Edinburgh Festival
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Rough Guide readers recently voted that “soaking up the Edinburgh festival atmosphere” as the number one tourist experience in the UK.
Summer in the city in Edinburgh is a magical and inspiring time when, it seems, the rest of the world comes to town. In August the population more than doubles when around 850,000 visitors arrive for the largest arts festival on the planet. There are in fact four main festivals. The Edinburgh International Festival, founded in 1947 to reunite Europe through artistic exchange after World War II, has developed into a legendary showcase of world class opera, music, drama, contemporary dance and classical ballet. This year’s inspiring theme focuses on the diverse cultures of Europe today featuring Valery Gergiev conducting Prokofiev, State Ballet of Georgia, Brecht, Alfred Brendel, The Dybbuk performed in Polish, world premiere of Dorian Gray by Matthew Bourne dance company and music from Brahms to Bartok.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is officially the largest arts festival in the world and renowned for stand up comedy, theatre, dance and music shows – an average of 2,000 different productions in 250 venues. The delightful Edinburgh International Book Festival takes place in a tented village in the tranquil Charlotte Square Gardens (children love their own special tents) while the Edinburgh Jazz Festival presents an eclectic mix of jazz and blues musicians from around the world. During July and August this is a six week extravagant feast of culture, art exhibitions and entertainment, with free, fun street theatre, jugglers and buskers creating a colourful, carnival atmosphere.
Please note that the Edinburgh International Film Festival is moving this year from August to take place from 18 –29 June 2008.
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Edinburgh Festivals
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