Festival SoundBites

Hear about the logistical difficulties performing Berlioz's majestic 'Grande Messe des Morts', which will be performed by the world-renowned Edinburgh Festival Chorus at the Usher Hall on Saturday 22 August.

Discover the fascinating history behind Stravinsky's scandalous 'The Rite of Spring', which will be conducted by Valery Gergiev and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra at the Usher Hall on Sunday 30 August.

Listen to the patriotic history of Sibelius's expansive and powerful 'Symphony No 1', which will be performed by the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra at the Usher Hall on Sunday 16 August.

Explore the pulsating harmonies of John Adams's breath-taking Harmonium, which will be performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus as part of The Harmonium Project - a free outdoor event marking the opening of the 2015 Festival and the 50th anniversary of the Edinburgh Festival Chorus - at the Usher Hall on Friday 7 August.

Learn the daring and defiant history of Tchaikovsky's 'Symphony No 5', which will be performed by piano sensation Yuja Wang with the San Francisco Symphony at the Usher Hall on Friday 28 August.

Discover the illuminating story behind one of Baroque's best loved works, Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons', which will be performed by pre-eminent violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter at the Usher Hall on Wednesday 26 August.

Unearth the suspicious tale behind one of Mozart's great masterpieces, the visionary 'Requiem', which will be performed by the Budapest Festival Orchestra conducted by Ivan Fischer at the Usher Hall on Tuesday 18 August.

Explore the power of Rachmaninov's soaring 'Symphony No 2', which will be performed by the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vasily Petrenko at the Usher Hall on Saturday 15 August.

Listen to the story behind Stravinsky and W.H. Auden's darkly sparkling operatic morality tale 'The Rake's Progress', which will be performed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Royal Conservatoire Voices conducted by Sir Andrew Davis at the Usher Hall on Wednesday 12 August.

The story behind Beethoven's masterful 'Hammerklavier' sonata, which will be performed by Rudolf Buchbinder at the Playfair Library Hall on Tuesday 10 August.

Listen to darkly complex story behind Beethoven's iconic 'Moonlight' sonata, which will be performed by Rudolf Buchbinder at the Playfair Library Hall on Sunday 9 August.

Listen to the history behind Beethoven's powerful 'Waldstein' sonata, which will be performed by Rudolf Buchbinder at the Playfair Library Hall on Tuesday 18 August.

Uncover the stifled history behind Bartok's youthful, Brahms-inspired Piano Quintet, which will be performed by the Budapest Festival Orchestra Soloists at the Queen's Hall on Friday 14 August.

Discover the under-appreciated genius of Hindemith's bracing 'String Trio No 2', which will be performed by the all-star Zimmermann Trio at the Queen's Hall on Saturday 15 August.

Learn about the emotional inspiration of Schoenberg's lush 'Op. 2 Lieder', which will be performed by Sarah Connolly and Malcolm Martineau at the Queen's Hall on Monday 17 August.

Hear the unlikely story behind Beethoven's variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, which will be performed by Mitsuko Uchida in Recital at the Usher Hall on Monday 24 August.

Explore the charming history of Mahler's explosive 'Symphony No 1', which will be performed by the world-renowned San Francisco Symphony conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas, at the Usher Hall on Thursday 27 August.

Wonder at the tangled history of Beethoven's perplexing later piano sonatas, which will be performed in their entirety by Rudolf Buchbinder, throughout August at the Playfair Library Hall.

Listen to the interesting story behind Domenico Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas, which will be performed by renowned pianist Angela Hewitt at the Queen's Hall on Thursday 13 August.

Discover the interesting folklore behind Dvořák's colourful gypsy melodies, which will be performed by power-duo Valentina Nafornita and Roger Vignoles at the Queen's Hall on Wednesday 12 August.

A brief history of Ravel's rich and sophisticated String Quartet in F, which will be performed by the fabulous Modigliani Quartet at the Queen's Hall on Tuesday 11 August.

