Take a whistlestop round-the-world trip with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and William Barton.Joining the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jaime Martín, William Barton takes centre stage in Treaty by Deborah Cheetham Fraillon. Performed for the first time and composed for the Yidaki, the work evokes the depth and richness of Indigenous Australian culture.Created by Indigenous communities in northern Australia at least 1000 years ago, the Yidaki is widely known by the anglicised term Didgeridoo. Its name varies across regions, languages and cultural knowledge.Before reaching Australia, there’s a trip to Italy in Edward Elgar’s In the South. Written after an Italian holiday, Elgar said that he was inspired by ‘the thoughts and sensations of one beautiful afternoon’.Then on to an art gallery, where Modest Mussorgsky acts as tour guide in Pictures at an Exhibition. Vividly orchestrated by Maurice Ravel, each movement evokes a portrait or landscape, from a clumsy gnome to the majestic Great Gates of Kyiv.Listen on Soundcloud or Spotify.A keepsake freesheet is available at the venue for this performance.

SCOTTISH PREMIEREEncounter Cliff Cardinal's radical reimagining of Shakespeare's classic in this unapologetic production.Although Shakespeare’s title suggests something for all, cultural provocateur Cliff Cardinal has reimagined As You Like It as a play strictly for the open-minded. Unapologetic and unafraid to confront the thorny truths of our time, this bold adaptation balances black humour with raw emotion.Celebrated Canadian Indigenous playwright Cardinal brings his fearless storytelling to the International Festival for the very first time. His work explores themes of family, culture and systemic injustice with unflinching honesty and a dark, irreverent wit.This is Shakespeare in a way the Bard could never have imagined.Supported by The High Commission of Canada in the UK, Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts CouncilA keepsake freesheet is available at the venue for this performance.

Through puppetry and animation, Handspring Puppet Company reimagine Faust's downfall and reframe the classic tale to confront colonialism and the climate emergency.Would you strike a reckless deal with the devil for power, pleasure or profit? Faustus in Africa! reimagines the timeless tale of  Faust’s downfall, reframing it to confront the catastrophic costs of colonialism and the climate emergency.Directed by William Kentridge, this bold re-working of the Handspring Puppet Company’s multi-award-winning 1995 production combines puppetry with Kentridge’s celebrated animations. It follows Faustus on a reckless journey through greed and excess, set on an African safari. The haunting score, featuring Warrick Sony and the late James Phillips, ramps up the drama, while Handspring’s extraordinary puppetry (of War Horse fame) brings a surreal quality to the stage.Eleven years on from Ubu and the Truth Commission – praised for ‘confounding all kinds of expectations’ (The Times) – Kentridge and Handspring return to the  International Festival. With enduring relevance, 30 years after its original  premiere, Faustus in Africa! explores the moral trade-offs and compromises that shape our world. Listen on Soundcloud or Spotify.Performances on 21 and 23 August include English surtitles.Performance on 22 Aug is captioned.A keepsake freesheet is available at the venue for this performance.

Emerging vocalists perform Johannes Brahms's enchanting love waltzes under expert guidance from James Baillieu.Rising Stars offers the world a glimpse at the future of classical music. This edition of our Rising Stars concerts focuses on vocalists on the cusp of their careers, nurtured and inspired by a professional mentor.The up-and-coming singers perform Brahms’s Liebeslieder Waltzes, a set of heartfelt love songs. Setting folk-inspired poetry by Georg Friedrich Daumer, Brahms moves effortlessly between joy, longing, and playful mischief. Originally written for intimate salon performances, the waltzes became widely popular, with Brahms himself often playing the piano parts alongside Clara Schumann.Supported by David and Brenda Lamb andFinlay and Lynn WilliamsonGurney: TearsMaryam Wocial (soprano)Fauré: Les roses d’ispahanMaryam Wocial (soprano)Orr: Shy GeordieJames McIntyre (tenor)Francis George Scott: The Sauchs in the Reuch Heuch HauchJames McIntyre (tenor)Brahms: VersunkenJames McIntyre (tenor)Jonathan Dove: All You Who Sleep Tonight (All You Who Sleep Tonight)Nancy Holt (mezzo-soprano)Grieg: Sechs Lieder, Op. 48, Ein TraumNancy Holt (mezzo-soprano)Michael Head: Limehouse Reach and A Vagabond SongPeter Edge (baritone)Kurt Weill: Surabaya JohnnyCamilla Seale (mezzo-soprano)Tchaikovsky: Don Juan SerenadeLuke Terence Scott (baritone)Traditional: Yon The Castle Wa’Luke Terence Scott (baritone)Strauss: Beim SchlafengehenEmily Christina Loftus (soprano)Burns: Ca’ the yowes (unaccompanied)Euan McDonald (tenor)Hahn: L’heure exquise (7 Chansons Grises)Euan McDonald (tenor)Frank Bridge: Love went A-RidingEuan McDonald (tenor)Brahms: Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op. 52.AllSung in French, German, Russian, Scots and English with English surtitles.Number 15. Nachtigall, sie singt so schön (ENCORE)

