Nicola Benedetti And The Edinburgh International Festival [Music Matters]

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

Beginnings

20240803

‘Where do we go from here?' was Nicola Benedetti's eye-catching provocation in her first ever Festival as Director. In this first episode of a new series Nicola reflects on the Festival's beginnings. In the wake of the World War II, opera impresario Rudolf Bing set up the Edinburgh International Festival as a way to reunite people through great art. It was a vision that has enriched our cultural life ever since. Nicola looks at early challenges, the legacies left by some of the Directors and revisits the age-old question of how Scottish the Festival should be, as well as asking whether its original remit is still relevant today.

Nicola Benedetti tells the story of the Edinburgh International Festival, starting with its origins in the wake of World War II and the hope of reuniting people through great art.

‘Where do we go from here?' was Nicola Benedetti's eye-catching provocation in her first ever Festival as Director. In this first episode of a new series Nicola reflects on the Festival's beginnings. In the dark days of austerity after World War II, opera impresario Rudolf Bing set up the Edinburgh International Festival as a way to reunite people through great art. It was a vision that has enriched our cultural life ever since. Nicola looks at early challenges, the legacies left by some of the Directors, as well as asking whether its original remit is still relevant today.

With contributions from composers Thea Musgrave and James MacMillan, cellist Abel Selaocoe, previous festival directors Robert Ponsonby, Brian McMaster and Jonathan Mills and broadcaster James Naughtie.

Internationalism

20240810

Nicola reflects on the early ambitions that drove the festival forward; the programming, artists and events that got the attention of the classical world. She considers what being an international festival meant in the early days, and how that definition has broadened over the years.

With contributions from conductors Gustavo Dudamel and Elim Chan, previous festival director Fergus Linehan and cellist Abel Selaocoe.

Nicola Benedetti, current director of the Edinburgh International Festival, considers how the festival's international programming has changed over the years.

Scale And Spectacle

20240817

From its earliest days the Edinburgh International Festival has offered its audiences spectacle in a variety of ways. In this episode, Nicola focuses on some of the must-see moments in opera, music, dance and theatre which have dazzled audiences over the years. She also looks at the collaborative projects that were unique to the Festival, from a 1948 revival of the satirical morality play The Three Estates, first performed in 1552, to Scottish Opera's award-winning Ring Cycle in 2003, as well as some of the more comic moments of creative programming, from Anna Russell to Alan Cumming. With contributions from performers Alan Cumming and Karine Polwart, and former directors Fergus Linehan, Jonathan Mills, Brian McMaster and Robert Ponsonby.

Nicola Benedetti tells the story of the Edinburgh International Festival, today looking at the ways in which the festival has made an impact over the years.

Diversity Of Music

20240824

Nicola Benedetti, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, explores the history of this great annual occasion and some of the people and performances that have made it what it is in its 77th year. Last week she looked at the big moments of community and spectacle; this week she focusses on the variety of music the festival has featured over its eight decade history.

She traces the programming of Indian classical music, and folk music from Scotland and the world, as well as recent expansions of the jazz and contemporary pop music offerings, with contributions from composer James MacMillan, jazz bassist Endea Owens, singer-songwriter Karine Polwart and former festival directors Brian McMaster, Jonathan Mills and Fergus Linehan.

Nicola Benedetti, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, explores its history and some of the people and performances that have made it what it is today.

Deep Listening

20240831

Nicola Benedetti, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, explores the past and present of this annual occasion, now in its 77th year.

Today she focusses on the unparalleled opportunity it offers for a deep listening experience, particularly in the elegant Georgian surroundings of The Queen's Hall, a venue well-known to many BBC Radio 3 listeners for the broadcasts of concerts from the Queen's Hall Series. Nicola celebrates the incredible roll call of instrumentalists and singers whose international careers brought them to Edinburgh, from Kathleen Ferrier and Anne Sofie Von Otter to Jonas Kaufmann and Sheku Kanneh-Mason, before reflecting on what it means to really listen deeply. With contributions from opera singer Danielle de Niese, conductor Ivan Fischer and jazz bassist Endea Owens.

Nicola Benedetti, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, explores its history and some of the people and performances that have made it what it is today.

Nicola Benedetti, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, explores the past and present of this annual occasion, now in its 77th year.

Current director Nicola Benedetti tells the story of the Edinburgh International Festival.

The stories that matter, the people that matter, the music that matters

Nicola Benedetti, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, explores its history and some of the people and performances that have made it what it is today.

Rituals That Unite Us

20240907

Today in this final episode, Nicola focusses on the theme of the 2024 festival, Rituals that Unite Us: the ways in which music can provide an opportunity to experience something really special in the community and building bonds between individuals along the way.

She looks at the ways in which the festival has joyfully broken down barriers over the years to give audiences new ways of enjoying and accessing music, and considers why it is an essential part of the festival's mission to do so.

Current director Nicola Benedetti tells the story of the Edinburgh International Festival.

