Edinburgh International Festival 2023

USPA NEWS - The Edinburgh International Festival, presented a full programme featuring the finest performers and ensembles from the worlds of dance, opera, music and theatre. Since 1947, the Festival has attracted the biggest stars of stage and concert halls, with luminaries ranging from Maria Callas to Sir Ian McKellen, Yehudi Menuhin to Margot Fonteyn, Plácido Domingo to Rudolf Nureyev, Richard Burton to Marlene Dietrich, Alan Cumming to Juliette Binoche. And this year will see its first festival under the direction of the acclaimed violinist Nicola Benedetti, who has spoken of her ambition to bring “the weight, depth and profundity of the art that the festival presents, to the maximum number of people and the broadest possible audience”.

Ms Benedetti said: "I am deeply honoured to contribute to the long and rich history of the Edinburgh International Festival and the cultural landscape of Scotland.
"This festival was founded on principles of reconciliation and the ideals of art transcending political and cultural fracture.

"Following in the footsteps of the wonderful achievements of Fergus Linehan and his predecessors, I will uphold these values and greatly look forward to serving this festival, its mission of cultural exchanges, and the people of Scotland."

Keith Skeoch, Edinburgh International Festival board of trustees chairman, said: "It is such a pleasure to welcome Nicola Benedetti as both the first woman and the first Scottish director of the Edinburgh International Festival.
"In many ways she reflects the spirit of this festival, internationally recognised and respected but Scottish to her core, she's dedicated to advocating world-class music making and innovating new ways to bring it to audiences.
"As an artist, her string of collaborators reads like a who's who of the world of classical music and as an educator she has reached tens of thousands worldwide."
He added: "I have no doubt that she will bring a wealth of new ideas to the organisation and build on Fergus' exceptional work from the last eight years."