Edinburgh International Festival 8th-31st August 2008

Preparations for Festival 09 are now reaching fever pitch as we get ready to reveal the programme on Wednesday 25 March. But as 2008 draws to a close we thought we’d cast one last look back over Festival 08. Festival 08 was an artistic, critical and financial success.

Thank you to everyone who came along to the Open Rehearsal, it was great to see so many fresh faces. Over 60 people joined the chorus for their rehearsal at The Hub in Edinburgh on Tuesday night. Chorus Master Christopher Bell led the visiting and regular singers through a hearty evening of singing. Lots of those who tried it out are now going on to audition, so good luck to them.

 

There was also a good show in Aberdeen, but still room for more. So if you are interested and missed that opportunity please don't be shy and get in touch.

 

Next week aspiring singers from across Scotland will have the chance to sing with the fantastic Edinburgh Festival Chorus at their Open Rehearsals in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Each year the Chorus re-auditions its current members and auditions for new singers to ensure outstanding performances at the Edinburgh International Festival and this is your chance to be in the line up for Festival 09.

 

Only two days to go till the end of the Festival 08 however the press coverage is still as extensive as ever with many new reviews in today's papers.

The announcement of the fireworks starter for the The Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert featured in quite a few of the papers today including The Edinburgh Evening News and The Herald. Competition winner, Morgan Bevis, was also featured on STV.

The winner of the Forth Radio competition to set off the fireworks was revealed this morning as nine year old Morgan Bevis from Livingston. Yesterday the youngster met up with the creative minds behind the Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert, Wilf Scott and Keith Webb of Pyrovision, who showed her the all important button. Morgan will set off more than 100,000 fireworks, four tonnes of explosives and hundreds of firing sequences at 9pm on Sunday 31 August at Edinburgh Castle.

 

Today's Herald de-mystifies the wonder and beauty of The Whirling Dervishes of Turkey.

The winners of the Edinburgh International Festival Award 2008 are Belt Up (nothing to see/hear).

 

The Edinburgh International Festival Award takes the form of an invitation to a company appearing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer to present a work in progress as part of the Edinburgh International Festival Behind the Scenes programme in 2009.

 

The papers rave today about the first of two performances of  Król Roger.