By Matthew Westphal [Playbill, 13 August 2006]

2006 is a special year for the Edinburgh International Festival: it's both the 60th edition and the last one to be programmed by outgoing Festival Director Brian McMaster. The Festival launches in dramatic style tonight with a concert performance of Richard Strauss's Elektra. Jeanne-Michèle Charbonnet takes the title role, joined by Silvana Dussmann, Leandra Overmann, Iain Paterson and Ian Storey; Edward Gardner conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.