The stories that matter, the people that matter, the music that matters

Nicola Benedetti tells the story of the Edinburgh International Festival, today exploring the part the festival plays in providing collective experiences that bind us together.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	Beginnings	20240803	‘Where do we go from here?' was Nicola Benedetti's eye-catching provocation in her first ever Festival as Director. In this first episode of a new series Nicola reflects on the Festival's beginnings. In the wake of the World War II, opera impresario Rudolf Bing set up the Edinburgh International Festival as a way to reunite people through great art. It was a vision that has enriched our cultural life ever since. Nicola looks at early challenges, the legacies left by some of the Directors and revisits the age-old question of how Scottish the Festival should be, as well as asking whether its original remit is still relevant today. Nicola Benedetti tells the story of the Edinburgh International Festival, starting with its origins in the wake of World War II and the hope of reuniting people through great art. ‘Where do we go from here?' was Nicola Benedetti's eye-catching provocation in her first ever Festival as Director. In this first episode of a new series Nicola reflects on the Festival's beginnings. In the dark days of austerity after World War II, opera impresario Rudolf Bing set up the Edinburgh International Festival as a way to reunite people through great art. It was a vision that has enriched our cultural life ever since. Nicola looks at early challenges, the legacies left by some of the Directors, as well as asking whether its original remit is still relevant today. With contributions from composers Thea Musgrave and James MacMillan, cellist Abel Selaocoe, previous festival directors Robert Ponsonby, Brian McMaster and Jonathan Mills and broadcaster James Naughtie.
02	Internationalism	20240810	Nicola reflects on the early ambitions that drove the festival forward; the programming, artists and events that got the attention of the classical world. She considers what being an international festival meant in the early days, and how that definition has broadened over the years. With contributions from conductors Gustavo Dudamel and Elim Chan, previous festival director Fergus Linehan and cellist Abel Selaocoe. Nicola Benedetti, current director of the Edinburgh International Festival, considers how the festival's international programming has changed over the years.
03	Scale And Spectacle	20240817	From its earliest days the Edinburgh International Festival has offered its audiences spectacle in a variety of ways. In this episode, Nicola focuses on some of the must-see moments in opera, music, dance and theatre which have dazzled audiences over the years. She also looks at the collaborative projects that were unique to the Festival, from a 1948 revival of the satirical morality play The Three Estates, first performed in 1552, to Scottish Opera's award-winning Ring Cycle in 2003, as well as some of the more comic moments of creative programming, from Anna Russell to Alan Cumming. With contributions from performers Alan Cumming and Karine Polwart, and former directors Fergus Linehan, Jonathan Mills, Brian McMaster and Robert Ponsonby. Nicola Benedetti tells the story of the Edinburgh International Festival, today looking at the ways in which the festival has made an impact over the years.
04	Diversity Of Music	20240824	Nicola Benedetti, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, explores the history of this great annual occasion and some of the people and performances that have made it what it is in its 77th year. Last week she looked at the big moments of community and spectacle; this week she focusses on the variety of music the festival has featured over its eight decade history. She traces the programming of Indian classical music, and folk music from Scotland and the world, as well as recent expansions of the jazz and contemporary pop music offerings, with contributions from composer James MacMillan, jazz bassist Endea Owens, singer-songwriter Karine Polwart and former festival directors Brian McMaster, Jonathan Mills and Fergus Linehan. Nicola Benedetti, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, explores its history and some of the people and performances that have made it what it is today.
05	Deep Listening	20240831	Nicola Benedetti, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, explores the past and present of this annual occasion, now in its 77th year. Today she focusses on the unparalleled opportunity it offers for a deep listening experience, particularly in the elegant Georgian surroundings of The Queen's Hall, a venue well-known to many BBC Radio 3 listeners for the broadcasts of concerts from the Queen's Hall Series. Nicola celebrates the incredible roll call of instrumentalists and singers whose international careers brought them to Edinburgh, from Kathleen Ferrier and Anne Sofie Von Otter to Jonas Kaufmann and Sheku Kanneh-Mason, before reflecting on what it means to really listen deeply. With contributions from opera singer Danielle de Niese, conductor Ivan Fischer and jazz bassist Endea Owens. Nicola Benedetti, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, explores its history and some of the people and performances that have made it what it is today. Nicola Benedetti, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, explores the past and present of this annual occasion, now in its 77th year. Today she focusses on the unparalleled opportunity it offers for a deep listening experience, particularly in the elegant Georgian surroundings of The Queen's Hall, a venue well-known to many BBC Radio 3 listeners for the broadcasts of concerts from the Queen's Hall Series. Nicola celebrates the incredible roll call of instrumentalists and singers whose international careers brought them to Edinburgh, from Kathleen Ferrier and Anne Sofie Von Otter to Jonas Kaufmann and Sheku Kanneh-Mason, before reflecting on what it means to really listen deeply. With contributions from opera singer Danielle de Niese, conductor Ivan Fischer and jazz bassist Endea Owens. Current director Nicola Benedetti tells the story of the Edinburgh International Festival. The stories that matter, the people that matter, the music that matters Nicola Benedetti, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, explores its history and some of the people and performances that have made it what it is today.
06	Rituals That Unite Us	20240907	Today in this final episode, Nicola focusses on the theme of the 2024 festival, Rituals that Unite Us: the ways in which music can provide an opportunity to experience something really special in the community and building bonds between individuals along the way. She looks at the ways in which the festival has joyfully broken down barriers over the years to give audiences new ways of enjoying and accessing music, and considers why it is an essential part of the festival's mission to do so. Current director Nicola Benedetti tells the story of the Edinburgh International Festival. The stories that matter, the people that matter, the music that matters Nicola Benedetti tells the story of the Edinburgh International Festival, today exploring the part the festival plays in providing collective experiences that bind us together.