OPERA

ORFEO

In one of the most enticing tributes programmed this year to mark the 400th birthday of the first great opera, Jordi Savall conducts Gilbert Deflo’s grand production, a homage to the traditions of 17th-century theatre. Festival Theatre, Nicolson Street (www.eif.co.uk 0131-529 6000), from Aug 11

ORLANDO FURIOSO

There is one great reason to catch this concert performance of Vivaldi’s turbulent drama – it stars the wondrous French counter-tenor Philippe Jaroussky as the heroic Ruggiero. Jean-Christophe Spinosi conducts the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Usher Hall, Haymarket (www.usherhall.co.uk 0131-228 1155), Aug 12

DIDO AND AENEAS/PRIMA LA MUSICA

Baroque specialist Nicholas McGegan conducts Purcell’s masterpiece, but all eyes should be on the second half: a rare chance to hear Salieri’s comic opera about the relative merits of words and music. Usher Hall, Aug 26

CAPRICCIO

And it’s words versus music that round off the Edinburgh opera season, when Cologne Opera unveil Christian van Goltz’s new production of Strauss’s operatic swansong, in which a poet and a composer viefor the affections of the lovely Countess. Festival Theatre, Aug 28-Sept 1 NEIL FISHER

DANCE

COMPAGNIE MONTALVO-HERVIEU

The honour of kicking off the festival dance programme falls to the French troupe. They come with a new production billed as “an extravagant, sensual piece of dance-theatre”. The music is by Rameau. Playhouse, Greenside Place (www.eif.co.uk 0131-473 2000), Aug 11-13

IMPRESSING THE CZAR

William Forsythe was never one to take the easy road in his choreography, and this full-length production, brought to Edinburgh by the Royal Ballet of Flanders, has an ambitious agenda – to explore the history of Western civilisation through a witty parody of classical ballet. Festival Theatre, Aug 18-20

SCOTTISH BALLET

Ever since Ashley Page took over Scottish Ballet, it’s been all go and the programme the company brings to the festival this year is pretty amazing. Not only are they dancing Page’s own superb Fearful Symmetries, set to sizzling music by John Adams, they are presenting the world premiere of a new work by New York’s favourite maverick, Stephen Petronio. Completing the bill is Trisha Brown’s provocative For MG: the Movie. Playhouse, Aug 18-20

TRISHA BROWN

The veteran American choreographer was a key force for change in the downtown New York dance scene 35 years ago; today she’s revered as a goddess of modern dance. She brings a mixed bill, including Set and Reset, a beautiful minimalist dance with an extraordinary set by Robert Rauschenberg and music by Laurie Anderson. Playhouse, Aug 24-26 DEBRA CRAINE