Edinburgh International Festival 2008 - dance, opera and classical music highlights

This year's theme of Artists without Borders is reflected across the programme which features an international line-up of artists drawn mainly from countries whose unstable borders have affected lives - including Israel, Palestine, Iran, Bosnia, Russia and Lebanon. Alongside classic works, the majority of performances will explore political and cultural identity, aiming to challenge as well as attract audiences.

DANCE highlights

GISELLE
Bolshoi Ballet prima ballerina Nina Ananiashvili and now artistic director of the State Ballet of Georgia will perform the title role in this production.
Playhouse 9 -10 August

STEVE REICH EVENING
Flemish company Rosas mounts a programme of choreographer Anna Teresa Da Keerskaeker's dance set to the music of minimalist composer Steve Reich.
Festival Theatre15-17 August

DORIAN GRAY
Matthew Bourne's latest production is freely adapted from Oscar Wilde's tale and updated to the contemporary art world.
King's Theatre 22-30 August, except 25 August.

DECA DANCE
The Batsheva Dance Company from Israel bring together highlights from Ohad Naharin's works
Playhouse 28-30 August

OPERA highlights

RISE AND FALL OF THE CITY OF MAHAGONNY
HK Gruber conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in this concert performance for the opening night of the International Festival.
Usher Hall, Aug 8

THE TWO WIDOWS
Scottish Opera, with newly appointed music director Francesco Corti, returns to the EIF with Smetana's comedy of manners performed in an English translation.
Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Aug 9-12

KRÓL ROGER
Szymanowki's 1926 opera is performed by the Maryinsky Opera in an authentically Polish production.
Festival Theatre Aug 25, 27

CLASSICAL highlights

GRAFFITI CLASSICS
Virtuosic mix of dancing, singing and clowning.
Pleasance Dome, Aug 9-17

BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Messiaën's anniversary is celebrated with a performance of Éclairs sur l'au-delà and Thomas Adès's Tevot gets another outing .
Usher Hall, Aug 10

CHANT WARS
Tea-time concerts exploring the traditional choral music of medieval Europe and the Middle East.
Greyfriars Kirk, Aug 11-15

GABRIELA MONTERO
Two recitals by the Venezuelan pianist. Mixing Chopin with Bach, and Debussy with Schumann at the Queen's Hall, and adapting themes suggested by the audience at The Hub.
Queen's Hall, Aug 12 (11am); The Hub (10.30pm)

PROKOFIEV CYCLE
Featuring all the Prokofiev symphonies, his two violin concertos and the Sinfonia Concertante for Cello and Orchestra. Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos plays the concertos .
Usher Hall, Aug 15-17

MONTEVERDI CHOIR
John Eliot Gardiner's choristers present Brahms's German Requiem preceeded by Heinrich Schütz's Musikalische Exequien.
Usher Hall, Aug 19

BUDAPEST FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
Performing a range of gypsy music, Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies and Bartók's forays into folk styles.
Usher Hall, Aug 23, 25; Queen's Hall, Aug 24

BEAUX ARTS TRIO
First appearing in Edinburgh back in 1960, this is the farewell performance of this premier American piano trio, performing Mendelssohn, Kurtag and Beethoven.
Queen's Hall, Aug 30

WOLPE!
The Hub, where the EIF offices are based, will host a late-night festival club this year with piano music, gypsy song and these two nights of music from Kurt Weill's contemporary Stefan Wolpe.
The Hub, 29-30 August