Edinburgh Festival Guide

Listings: Talks & lectures

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Edinburgh: Festival City

Composer Tod Machover, conductor Peter Oundjian and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra take us through the creation of a new piece of music celebrating the City of Edinburgh and its Festival and co-created by members of the public.

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Tue 27 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Movements: Brian Eno

Music since recording is a new art form, which bears only as much resemblance to traditional, performed music as cinema does to theatre. What are the special characteristics of this new art? How did it evolve? Where might it be going? Brian Eno shares his thoughts.

National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh

Fri 23 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Movements.

Interfaces: The Leisure Revolution

Jesse Schell, Distinguished Professor of Entertainment Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, and technology entrepreneur Chris van der Kuyl discuss the gamification of design and its potential for widespread influence. Chaired by writer Ben Hammersley.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Sun 11 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Interfaces.

Reflections on Dance Odysseys

Mary Brennan, Dance Critic of The Herald, chairs a discussion with Scottish Ballet Artistic Director Christopher Hampson, Scottish Dance Theatre Artistic Director Fleur Darkin and Dance Base Artistic Director Morag Deyes.

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Mon 19 Aug

Free / 0131 473 2000

Part of Dance Odysseys.

A 15th Century Artist Predicts 21st Century Radiology

Peter Abrahams, Professor of Clinical Anatomy at Warwick University, explores the value of Leonardo’s anatomical drawings as a tool for understanding the human body, and how closely the artist anticipated the range of imagery used by the medical profession today.

The Queen's Gallery, Edinburgh

Mon 19 Aug

£10 (£8) / 0131 473 2000

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Art and Technology

Professor of Epistemics Jon Oberlander, Professor of Composition and Electroacoustic Composition Peter Nelson, and Chris Speed of the Edinburgh College of Art discuss historical, conceptual and philosophical relationships between the performing arts and technology. Chaired by theatre specialist Olga Taxidou.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Thu 29 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Edinburgh University Events.

Art, Science and Performance

Leonardo is celebrated as both an inspired artist and anatomist. This special event considers how contemporary artists, performers and scientists are informed by each other’s work in their exploration of the human body. Part of the Clod Ensemble’s Performing Medicine programme in collaboration with Wellcome Trust.

The Queen's Gallery, Edinburgh

Fri 23 Aug

£15 (£12) / 0131 473 2000

Artist Talk: Ângela Ferreira

Ângela Ferreira discusses her exhibition Political Cameras with curator Filipa Oliveria.

Stills, Edinburgh

Fri 2 Aug

Free / 0131 622 6200

Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

  • 11:00 – 12:00

Beckett and Contemporary Art: Make Sense Who May

Derval Tubridy, Goldsmiths, University of London, explores the vibrant interplay between Samuel Beckett’s work and contemporary art with a particular focus on bodies and technology. Chaired by Octavian Saiu.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Wed 28 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Beckett at the Festival.

Beckett on Film

Producer of the Beckett on Film project, Michael Colgan discusses the challenges in creating this extraordinary film collection.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Fri 30 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Beckett at the Festival.

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Cest Gelabert Conversation

Choreographer and solo performer Gerhart Bonher on the making of Im (Goldenen) Schnitt I.

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Sun 18 Aug

Free / 0131 473 2000

Part of Dance Odysseys.

Contemporary Classics Conversation

Christopher Hampson and Jane Pritchard, Curator of Dance at the V&A, inž conversation.

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Sat 17 Aug

Free / 0131 473 2000

Part of Dance Odysseys.

Conversations: Andreas Scholl

Countertenor Andreas Scholl talks to Richard Morrison, chief music critic of The Times.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Wed 28 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Conversations with Artists.

Conversations: Bang on a Can All-Stars

Members of New York City’s Bang on a Can All-Stars discuss making music new with Edinburgh-based composer John Harris.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Fri 23 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Conversations with Artists.

Conversations: Ensemble musicFabrik

Members of Ensemble musikFabrik talk to composer John Harris about their unique artistic vision.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Thu 29 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Conversations with Artists.

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Conversations: Grid Iron

Members of Grid Iron talk about Leaving Planet Earth in the company of journalist and critic Robert Dawson Scott.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Wed 14 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Conversations with Artists.

Conversations: Marco Stroppa and Pierre-Laurent Aimard

Electronic music composer Marco Stroppa and pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard talk to BBC Radio 3 presenter Tom Service about their pioneering work.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Mon 19 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Conversations with Artists.

Conversations: Meredith Monk

Meredith Monk explores the artist’s relationship with the environment, in conversation with Philip Campbell, editor of Nature magazine.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Thu 15 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Conversations with Artists.

Conversations: Nicola Boud and Kristian Bezuidenhout

Australian clarinettist Nicola Boud and fortepianist Kristian Bezuidenhout discuss their Queen’s Hall recital with Richard Morrison, chief music critic of The Times.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Thu 15 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Conversations with Artists.

Conversations: Philip Glass and Patti Smith

Philip Glass is joined by Patti Smith to discuss their cross-art form collaboration The Poet Speaks with writer and broadcaster Richard Coles.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Tue 13 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Conversations with Artists.

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Conversations: The Wooster Group

Elizabeth LeCompte and company members talk to Andrew Quick about their complex interpretation of Hamlet.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Mon 12 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Conversations with Artists.

Cultural Dialogue

August 2012 saw the inaugural Edinburgh International Culture Summit, an event that brought together Culture Ministers and officials from over 30 nations for a series of conversations about forging international dialogue through culture. Initiated by the Edinburgh International Festival in partnership with the British…

The Hub, Edinburgh

Fri 30 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Curators Talk

Curators from the Nam June Paik Art Center, Tate and Talbot Rice Gallery discuss the work and legacy of Nam June Paik.

Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh

Sat 10 Aug

Free / 0131 473 2000

Dance Odysseys Discussion

An overview of this unique weekend of dance, chaired by Scottish Ballet’s Artistic Director Christopher Hampson.

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Fri 16 Aug

Free / 0131 473 2000

Part of Dance Odysseys.

Dance on Film Talk

Curator of Dance Odysseys films Nele Hertling shares her thoughts on dance on celluloid.

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Mon 19 Aug

Free / 0131 473 2000

Part of Dance Odysseys.

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