Fergus Linehan Reveals Plans for Edinburgh Festival 2015 - Juliette Binoche in ANTIGONE, THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO and More!

Fergus Linehan, Director Designate of Edinburgh International Festival, succeeds the current Festival Director Jonathan Mills on 1 October 2014, and is currently planning the 2015 to 2019 Festivals. Fergus will maintain and build on the Festival's leading position as a multi-artform Festival, bringing major international orchestras, classical artists and opera, dance and theatre companies to Edinburgh.

Illustrating his programming plans he reveals that Festival 2015 will include Ivo van Hove's production of Antigone in a new translation by Anne Carson, starring Juliette Binoche, produced with the Barbican London, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, in association with Toneelgroep Amsterdam and co-produced by Edinburgh International Festival, Théâtre de la Ville - Paris and Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen. Ivo van Hove's current run of A View from the Bridge in London is playing to very strong reviews, he was last at the Edinburgh International Festival in 1999 with India Song. This project signals a move towards the presentation of major new international co-productions in theatre.

A highlight of the music programme will be Ivan Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra presenting their acclaimed semi-staged production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Described as insightful, dramatic, charming and evocative, runs in New York and Budapest have delighted audiences and critics.

A public celebration of the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, celebrating 50 years in 2015, will sit at the heart of the Edinburgh International Festival next year. The Chorus, drawn from amateur singers from all walks of life and from across Scotland forms the Festival's only performing group. The Chorus stars each year at the Usher Hall with a roster of the world's finest conductors, and has created a legacy of performances the envy of choirs the world over.

There will be a re-alignment of the dates of the Edinburgh International Festival, with the 2015 Festival running from 7 - 31 August, coinciding with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Edinburgh Art Festival and ensuring that the core summer festival season in Edinburgh hosts a scale and diversity of events impossible to experience elsewhere in the world.

Fergus Linehan said: 'It has been a truly exciting few months getting to know the Festival and the staff, to talk with artists and so many stakeholders, and to begin to form and share my thoughts around the Edinburgh International Festivals I have the opportunity to programme.

'We are delighted to be able to share a couple of productions which will be presented at the Festival in 2015. We are thrilled to be welcoming Ivo van Hove and Juliette Binoche to Edinburgh and we look forward to working with our partners the Barbican, and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg alongside other co-producers to bring it to our audiences. We are equally honoured to present Ivan Fischer's fresh and engaging staging of The Marriage of Figaro with Budapest Festival Orchestra. Ivan has been a Festival favourite for many years and this production gives audiences a chance to enjoy him as both director and conductor with one of the world's great orchestras and an outstanding cast.

'After a period of reflection and consultation with a wide range of people involved in the city, the Festivals and associated businesses, it has been decided to move the Edinburgh International Festival's dates forward one week from 2015.

'The unique combination and coincidence of Edinburgh's summer festivals at full strength contributes to our world-wide success. It is this buzz and breadth of choice that offers the best possible experience for audiences and artists alike.

'Protecting this pre-eminence is crucial to the continuing phenomenal success of this world leading Festival city.

'Celebrating the fantastic history and current role of the Edinburgh Festival Chorus as it marks 50 years of performances at the Festival is an honour. The quality, dedication, and generous spirit of so many singers across Scotland over the decades is a prized aspect of the Festival's DNA.'

Festival 2014 runs 8 - 31 August. Festival 2015 runs 7 - 31 August Fergus Linehan is currently Director Designate. His full directorship of the Festival begins in October 2014 following the conclusion of Festival 2014, Jonathan Mills's final Festival as Director.

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