A selection of Finnish art and culture at Edinburgh's International Festivals

It is once again the time of year when the annual Fringe Festival (5.8.-29.8.2011) and the Edinburgh International Festival (12.8.-4.9.2011) fill the streets and theatres of the Scottish capital city with all forms of art and culture.

This year marks the 64th anniversary of the two festivals that were created in 1947 with an original idea of gathering various forms of culture under one international festival. The Fringe Festival was created the same year as a consequence of eight theatre groups being denied entrance to the official Edinburgh Festival, offering more unofficial and varied programme. However, though separate, these two festivals mix in the streets of Edinburgh to create a month long extravaganza of culture where there's surely something for every visitor.

This year the Edinburgh Festival draws its main theme from the Far East and from the vibrant cultures of Asia, but there is also a variety of Finnish performers in this years’ programme. Especially in the Edinburgh International Festival Finnish performers and artists have a long tradition, and this year also The Fringe has taken some Finnish color to its programme.

Bringing a taster from the Finnish theatre scene to the Fringe are two productions Chaos and the Overcoat, which are part of cultural export project made in association with the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. This is the first Finnish cultural export project at the Fringe Festival. Chaos, a dark comedy, and The Overcoat, a story about a Finnish man and his coat, are both adapted and performed by Scottish actors/actresses but still holding on to the Finnish influences and vibes in both productions.

Another Finnish act at the Fringe is the a cappella group Fork, whose show 'Pink Noise by FORK' has already received positive reviews from festival goers and critics. Fork's performance is combination of music, theatre, art and light show, and they have already been performing around the globe.

At the Edinburgh International Festival Finnish music has a strong presence this year. Internationally acclaimed Conductor and currently the Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Philharmonia orchestra of London, Esa-Pekka Salonen, arrives at Edinburgh on Tuesday 23rd August to perform three opuses at the Usher Hall. During the same week the world-renowned baritone Arttu Kataja will perform in Haydn's Orlando Paladino (25.8.) and the next day the pianist Olli Mustonen returns to the Edinburgh International Festival to play a variety of opuses (26.8.).

Also on Friday 26th August in the Playhouse theatre the Scottish Ballet perform their new work choreographed by Jorma Elo. He was named the resident choreographer of the Boston ballet in 2005 and Elo is said to be one of the most sought-after choreographers in the United States and in Europe at the moment.

The icing on the ‘Finnish cake’ this year at the festival must be the return of soprano Karita Mattila. She is one of the most successful opera singers in the world and performs in the leading opera halls around the world. Grammy award-winning Mattila performs on Thursday the 1st of September at the Usher Hall, one of the main venues of the festival. Her programme this year includes German, French and Finnish songs full of dramatic characterization and melodic innovation.

More information on the festivals and their respective programmes can be found from the official websites:

Edinburgh International Festival(Link to another website.)

Fringe Festival(Link to another website.)

Text: Otto Turtonen, Embassy of Finland in London