Music, Opera within 5 miles of Edinburgh

Seductress, victim, manipulator: Lulu lives off men as both tortured and torturer, purveyor of ecstasy and angel of death. Caught up in greedy games and seedy schemes, and surrounded by lovers driven to despair, Lulu makes an inexorable rise to the highest levels of power, money and fame. But her descent is just as swift.

Minimalist composer Philip Glass’s magical reimagining of Jean Cocteau’s 1946 La Belle et la Bête combines the classic black and white film with live performance in a Šsophisticated work that is at once a touching fairy tale and a meditation on creativity. Removing the film’s original dialogue track and score by Georges…

Desire, obsession and doomed love: Oper Frankfurt’s striking double bill brings together two one-act operas separated by more than 200 years of musical history, yet united in their searing explorations of human relationships. Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas is a poignant masterpiece of early English opera that features some of…

The largest arts festival in the world and the greatest show on earth. Every year thousands of performers take to a multitude of stages all over Edinburgh to present shows for every taste. From big names in the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers, the festival caters for everyone and…

Bringing world-class arts to the capital since 1947, the EIF sets the standard for classical concerts, opera, dance and theatre, with performers drawn from around the world. Among this year's many highlights, curated on a theme of art and technology, are Scottish Ballet's Dance Odysseys, Beethoven's Fidelio rocketed into…

Imprisoned and tortured for threatening to expose the barbarity of a brutal regime, political prisoner Florestan has little hope left. Only a daring feat of heroism by his loyal wife Leonore can offer him a chance of escape – and of justice. Beethoven’s only opera is a cry of defiance against oppression and an ode to…

A live screening direct from the Glyndebourne Festival of Opera of Richard Strauss' comedic 1912 opera Ariadne auf Naxos.

World Premiere: Travelling salesman and sole breadwinner for his family, Gregor Samsa awakes one day to discover that he has been transformed into a giant insect. Unable to communicate and shocking to anyone who sees him, he is forced into a solitary existence confined to his room. As he becomes insufferable to himself…

Verdi's opera live from the Taormina Arts festival.

An evening of Italian opera, with the renowned Croatian mezzo-soprano Renata Pokupić. Enrique Mazzola conducts extracts from Respighi (Trittico botticelliano and Il Tramonto), Rossini (the 'Overture' and 'Di tanti palpita' from Tancredi) and Menotti's Suite from Sebastian.

Robin Ticciati kicks off the Scottish Chamber Orchestra's 40th anniversary season with Berlioz's last opera, featuring a libretto by the composer himself based on Shakespeare's sparkling rom-com Much Ado About Nothing. Featuring Karen Cargill and John Tessier as the quarrelling pair and a host of guest soloists. Sung in…

A free, hour-long peek backstage at the inner workings, characters, scenes and high points of The Pirates of Penzance.

The Secret Opera society lend even more authenticity to your three course Italian meal as they sing while you sup.