Charleston Sets the Stage Spoleto Festival USA is more than a 17-day artistic celebration of international performing arts in Charleston, SC. It is a celebration of Charleston. For our hometown’s 350th anniversary, the program is more deeply rooted in the rich history of our city than ever before. We are proud to illuminate the little-known story of Omar Ibn Said (p 2) in addition to presenting many works by and from Charleston-born artists, three of whom are featured in the Festival’s orchestral concert (p 21)—composer Edmund Thornton Jenkins, conductor Jonathon Heyward, and pianist Micah McLaurin. On the following pages, you will find the full program for our 44th season—a robust collection of opera, theater, dance, and music filled with notable premieres and much-loved mainstays. Returning to Spoleto for the fifth time, acclaimed director Emma Rice brings her new musical, Romantics Anonymous (p 4), to Dock Street Theatre while the Bank of America Chamber Music (p 24) series offers yet another program of exceptional concerts each and every day of the Festival. We invite you to look through this book and begin to imagine your 2020 Festival experience. A full schedule of events can be found on pages 52 and 53. We hope you will join us. FESTIVAL DATES— May 22 – June 7, 2020
HOW TO BUY TICKETS: ONLINE —
BY PHONE —
spoletousa.org
843.579.3100
IN PERSON BEGINNING MAY 1 — Charleston Gaillard Center 95 Calhoun St. Monday – Sunday 9:00am – 5:00pm
NOT SURE HOW TO START OR WHERE TO BEGIN? LET US HELP! Our knowledgeable box office agents are ready with recommendations, advice, and insider tips.
Spoleto Festival USA is generously supported by the City of Charleston.
WHAT’S INSIDE OPERA 2 Omar* MUSICAL THEATER 4 Romantics Anonymous THEATER 6 Until the Flood* 7 Sea Sick 8 Wonders at Dusk* 9 The Believers Are But Brothers* CABARET 10 Meow Meow DANCE 11 Caleb Teicher & Company 12 Scottish Ballet 14 Trisha Brown Dance Company 16 Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras PHYSICAL THEATER 17 Machine de Cirque 18 Gravity & Other Myths MUSIC 19 Get Out* 20 Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony 21 The Planets 22 Bank of America Chamber Music 24 Music in Time 25 Four Seasons Recomposed 26 Live From Here with Chris Thile 28 The Stations 30 Westminster Choir Concerts 31 The War and Treaty
WELLS FARGO JAZZ 32 Abdullah Ibrahim and Eyaka∆ 34 Aruán Ortiz and Don Byron Duo 35 Preservation Hall Jazz Band 36 Two Wings∆ 37 A New Orleans Jazz Celebration 38 Linda May Han Oh and Fabian Almazan 39 The Cookers FIRST CITIZENS BANK FRONT ROW 40 Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi* 41 The Wood Brothers 42 Steep Canyon Rangers AND MORE . . . 13 Opening-Weekend Fête 44 Fred Wilson: Afro Kismet 45 Behind the Garden Gate 46 Spoleto ETC 48 Funders 49 Support the Festival 50 Accommodations 51 Venue Guide 52 Event Calendar Includes Artist Talk * Conversations With ∆ Jazz Talk
World Premiere 2
OPERA
Omar
Music and Libretto by Rhiannon Giddens Music Co-composed by Michael Abels Conducted by John Kennedy Directed by Charlotte Brathwaite
A voice forgotten no more In 1807, a 37-year-old scholar living in West Africa was captured and forced to board a ship bound for Charleston, South Carolina—the site of his enslavement and sale. Omar Ibn Said’s life and Muslim faith, recorded in his autobiography from 1831, are remembered and retold in this compelling new American opera. North Carolina-native Rhiannon Giddens has made a name for herself excavating unsung historical black narratives and turning them into folk ballads—purposeful work that has placed her on countless stages and resulted in a long list of accolades, including a Grammy Award and MacArthur Fellowship. Collaborating with renowned composer Michael Abels (Get Out, p 19), Giddens melds her archeological lens and operatic background in this world premiere. Sung in English with English supertitles.
