The 2018 International Festival season bursts into life with a spectacular free outdoor digital performance celebrating Scotlands Year of Young People and reflecting on the centenary of the end of the Great War.
Inspired by themes of communication including telegrams sent by young soldiers in 1918, Five Telegrams weaves a newly commissioned orchestral score, projected digital artworks and live participation together to consider themes of machines and codes, censorship, propaganda and reconciliation " ideas that resonate powerfully in contemporary life.
Working closely with 59 Productions, Scottish composer Anna Meredith has crafted a new work for orchestra based on material found in the Imperial War Museum. Meredith is a composer, producer and performer whose genre-defying works span the worlds of classical, pop and electronic music.
Having created three previous epic opening performances, 59 Productions are well known to International Festival audiences. Over the past decade they have used innovative new technologies to reimagine concert performance, theatre, opera and exhibitions. Five Telegrams will be led by Richard Slaney, who was responsible for the hugely successful The Harmonium Project at the 2015 International Festival.
Five Telegrams is an historic partnership that will see two great festivals working closely together. The project will open both the International Festival outside the Usher Hall on 3 August and the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall on 13 July. This joint production marks the first time the International Festival and the Proms have worked together in this way. With additional contributions from young people in Edinburgh and working in partnership with Edinburgh College of Art, and as part of 14"18 NOW, the UK's arts programme for the First World War centenary, Five Telegrams is a truly collaborative event.
Created by Anna Meredith and 59 Productions
Co-commissioned by Edinburgh International Festival, BBC Proms and 14-18 NOW.
14-18 NOW is the UKs arts programme for the First World War centenary, with support from the National Lottery through Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, and from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
More information about some of the artists:
Anna Meredith
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59 Productions