Opera, theater, dance and music are all features of Edinburgh's International Festival. Summer travelers to Scotland will find the capital city home to world-class musicians and performers. Talent is brought in from around the world for three packed weeks of art celebrations. Operas may include works by Puccini, Mozart or Gershwin. Fans of dance will find venues that may feature the likes of Paco Pena Flamenco Dance Company, Grupo Corpo and other classic and contemporary shows. Likewise, some of the most well-known theater companies in the world contribute to the festival, from Scotland's own National Theatre to Chile's Teatro Cinema. In terms of music, the Edinburgh Festival seeks to present a large selection of musical forms from that year's most talked about names. Visitors may also choose to attend a number of lectures and workshops to further their education.
Edinburgh International Festival
The Hub, Castlehill
Edinburgh UK
EH1 2NE
+44-131-473-2099
eif.co.uk
Two weeks before Ash Wednesday, Venice puts on a centuries-old celebration that takes the city by storm. The festival was originally designed to embrace the approaching spring and to honor the beginning of Lent. Don a mask, the function of which was to protect guests from ruining their reputations, and be a part of the mad hedonism of Carnevale. Despite the party atmosphere, this festival plays a serious host to Baroque music concerts, culinary displays that pay tribute to the edible history of Venice, costume balls featuring 18th-century dances and theatrical presentations. The festival ends on Shrove Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday.
Carnevale
Venice, Italy
www.carnevale.venezia.it
Home to Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon turns out a yearly literary festival that takes place in the spring and features a number of author readings, panels, discussions, writing workshops and art exhibits. Additionally, the Royal Shakespeare Company performs its season here, so visitors to the festival will have an array of theater productions from which to choose. Festivities increase on the Saturday closest to April 23rd, Shakespeare's birthday.
The Stratford upon Avon Literary Festival
c/o 12 Payton Street
Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6UA
+178-947-0185
www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk
Stratford-upon-Avon also presents a separate music festival in the summer and fall of each year. International musicians are brought in to perform for one weekend mid-summer and for one week in the fall.
Stratford-upon-Avon Music Festival
Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
+178-920-7100
www.stratfordmusicfestival.com
