Beth Taylor in recital at the Edinburgh International Festival

Scottish mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor makes her long-awaited Edinburgh International Festival debut on August 11, joining long-time collaborator Hamish Brown for a recital that explores the sea and the enduring power of female figures from myth. Inspired by characters including Lorelei, Cassandra and Medusa, the program spans nearly a millennium of music, bringing together works by Hildegard of Bingen, Clara Schumann, Lili Boulanger, Ethel Smyth and Connie Converse alongside contemporary voices.

Women composers are at the heart of the recital, which also features two works written especially for Taylor. Cameron Biles-Liddell’s The Breakers evokes the dramatic landscapes of the Scottish coastline, while Stuart MacRae’s Medusa, created with poet JL Williams, receives its world premiere, offering a strikingly human reimagining of one of mythology’s most misunderstood figures.

Already acclaimed for the expressive depth and versatility that have made her one of Britain’s most compelling mezzo-sopranos, Taylor has enjoyed a remarkable 2026 season with appearances at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, the Gran Teatre del Liceu and Musikdorf Ernen. Later this year she returns to the Royal Opera House for Handel’s Alcina.

The recital will be recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3.