Come on a musical journey encompassing two celtic traditions from Irish fiddle player Aoife Ní Bhriain and Welsh harpist Catrin Finch. A spellbinding musical dialogue comes to life under Celtic virtuosos, Catrin Finch & Aoife Ní Bhriain. Fiddle player Ní Bhriain and harpist Finch combine traditional Welsh and Irish tunes to create breathtaking new pieces which transport you from the Irish Sea to the west coast of Wales.The movement of honeybees, traditional and classical tunes and the cultures of their home countries worked as the main inspirations for Finch and Bhriain’s collaboration. Their debut album, Double You blends music from Johann Sebastian Bach, Felix Mendelssohn and Pietro Locatelli with traditional Celtic music, creating a truly distinct sound.Their music is filled with universal themes of bravery and self-belief. Let Catrin Finch & Aoife Ní Bhriain spirit you away in this enchanting evening charting the depths of traditional folk and the waves of sparkling creativity.

WORLD PREMIERE BEANBAG CONCERT SERIESDiscover Johann Sebastian Bach from a fresh perspective in this world premiere where classical music meets hip hop and contemporary dance.The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, performing on 18th-century period instruments, is joined by a troupe of dancers whose new choreography brings Bach’s music to life. Award-winning choreographer Kim Brandstrup returns to the Festival after his acclaimed Minotaur (2023). This August, he collaborates with professional dancers and young talent from Acland Burghley School in London. Brandstrup's original choreography is inspired by the pulsing rhythms of Bach's music, including his Double Violin Concerto and vibrant Third Brandenburg Concerto.Enjoy this electrifying fusion of contemporary dance and classical music from the comfort of a beanbag in the stalls or seated upstairs.Listen on Soundcloud or Spotify.Supported by Scobie Dickinson WardA keepsake freesheet is available at the venue for this performance.

Norwegian trio Østerlide transport you to the deepest tundra with their thrillingly reimagined folk melodies.Formed by guitarist Andreas Haddeland in his quest to reconnect with his Norwegian musical roots, Østerlide also stars folk singer Liv Ulvik and percussionist Ulrik Ibsen Thorsrud. Their inventive arrangements reconstruct centuries-old songs into atmospheric, meditative experiences.While Ulvik’s soaring, crystal-clear vocals carry the essence of these traditional tunes, Haddeland and Thorsrud’s strings and percussion add gentle and spacious sounds. The result is a haunting and mysterious soundscape.The group’s expansive and original music extends far beyond the borders of Norway but always returns to their homeland.

Experience the American composer transform The Hub with her modern electronica. Electronic artist Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith turns synth-driven soundscapes into otherworldly experiences. A leading force in progressive modern ambient music, she brings the Buchla modular synthesiser to life, shaping intricate, evolving compositions that blur the line between organic and electronic.Celebrated for her ethereal vocals and futuristic textures, she moves fluidly between whimsical melodies and hypnotic grooves. Each track feels like a world of its own, balancing playfulness with deep, immersive sound design.Continually experimenting, she pushes electronica to its limits, dissolving the boundaries between ambient, experimental, and dance music. With every release, she redefines the shape of sound itself.

