London Symphony Orchestra
A spirit-lifting concert from the celebrated orchestra with Sir Simon Rattle as conductor.
Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra together form one of the UK’s most esteemed musical partnerships – as well as being regular and much-loved visitors to the International Festival across many years.
The LSO stands among the world’s truly great orchestras, while Rattle has long been revered for his pioneering vision of music, his championing of little-known works and the power and spontaneity of his exuberant musical performances.
Despite their serious credentials, musical jokes are high on both conductor and orchestra’s agenda at their International Festival concert. After all, who couldn’t do with some humour to lift the spirits?
In his riotous Divertissement, Jacques Ibert’s intention was to put a smile on your face. Richard Strauss might be more sober in the incidental music he wrote for Molière’s satirical Le bourgeois gentilhomme, though it reaches its comic conclusion in a musical feast that quotes classics from across the repertoire.
It’s also the music, in its intended dramatic setting, planned as the first part of a gargantuan theatrical/operatic evening culminating in Ariadne auf Naxos, which gets its own International Festival performance on 25, 27 and 29 August. Hear both works to discover the grandeur and high-flying wit of Strauss’s original vision.
...under this conductor the orchestra’s delicacy is astounding
Sir Simon Rattle Conductor
Ibert Divertissement
Martinů Jazz Suite
Strauss Le Bourgeois gentilhomme
Concessions
During priority booking, under-18s and disabled people are entitled to a 30% concession discount.
In our general sales period, recipients of pension credit, universal credit, employment and support allowance or jobseeker's allowance, full-time students, under-26s and disabled people are entitled to a 30% concession discount.
Booking tickets
To minimise physical contact, our box office is closed. We encourage customers to book online or by phone, and to select the electronic ticket option when booking to facilitate contactless interactions with staff at our venues. In-person ticket collection will not be available.
We have introduced socially distanced seating plans to allow households and support bubbles to sit together while remaining at a safe distance from others. When you book online you will be asked to select a seating ‘bubble’ with the correct number of seats for your group. Disabled people may be accompanied by a support person outside of their household or support bubble.
Traceability will be especially important this summer to help prevent community transmission. For 21 days after your visit, we may be asked to share your name and contact details with NHS Test & Protect to help them identify people who may have been exposed to COVID-19.
Your safety
The International Festival is working with the Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council and other relevant authorities to implement appropriate measures to ensure the safety of our audiences, artists and the International Festival team. These include shorter performances without intervals, physical distancing, regular cleaning, and contactless ticketing. Plans will be adjusted in response to public health measures as they evolve.
Venue experience
We ask that you arrive no earlier than 30 minutes before a performance begins. If you are using e-tickets please download them in advance so that they are available offline and ensure that your phone is sufficiently charged.
Our outdoor venues are covered with open sides, so you should come dressed appropriately for the weather; including suitable footwear for walking across grass.
International Festival staff will be available to assist you throughout your visit and to ensure that COVID-19 safety protocols are being met. Please bring your own mask with you to performances and wear it as directed by staff and signage. Hand sanitiser stations will be located around our venues.
In the interest of eliminating places where people can congregate, no food or drink will be available on site. Performances will run without an interval; with most lasting no more than 70 minutes. Toilets will be available and will be cleaned regularly.
At the end of each performance we will direct you to leave our venues swiftly from multiple exits to avoid congestion.
We appreciate your patience and ask that you please be mindful of others throughout your visit.
Ticket exchanges & refunds
We call upon each person’s sense of civic responsibility to do their part. If you or anyone in your household has had any recent COVID-19 symptoms, however fleeting, please stay home for everyone’s safety.
If you are unable to attend any event at the 2021 Edinburgh International Festival for any reason related to COVID-19, we will refund the full cost of the ticket to the lead booker. Refunds must be requested at least 24 hours in advance of the performance. Postage fees are non-refundable.
For extra peace of mind we’ve teamed up with Secure My Booking to offer Ticket Protection, which allows you to recoup 100% of the money you paid for your tickets if you are unable to attend an event that hasn’t been cancelled or rescheduled. Ticket Protection covers illness, accidents, travel delays, adverse weather, strikes and more. This optional extra costs £1.50 per ticket and is only available at the time of booking. For more information, please visit securemybooking.com