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Sun 27 Aug 2006

Audiences are converging on Edinburgh from across Scotland and abroad to enjoy the incredibly strong line up of artists appearing in the third week of the Edinburgh International Festival.

Tonight sees the final night of Stuart MacRae’s new opera The Assassin Tree at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, a co-production between the Edinburgh International Festival, the Royal Opera House and Scottish Opera which transfers to London in September (commissioned with support from The Morton Charitable Trust).

Balanchine’s Don Quixote danced by the Suzanne Farrell Company and directed by the dance icon herself (sponsored by Standard Life) continues at the Playhouse.

On Monday Simon Keenlyside kicks off the final week of concerts in the Bank of Scotland Queen’s Hall Series, followed up by the EIF debut of acclaimed operatic German soprano Angela Denoke.

Tuesday sees the opening of American Repertory Theatre’s take on Chekhov’s classic drama Three Sisters, seen through the unique vision of Polish director Krystian Lupa (supported by the EIF Patrons and Muses).

Wednesday is the opening night of Calixto Bieito’s adaptation of Michel Houellebecq’s Platform with Spanish soap star Juan Echanove in the lead role and the first Festival appearance of Bieito’s Barcelona company Teatre Romea.

Thursday sees two major international events with a visit from Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic to the Usher Hall and the opening night of Claudio Abbado’s acclaimed Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte at the Festival Theatre. Both sold out months ago, but in the Festival spirit there is still the opportunity to squeeze in with 50 Turn Up and Try It tickets (all priced £10) released an hour before on the door.

Thursday also sees Festival favourites Nederlands Dan Theater open at the Playhouse with a sassy, sexy, classy night of dance choreographed by Paul Lightfoot and Sol León.

Latvian New Riga Theatre Company continues its run of the intricate, beautifully observed Long Life at The Hub.

The Lloyds TSB Scotland Concerts culminate on Friday with Beethoven and Bruckner’s Symphonies number 9 and Beethoven’s Hammerklavier.

The sign-off of the Edinburgh International Festival is the Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert on Sunday 3 September at 9pm. Over 225,000 people are expected to watch this spectacular display across the city with Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet performed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra broadcast live of Forth 1 and Forth 2.