Seasoned pros and fresh talent collide in an electrifying late-night jazz jam where improvisation leads the way.Indulge in the vibrant energy of a jazz jam at The Hub, where emerging talent improvise alongside seasoned professionals. Led by acclaimed pianist and composer Joe Webb, with jazz standards at the heart of the session, the musicians will create fresh, dynamic takes on timeless classics. Originally from Wales and now one of the most exciting forces on the UK jazz scene, Webb brings his distinctive energy and improvisational flair to the evening. Honed through his work with Kansas Smitty’s and as part of the Wynton Marsalis Quartet, where he made his Festival debut last year, don’t miss this chance to witness exciting improvisation and raw creativity in action.Set ListBlues WalkI found a new babySheik of ArabyLets cool oneBallad Medley:Easy LivingFlower is a love some thingVery thought of YouIsfahanPitter Patter PantherNoreens NocturneCorcovadoSister SadieStompin at the SavoyLimbo JazzGuest players were Chris Greive (trombone), Mario Caribe (double bass) and Oni Marsalis (Vocals).

Nicola Benedetti joins our Rising Stars on stage in this unrehearsed performance where you choose the repertoire.Rising Stars gives the world’s most promising young musicians a chance to shine on an international stage. In this experimental edition of our Rising Stars concerts, catch a glimpse into the future of classical music.Inspired by the spirit of jazz, emerging musicians play side-by-side with Festival Director Nicola Benedetti. Blending the precision of the composed score with the relaxed atmosphere of friends playing together, this unrehearsed performance harnesses the power of instinct and spontaneity. And you – the audience – get to choose what you want to hear.Schumann Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op.44Ravel String Quartet in F Major, M.35 (I. Allegro moderato)Mendelssohn Octet in E-flat major, Op.20 (I. Allegro moderato ma con fuoco)Rachmaninoff Trio élégiaque No.1 in G minorMozart String Quartet No.19 in C Major, K.465 "Dissonance" (I.Adagio - Allegro)Brahms Piano Quartet No.1 in G minor, Op.25 (IV. Rondo all Zingarese. Presto)Tchaikovsky String Sextet in D Minor, Op.70 "Souvenir de Florence" Movement I & II

Joined by Jasser Haj Youssef on viola d’amore, Yahya Hussein Abdallah invites you to a captivating recital of Eastern literature exploring faith, belief and spirituality.Tanzanian singer and composer Yahya Hussein Abdallah, winner of the 2022 Aga Khan Music Award, invites you to a captivating recital of Sufi poetry and Eastern literature exploring faith, belief and spirituality.  As a highly distinctive performer, both as a singer and a reciter, Yahya Hussein Abdallah creates a warm and enchanting atmosphere. Throughout this performance highlighting gems of both Sufi poetry and Eastern literature, Yahya Hussein Abdallah is joined by Jasser Haj Youssef on the Baroque viola d’amour. Tunisian-born Jasser Haj Youssef is trained in both Western and Arabic traditions, and his performance perfectly complements Yahya’s soulful voice.At the Hub we encourage artists to offer a free, more spontaneous performance style and to introduce the music themselves. The final programme will be updated here after the event.

This Polish string ensemble ignites fast-paced folk music with classical mastery.Inspired by music from the Beskidy Mountains, VOŁOSI combines traditional Polish folk elements with a vast array of different musical genres, creating a unique and energising sound.Expect a dynamic fusion of strings, as their free-wheeling technique encourages spontaneity and energy. VOŁOSI’s curiosity has led them to experiment with a wide range of genres – from rock and punk to folk, jazz and film music. Their music may be rooted in heritage and tradition, but is also driven by improvisation, allowing their melodies to shift from haunting to unpredictable.Captivating audiences worldwide at over 900 concerts, VOŁOSI’s performances are rich in emotion. The string quintet transcends musical boundaries, while never losing their connection to their musical traditions and heritage.