaikovsky and John Adams

China’s premier classical ensemble are joined by the captivating US cellist.

A much-admired International Festival partnership return with one of Elgar’s greatest, and most neglected, achievements.

Mahler's bright and sunny Fourth Symphony is paired with Shostakovich’s witty, incisive Second Piano Concerto.

Two immensely powerful reflections on our existence, performed by a celebrated International Festival music partnership.

Thomas Dausgaard explores Grieg’s exuberant music and Glorious Percussion, an astonishing concerto by composer Sofia Gubaidulina.

The Canadian pianist’s recordings of Bach are held up as benchmarks for their profound insight. The first of two concerts.

The Scottish composer’s tumultuous Woman of the Apocalypse and the sonic spectacle and riotous fun of A Scotch Bestiary.

The Canadian pianist is revered above all for her performances of Bach. The second of two concerts.

World-renowned British countertenor Iestyn Davies performs one of the most powerful love stories in all of opera.

The powerhouse Scottish conductor brings his company, with an exceptional cast of international soloists, for this vivid concert performance. 

A profoundly moving plea for peace, Daniel Harding conducts Britten’s soul-searching pacifist masterpiece.

The fourth and final opera in the Ring cycle is its grandest, as the gods themselves face their doom. 

The Berlin Philharmonic’s principal clarinettist and the Chinese piano sensation launch The Queen’s Hall series in spectacular style.

The supremely accomplished Wagnerian is joined by the Scottish pianist for this intimate recital.

The winner of 2016’s BBC Young Musician of the Year performs Debussy, Mendelssohn, Fauré and Lutoslawski.

The Italian period instrument Baroque orchestra journey through four of Mozart’s youthful string quartets and forgotten gems by Italian composer Carlo Monza.

A personal selection of Grieg, Liszt and a rarely heard example of Wagner’s own piano music.

With a repertoire spanning over 500 years of music, the world-renowned choir blends resplendent vocal colour, immaculate technique and irresistible power and passion.

Winner of numerous major international awards, the American classical pianist makes his International Festival debut with a wide-ranging programme.

The US tenor and Scottish-born pianist performs Schumann’s intimate song cycle before a programme of Poulenc, Liszt and Ginastera.

Two glorious chamber classics and the remarkable Fourteen Little Pictures make up the Nash Ensemble’s richly coloured recital.

The International Festival’s six-concert survey of J S Bach’s complete keyboard concertos comes to a spectacular conclusion in The Queen’s Hall.

The Queen’s Hall series comes to a gloriously theatrical close, in two larger-than-life secular cantatas, some of Bach’s most opulent, joyfully inventive music.

A special collaboration between former BBC New Generation Artists to perform two iconic chamber works by Franck and Dvořák.

The fast-rising international star of Covent Garden, La Scala and Glyndebourne, performs an all-Schubert programme.

The Finnish string quartet makes its International Festival debut, with a recital of surging emotion.

The powerhouse German baritone performs a gloriously dramatic programme of Schubert, Mahler and Strauss.

The Russian conductor and pianist is joined by the SCO’s principal players for a Romantic recital of Brahms, Dohnányi and Schumann.

A sparkling programme of virtuoso piano showpieces by Chopin, Ravel & Stravinsky. 

The Barcelona-based quartet open with the magical radiance of Haydn, followed by the intense emotions of Bartók and close with the grand dramas of Beethoven.

The first European performance of Brett Dean’s String Quartet No. 3 "Hidden Agendas" and the soaring melodies of Brahms’ powerful Second String Quintet.

Scottish star James McArdle takes the challenging title role in a raucous reboot of Ibsen’s epic play.

Adapted from his best-selling book, Stephen Fry brings to brilliant life the gods, monsters and mortals of ancient Greece.

Adapted from his best-selling book, Stephen Fry brings to brilliant life the gods, monsters and mortals of ancient Greece.

Adapted from his best-selling book, Stephen Fry brings to brilliant life the gods, monsters and mortals of ancient Greece.

A dark, compelling award-winning drama adapted from Kate Grenville’s novel. 

A revelatory updating of Sophocles’ tragedy, Oedipus is a chilling thriller, told in real time.

Ticket allocation now exhausted. From Tolkien’s Gandalf to Shakespeare, Sir Ian performs extracts from his best-loved roles, as well as recalling seminal moments from his life and career.

The graphically glorious 1927 return to the International Festival with the European premiere of brand-new show Roots.

A new play presented through combined stage action and illustrated text.

Ten of Nigeria’s biggest stars come together to tell stories of domestic violence, overturning the status quo, abuse, disrespect, bravery, sisterhood and joy.

Milo Rau constructs an uncompromising theatrical documentary around a savage killing that shocked Belgium. 

Raucously funny and brutally honest, Purposeless Movements is an eye-opening dance theatre work.

Chronicling Jackie Kay’s 20-year search for her biological mother and father and her quest for them to recognise her own existence. 

A dramatic meeting between two extraordinary artists, examining their intertwined histories, colonial legacies and the changing climate we all face. 

Based on the play by Arthur Miller, a brand-new narrative ballet, given its world premiere at the International Festival as one of the highlights of Scottish Ballet’s 50th anniversary year.

A visually stunning, exhilarating dance reinterpretation of Stravinsky’s masterpiece. 

Our senses allow us to apprehend the world around us. 9 brings them to vivid life through a bold journey of sensation. A work for families. 

A dizzying fusion of dance, music and revolution, inspired by the supercharged music and scandalous life of Fela Kuti. 

A dance piece which looks behind the masks of violence and machismo to the inner lives of Belfast hard men and strong women.

Raucously funny and brutally honest, Purposeless Movements is an eye-opening dance theatre work.

The dance company create beautiful, often surprising works of art across outdoor spaces. 

A fun family workshop for children aged 7-12 and an accompanying grown up.

The LA Phil play music from the Golden Age of Hollywood by Korngold, Herrmann, Waxman and a selection by John Williams.

Unforgettable orchestral classics and 400,000 fireworks launched from Edinburgh’s iconic Castle make this one of the biggest fireworks concerts in the world.

The dance company create beautiful, often surprising works of art across outdoor spaces. 

Discover an alternative, unseen Edinburgh. A city where memory and history collide, where the strange and the unexpected skew your sense of what is real.