Edinburgh Festival Highlights

The following acts at the the 2010 Edinburgh International Festival are really worth a visit to watch and be entertained.

The current International Festival home is the ‘Hub’ formerly ‘The Highland Tolbooth’ – an architecturally remarkable building a couple of minutes walk from Edinburgh Castle, orginally built as an assembly house for the Church of Scotland. Its gothic spire is the highest point in central Edinburgh, and can be seen for many miles around. Serviced City Pads.

The Gospel at Colonus

First devised by American director Lee Breuer, who brought Mabou Mines Dollhouse to the EIF in 2007, the Gospel at Colombus is a radical reworking of Sophocles’ classic Grekk drama, the tragedy of Oedipus at Colombus, with everything from Gospel to elements of rock’n’roll. It features the Blind Boys of Alabama, a gospel choir who may set to become a festival sensation.Serviced City Pads.

Mau

Samoan choreographer and shaman Lemi Ponifasio, based in New Zealand, explores the idea that somewhere in the Pacific, a floating island of discarded plastic bottles has become the nesting material for migrating birds. His company Mau brings two productions – Birds with Skymirrors, using plastic waste picked up by seabirds as a metaphor for pollutions impact on the islands of the pacific, and tempest: Without a Body, featuring tattooed Maori activist Tame Iti in a work inspired by Shakespeares play which delves into Polynesian ritual. Serviced City Pads and short stay accommodation.

Mahler Symphony N0 8

The closing concert at the Usher Hall, Mahlers great work features the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Junior Chorus, with eight soloist, With the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Donald Runnicles, it promises a spectacular finale.

Porgy and Bess

Opera de Lyon production of Gerschwins classic modern opera, written at the end of the Great Depression in 1935. With its heart rending love story, George Gerschwins score contains modern classics like It Ain’t Necessarily So and I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin. Choreographers Jose Montalvo and Dominique Hervieu had a festival hit in 2007 with On Danse. Serviced Apartments with Serviced City Pads.
Paco Pena

It may not reach the lofty artistic heights of past Edinburgh festivals, but no show better captures the exuberant spirit of 2010. The ‘sophisticating and tantalising’ Paco Pena Flamenco Dance Company come with the world premiere of Quimeras, telling how flamenco dance arrived in Spain with immigrants from North Africa. It is a story of the ‘new world speaking back and giving back to the old world’, says Edinburgh International Festival director Jonanthan Mills. Short stay serviced apartments.
The Alonzo King Lines Ballet

The African American choreographer Alonzo King, whose family were prominant in the Civil Rights movement, brings his San Francisco-based Lines Ballet for its UK debut. Rasa sees a collaboration with the virtuoso tabla player Zakir Hussain in a mix of US contemporary dance and Indian classical music. Dust and Light is set to works by Corelli and Poulenc. Contact the Serviced City Pads Reservations Team on 0844 335 8866 for short stay accommodation throughout Edinburgh.