Simon Thompson

Phaedra / Minotaur in Edinburgh tried to say some profound things but ended saying not very much at all

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2023 [11] – Phaedra / Minotaur: Christine Rice (mezzo-soprano), Richard Hetherington (musical director and piano). Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, 19.8.2023. (SRT)

Kim Brandstrup’s Minotaur © Jess Shurte

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It’s Sir Simon’s Edinburgh International Festival farewell or maybe it’s simply au revoir

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2023 [10]: Cynthia Miller (ondes Martenot) Peter Donohoe (piano), London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Usher Hall, 6pm and 8pm, 18.8.2023. (SRT)

Sir Simon Rattle conducts the LSO © Mark Allan

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Pina Bausch’s breathtaking Rite of Spring is restaged at the Edinburgh International Festival

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2023 [9] – Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring and Germaine Acogny and Malou Airaudo’s common ground[s]: Edinburgh Playhouse, 17.8.2023. (SRT)

Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring © Maarten Vanden Abeele

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The LSO were on great form when let loose on Shostakovich’s Symphony No.11 in Edinburgh

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2023 [7] – Rachmaninov, Shostakovich: Mikhail Pletnev (piano), London Symphony Orchestra / Gianandrea Noseda (conductor). Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 14.8.2023. (SRT)

The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gianandrea Noseda © Mark Allan

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Project Smok’s utterly joyous concert of Scottish neo-trad music at the Hub

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2023 [6] – Traditional music played by Project Smok: Project Smok (Ali Levack [piper], Ewan Baird [bodhran] and Pablo Lafuente [guitar]). The Hub, Edinburgh, 12.8.2023. (SRT)

Project Smok

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András Schiff is full of surprises at the Edinburgh International Festival

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2023 [5] – Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven: Sir András Schiff (piano). Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, 11.8.2023. (SRT)

Sir András Schiff (during a previous concert) © Yutaka Suzuki

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Only with no trace of a gimmick does it work brilliantly for Iván Fischer and his orchestra in Edinburgh

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2023 [4] – Weber, Fanny Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn: Daniel Lozakovich (violin), Budapest Festival Orchestra / Iván Fischer (conductor), Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 10.8.2023. (SRT)

Iván Fischer conducts the Budapest Festival Orchestra at a previous concert

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