SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL Classical & Related Programming – 2009
“...programming of staggering breadth. What other festival allows you to start the evening with a string quartet and finish it by listening to bluegrass over a beer? Those who rarely venture outside the classical music ghetto might be wary of so much jazz, country, gospel and world music. But in truth, the diverse modes of musical expression jazz, country, gospel and world music - co-exist with utter equanimity in this beguiling port city.” - from “Moonshine & Mendelssohn,” Financial Times (UK) A Sensations chamber music concert (curated by Daniel Hope) from 2008 in the Rotunda at the Telfair Academy of Arts & Sciences
Please contact Ryan McMaken at 912.234.3378 x104 or ryan@savannahmusicfestival.org with questions or to discuss coverage.
“The Savannah Music Festival, perhaps more than any classical music institution around, has made the link between the arts and tourism.” - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Associate Artistic Director Daniel Hope with pianist and long-time playing partner Sebastian Knauer at the 2008 Savannah Music Festival
WEEKEND ONE
SELECT NON-CLASSICAL CONCERTS – Weekend One:
Garrick Ohlsson – solo recital – March 19
BONNIE RAITT with Special Guest The Randall Bramblett Band – March 18 Dianne Reeves – March 20 Long Time Travelin’ – March 20 Original production rooted in Sacred Harp and southern folk traditions, including Tim Eriksen, Rayna Gellert & Patrick Sauber, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and a Sacred Harp ensemble led by documentary producer Matt Hinton. Ho Mariza – March 21 “Skylark”: Andrea Marcovicci Sings Mercer – Commissioned fivenight stand in celebration of the Johnny Mercer Centennial (begins March 21) Organ Stops – the return of a series showcasing Savannah’s storied pipe organs (begins March 23) Cedric Watson & BIJOU CREOLE, Leading young Creole fiddler/ accordionist/singer – March 21 Mike Marshall & Darol Anger with Väsen, Appalachian fiddle tunes blended with Swedish polskas – March 23/24
Sensations I – March 20 Beethoven: String Trio in G, Op. 9, No. 1; Schulhoff: Duo for Violin and Cello, Barber: Adagio from String Quartet, Op. 11; Dvorak Piano Quintet in A, Op. 81 Prazak Quartet – March 21 - an all-Czech program featuring Dvorak: String Quartet No. 12 in F “The American”; Janacek: String Quartet No. 1 “Kreutzer Sonata”; Smetana: String Quartet No. 1 in e “From My Life” Sensations II – March 22 - *premiere of SMF-commissioned piece by Alexandra du Bois: “Duo for Violins”; Rachmaninoff: Cello Sonata in g, Op. 19; Schubert Two Cello Quintet Marc-Andre Hamelin – solo recital – March 23
“Walking to festival events through Savannah's still surviving 18th-century squares, beneath venerable live oaks and past azalea bushes bursting into colour is like stepping back into a more gracious age. And yet, the festival itself is as much about today's artists as yesterday's heritage.” - Toronto Star
Mendelssohn’s String Octet being performed by the Emerson String Quartet with Daniel Hope & friends during the 2008 festival.
WEEKEND TWO
SELECT NON-CLASSICAL CONCERTS – Weekend Two:
Sensations III – March 25 Brahms: Piano Quintet in f, Op. 34 Tchaikovsky: Sextet in d, Op. 70 “Souvenir de Florence” SEBASTIAN KNAUER – solo recital celebrating Mendelssohn’s 200th birthday - March 26 Manuel Barrueco – solo recital - March 26 ACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC with Richard Egarr play the Complete Brandenburg Concertos - March 27 Gershwin Songbook: Sebastian Knauer and Marcus Roberts – March 28 Sensations IV – March 29 Schubert: “Death and the Maiden” String Quartet, Elgar: Piano Quintet in a, Op. 84 Ian Bostridge & JULIUS DRAKE – March 30
Zakir Hussain & PANDIT Shivkumar Sharma WITH SPECIAL GUEST DANIEL HOPE – March 31 Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile – March 28 Chick Corea & John McLaughlin, Five Peace Band with Christian McBride, Kenny Garrett and Brian Blade – March 28 Clayton Brothers – March 26 INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS and LOVELL SISTERS - March 29 ELLIS MARSALIS QUARTET - March 30 Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, HOWARD PAUL AND ken peplowski – March 31
“...a rite of spring on the South Atlantic Coast. While many festivals offer a variety of music, Savannah excels at programming through the prism of Americana. Musical traditions from this country are at the heart of what goes on there.” - Charleston Post & Courier
The 2009 festival finale is a performance at the Johnny Mercer Theatre featuring the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra playing a co-commissioned Christopher Theofanidis piece, followed by the Marcus Roberts Trio performing Gershwin’s Concerto in F with the orchestra.
WEEKEND THREE
SELECT NON-CLASSICAL CONCERTS – Weekend Three:
Sensations V – April 1 Mozart: Clarinet Quintet; Schnittke: Piano Quintet
4th Annual Piano Showdown: HENRY BUTLER, EDDIE PALMIERI, AARON GOLDBERG, Bob Seeley - April 1 American Traditions Competition – 16th annual competition for singers; 32 vocalists compete for $30,000 in cash awards EDDIE PALMIERI y LA PERFECTA II, Afro-Cuban dance night – April 2 MARCUS PRINTUP QUARTET with TED NASH & ODEON – April 2 Savion Glover & THE OTHERZ – April 3 NEKO CASE - April 3 FEUFOLLET, Young progenitors of traditional Cajun music - April 3 Bela Fleck Africa Project, featuring Toumani Diabate, Vusi Mahlasela, D’Gary and others – April 4
Sensations VI – April 3 Brahms: Clarinet Trio, Op. 114; Schonfeld: Trio for Clarinet, Piano and Violin; Schubert: Fantasy for Violin and Piano in C, D. 934 Atlanta Symphony Orchestra – April 5 Festival Finale featuring: Co-commissioned work by Christopher Theofanidis Special guests Marcus Roberts Trio play Gershwin’s Concerto in F with symphony
CONTACT: RYAN McMAKEN at 912-234-3378 x104 or ryan@savannahmusicfestival.org to discuss coverage opportunities for SMF 2009, Georgia’s largest musical arts festival.