Opening Festival Event Attracts Thousands

The Edinburgh International Festival opened last night with The Harmonium Project, a free outdoor animated performance that lit up the city’s key concert hall, to celebrate 50 years of the Edinburgh Festival Chorus.

Approximately 19,500 watched a series of projected artworks, designed by 59 Productions, on the Usher Hall whilst listening to John Adams’ mesmerising choral work Harmonium.

The music was recorded by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, conducted by Peter Oundjian.

2015 is Festival Director Fergus Linehan’s first programme. Fergus’ previous roles include the Sydney Festival, Dublin Theatre Festival and Australia’s Vivid LIVE.

The Festival runs until Monday 31 August and welcomes more than 2,300 artists from 39 nations to perform in Scotland’s magnificent capital city.