Hear the troubled history of Arvo Pärt's radiant choral work 'Magnificat', which will be performed by the Tallis Scholars at the Queen's Hall on Monday 10 August.

The alluring story behind Schubert's gloriously tuneful 'Octet', which will be performed by the revered Nash Ensemble at the Queen's Hall on Saturday 8 August.

Dive into the sparkling story of Gilbert and Sullivan's perennially relevant comic opera 'H.M.S. Pinafore', which will be performed by the Scottish Opera conducted by Richard Egarr, at the Usher Hall on Sunday 23 August.

Follow the suspenseful story behind Tchaikovsky's gloriously lyrical 'The Seasons', which will be performed by piano superstar Lang Lang at the Usher Hall on Friday 21 August.

Explore the borrowed inspiration behind Bartok's notoriously demanding 'Piano Concerto No 2', which will be performed by global piano sensation Lang Lang at the Usher Hall on Wednesday 19 August.

Learn the opium tinged history of Berlioz's vivid and magical 'Symphonie Fantastique', which will be performed by the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique at the Usher Hall on Thursday 13 August.

Uncover the forgotten history of Striggio's rediscovered masterpiece 'Mass in 40 Parts', which will be performed by French ensemble Le Concert Spirituel at the Usher Hall on Tuesday 11 August.

Explore the heroic narrative of Richard Strauss's epic tone poem 'Ein Heldenleben', which will be performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Edinburgh Festival Chorus as part of the Opening Concert at the 2015 Edinburgh International Festival.

Tallis Scholars' director Peter Phillips talks about the ideal sound he tries to achieve with the group, and their programme for the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/tallisscholars

English songs of regret and loss from the likes of Gurney and Vaughan Williams contrast with rich and romantic German Lieder in Simon Keenlyside and Malcolm Martineau's Queen's Hall recital at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/keenlyside-martineau

Hear a sample of Monteverdi's 'Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda' and learn more about Concerto Italiano's concert at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/concertoitaliano

Learn more about Sister Marie Keyrouz's choice of music for her recital with choir L'Ensemble De La Paix at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/keyrouz

Discover the music of multi-award-winning young Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov's Queen's Hall recital at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/trifonov

One of the last pieces Roland de Lassus composed, learn about 'The Tears of Saint Peter' in this podcast. Collegium Vocale Gent will perform this piece under director Philippe Herreweghe in Greyfriars Kirk at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/collegiumvocale

Discover the decadence of Germany during the Weimar Republic years in Ute Lemper's performance at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/utelemper

Polish Radio Choir choirmaster Izabela Polakowska talks about the stories behind Górecki's music, as well as the differences between Polish and British choirs. The Polish Radio Choir will be performing at Greyfriars Kirk at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/polishradio

Director and great musical adventurer Jordi Savall talks about his "War and Peace in Baroque Europe" concert, and the importance of combining traditional baroque with folk music, at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/hesperion

Learn more about Haydn's 'Nelson Mass' among the rest of the repertoire of Collegium Vocale Gent's performance with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/collegium-sco

Discover the music of András Schiff's Usher Hall piano recital at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/andrasschiff

Discover the music of the Czech Philharmonic's second concert with mezzo soprano Bernarda Fink at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/czech2

Find out more about the instruments and music of Wu Man, Sanubar Tursun and friends' Greyfriars Kirk concert at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/wuman

Learn about the history of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and sample some of their music before they perform at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/ladysmith

Find out more about the grand epic opera Les Troyens, performed by the Mariinsky Opera at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/troyens

Find out more about the repertoire of the American-Canadian Trio Verlaine in this podcast, as well as the origins of their unusual combination of flute, viola and harp. Trio Verlaine are performing at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Part of Festival SoundBites, by www.sinfinimusic.com. Find out more information and book tickets at www.eif.co.uk/trioverlaine