The Edinburgh International Festival, which began in 1947, with the aim of providing 'a platform for the flowering of the human spirit', presents a rich programme of classical music, theatre, opera and dance in six major theatres and concert halls and a number of smaller venues, over a three-week period in late summer each year. In addition to mounting the annual three week programme of events, the Festival has a year-round programme of education and outreach work, aimed at all ages from primary school pupils to adults.

PMF involvement:

1993 concert performance of Verdi's I due Foscari

2001 concert performance of Rossini's Armida

2003 concert performance of Rossini's Zelmira (recorded by Opera Rara in the preceding week)

2006 Rossini's La donna del lago (recorded live by Opera Rara)
The Usher Hall
cruelly exacting and infinitely expressive. Finding a cast capable of doing the work justice is still tricky, though this Edinburgh revival, beautifully conducted by Maurizio Benini, was in many respects a remarkable achievement. Carmen Giannattasio and Kenneth Tarver played Elena and James. Tarver, a great artist, was glorious, delivering his coloratura with jaw-dropping ease, and perfectly capturing the king's complex mix of dangerous charm and lethal political ruthlessness. There was thrilling singing elsewhere, too, even though Rossini doesn't characterise either Elena's fiance Rodrigo or her lover Malcolm with particular subtlety. Gregory Kunde's Rodrigo was all steely cruelty and thrilling heft. In the mezzo-in-drag role of Malcolm, Patricia Bardon brought the house down with her phenomenal delivery of her two arias.’

The Financial Times
‘Behold, a prima donna is born… judging by the confidence with which she met the technical challenges of her part, she has star temperament. But it was for her artistic qualities - above all the beauty and flexibility of her vocalism - that Gianniattasio made such a deep impression in an opera designed to display those very virtues… On the basis of this performance, conducted with style and assurance by Maurizio Benini, La donna del lago is the summit of Rossini's Neapolitan achievement - gloriously melodious, dramatically credible, with many original touches. We hear it so little because, in addition to the soprano, it demands two exceptional tenors and an outstanding mezzo. Kenneth Tarver contributed grace where Gregory Kunde brought excitement. Patricia Bardon and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus were no less virtuosic.’

The Sunday Times
‘An irresistible evening of bel canto high jinks. The live recording should be worth waiting for. Maurizio Benini conducted a sparkling SCO.’
Rossini’s Armida

The Independent
‘Clearly this was it. Sooner or later in the Edinburgh Festival something happens that stands out in the memory.'

Rossini's Zelmira

The Times
‘The firecrackers at the Edinburgh Festival's final fling were nothing compared with the vocal fireworks on display here in an especially rewarding closing concert.... a dazzling performance.'

Rossini's La donna del lago

Opera Magazine
‘...when the result is as stunning as this, everyone goes home happy… The Scottish Chamber Orchestra ... conducted with style and assurance by Maurizio Benini... was astonishingly consistent from start to finish ... I can scarcely wait for the Opera Rara recording.’

The Guardian
‘As always with Rossini, the relationships between desire, aggression and exaltation are mapped out in coloratura at once
3 December 2008