Festival Soundbites

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.

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.

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.

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