- Free tickets are available from 10am today for the 15,000 capacity Aberdeen Standard Investments Opening Event: LA Phil at Tynecastle, the spectacular opening of the Edinburgh festival season;
- Celebrating its 100th anniversary the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and legendary conductor Gustavo Dudamel perform at Edinburgh’s Tynecastle Stadium on Friday 2 August at 7pm;
- Family-friendly programme unveiled, featuring film music from Hollywood’s Golden Age – such as Vertigo and Casablanca – as well as a selection of much-loved John Williams soundtracks, including Harry Potter series, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Jaws and E.T.;
- Edinburgh International Festival’s ambitious engagement programme includes a family-friendly community event organised by Tynecastle High School students and Gorgie’s very own Walk of Fame;
- Edinburgh International Festival is delighted to continue the sponsorship partnership with Aberdeen Standard Investments and to have the ongoing support of EventScotland.
Today, the Edinburgh International Festival releases thousands of tickets for the completely free 15,000 capacity Aberdeen Standard Investments Opening Event: LA Phil at Tynecastle. The tickets are available from 10am at www.eif.co.uk.The Opening Event sees one of the world’s leading orchestras, conducted by the legendary Gustavo Dudamel, perform some of the best-loved film music in front of a vast crowd at the iconic Tynecastle Stadium. Due to an earlier start time, informal environment, world-famous and widely accessible musical programme, and significant capacity, the concert is expected to attract a mix of families, music lovers, and first-time classical music audiences.
Gustavo Dudamel said: “To be at the Edinburgh International Festival is always an honour, it’s a symbol of Scotland and a privilege to be part of it.
“The Festival is one of the first places I visited, first with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and then with the Simon Bolivar Orchestra, and now together for the first time with the LA Phil. It’s an outstanding festival and a perfect setting to continue our centennial celebrations.”
Edinburgh International Festival’s Learning and Engagement team has been working with Tynecastle High to develop the Tynecastle High International Festival Ambassadors, a self-selected group of students from across the school, that created a one-off community event, Heart of Hollywood. In preparation for the event, a series of workshops were held at the school investigating the music of John Williams and the relationship between film and music.
Another project in Gorgie and Dalry sees primary school pupils designing their own stars in the style of those in Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, celebrating the children’s own talents. These will be unveiled in Tynecastle Stadium’s plaza in early August. Gustavo Dudamel himself has a Walk of Fame star which was unveiled in January 2019 in the presence of composer John Williams.
Caroline Donald, Head of Learning and Engagement, Edinburgh International Festival said: “The Festival’s community projects and partnerships have been embedded in the planning ever since we started working on the Opening Event.
“We have been working with primary schools and young people in Gorgie and Dalry areas on various projects not only showcasing their individual talents but also developing their creative and employability skills.”
“With the Opening Event happening at the iconic Tynecastle Stadium it has also given us a chance to bring a whole new audience to the Festival. Thanks to a familiar repertoire and early start, we also hope the event will be popular with families with young children.”
“I hope the impact of the Festival’s engagement work will be felt in the local community for years to come and everyone will have a fantastic evening.”
Sponsors and supporters
The Edinburgh International Festival is delighted to continue the Opening Event sponsorship partnership with Aberdeen Standard Investments in this, the first of a new three-year agreement. It is also delighted to have the continued support of EventScotland, who has supported the Opening Event since its inception in 2015.
Keith Skeoch, CEO, Aberdeen Standard Investments said: “We’re proud to support the Edinburgh International Festival’s Opening Event for the fourth year running. Together Aberdeen Standard Investments and the International Festival share a rich heritage and vision.
“This year we will be celebrating a truly spectacular visit from the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra on what is their 100th birthday. We’re sure that Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil will bring the event to life in breath-taking fashion.”
Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland said: “EventScotland has been a proud supporter of the Edinburgh International Festival’s Opening Event since its inception in 2015. The evolution of the event, from projections on iconic Edinburgh buildings and locations to this year’s classical music performance within a football stadium, is a bold and innovative shift.
“It ensures that the vision of creating a spectacular free opening event, which is inclusive and accessible to new audiences, continues. This year’s event promises to be another truly memorable occasion and a night not to be missed so I highly recommend you secure your free tickets before it’s too late.”
Event Information
LA Phil at Tynecastle starts at 7pm at Edinburgh’s Tynecastle Stadium in Gorgie , home of the Hearts football team. It will feature the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra performing an outdoor concert inspired by those so popular in their hometown venue, the Hollywood Bowl, and conducted by the legendary Gustavo Dudamel, Venezuelan-born Music and Artistic Director at LA Phil, one of the most distinguished and popular conductors of 21st century.
The rich programme of music will comprise of a selection from Hollywood’s Golden Age films and blockbusters scored by one of Hollywood’s most popular composers, John Williams. It will include:
| Korngold | March of the Merry Men from The Adventures of Robin Hood |
| Williams | Shark Cage Fugue/Out to Sea from Jaws |
| Herrmann | Suite from Vertigo |
| Williams | Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone |
| Williams | Fawkes the Phoenix from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets |
| Steiner | Suite from Casablanca |
| Williams | Olympic Fanfare and Theme |
| Waxman | Sunset Boulevard Suite |
| Williams | Theme from Jurassic Park |
| Williams | Adventures on Earth from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial |
| Mancini | Theme from The Pink Panther |
| Williams | Throne Room and Finale from Star Wars |
| Encores | |
| Williams | The Imperial March from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back |
| Williams | Superman March from Superman |
Approximately 90-minutes duration.
LA Phil Residency
Following the Opening Event on the Friday night the LA Phil and Dudamel continue their International Festival residency on Saturday and Sunday with performances at the Usher Hall. These include one of the grandest and most gripping symphonies ever written, Mahler’s Symphony No 2 ‘Resurrection’ which will also feature Edinburgh Festival Chorus and the European Premiere tour of John Adams’ new piano concerto Must the Devil have all the Good Tunes?, featuring the virtuosic Yuja Wang.
LA Phil and Gustavo Dudamel also bring to Edinburgh 20 members of Youth Orchestra Los Angeles’, youth orchestra programme for underserved communities throughout Los Angeles to take part in activities with Scotland’s Big Noise orchestra, a music programme that changes lives by fostering confidence, discipline and teamwork in the young people taking part. YOLA’s visit to the Scottish capital culminates in a free open rehearsal at the Usher Hall on 4 August which will be led by Gustavo Dudamel himself.
Residency supported by Principal Supporters Dunard Fund USA.
Ann Budge, CEO & Chairwoman at Heart of Midlothian Football Club said: “The club is both delighted and honoured that the Edinburgh International Festival has agreed to bring the 2019 opening event to Tynecastle Park.
“We really can’t wait to welcome thousands of local families and friends to the stadium to hear Gustavo Dudamel conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a spectacular tribute to the music of Hollywood.
“The move to bring this free festival event here fulfils our ambition to showcase the fantastic facilities at Tynecastle for more than just football. We want to make it a hub for social and economic change in our community and beyond.”
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