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SOTTILE THEATRE Friday Monday Thursday Sunday Wednesday Sunday
May 22 May 25 May 28 May 31 June 3 June 7
7:30pm 3:00pm 7:30pm 3:00pm 8:00pm 5:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Generous support provided by Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation; Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art; Ford Foundation; Deborah Kennedy Kennard and William E. Kennard; OPERA America’s Opera
OPENING-NIGHT PARTY Join the cast and creative team of Omar at a post-performance party celebrating the opening night.
Grants for Female Composers program, supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation; The Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust; Post and Courier Foundation; Leslie K. Williams and James A. Attwood, Jr.; Mr. and Mrs. Richard K. DeScherer; and Ms. Susan L. Baker and Mr. Michael R. Lynch.
Friday
May 22
following performance
$115 per person; cocktails and hors d’oeuvres included
Omar is co-commissioned and co-produced by Spoleto Festival USA and Carolina Performing Arts at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Carolina Performing Arts’ participation in this project is made possible through the support of the William
CONVERSATIONS WITH
R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust.
Saturday
May 23
2:00pm
Opera programming is endowed by the Arthur and Holly Magill Foundation.
See p 47 for more information about this free event.
3
OPERA
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
4
“A sweetly funny, gorgeously tender musical rom-com”
MUSICAL THEATER
The Times
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Plush Theatricals in association with Wise Children
Directed by Emma Rice
MUSICAL THEATER
Romantics Anonymous
5
A musical confection Angélique makes beautiful chocolates, carefully infused with all the emotions that overwhelm her daily life. Jean-René runs a chocolate factory that is running out of steam—rather like his own existence. Their individual journeys melt into a delicate love affair. Adapted by Emma Rice (The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, The Red Shoes, Tristan and Yseult) from the French-Belgian film Les Émotifs Anonymes, this tender story is a “musical confection” and “multifaceted gem, chock-full of love, generosity and joy” (The Guardian). DOCK STREET THEATRE May 21 May 22 May 23 May 24 May 25 May 27 May 28 May 29 May 30 May 31 June 2 June 3 June 4 June 5 June 6 June 7
Approximately 2 hours, 30 minutes Sponsored by South State Bank
8:00pm (preview) 8:00pm 3:30pm and 8:00pm 3:30pm and 8:00pm 3:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 3:30pm and 8:00pm 3:30pm and 8:00pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 3:30pm
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
6
THEATER
Until the Flood Written and Performed by Dael Orlandersmith Directed by Neel Keller
Beyond the headlines In the months following the 2014 shooting of teenager Michael Brown, Dael Orlandersmith conducted interviews with dozens of shaken Ferguson community members, from teachers and students to policemen and ministers. These intimate conversations formed eight characters with a broad spectrum of perspectives—collectively offering a haunting reminder of America’s ongoing struggle with racism and justice. Hailed as a triumphant tourde-force one-woman play, Until the Flood “achieves a great beauty by bringing us together rather than driving us apart” (The Chicago Tribune).
A New York Times Critic’s Pick EMMETT ROBINSON THEATRE AT COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday
May 22 May 23 May 24 May 25 May 26
7:00pm 5:00pm 2:00pm 2:00pm and 8:00pm 7:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes This production contains adult themes, language, and references to violence.
CONVERSATIONS WITH Sunday
May 24
5:00pm
See p 47 for more information about this free event.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
US Premiere 7
A Theatre Centre Production
Written and Performed by Alanna Mitchell Directed by Franco Boni Co-directed by Ravi Jain
The ocean contains the switch of life. And that switch can be turned off. WOOLFE STREET PLAYHOUSE After three years and 13 journeys across the world’s oceans, award-winning journalist Alanna Mitchell finds herself on dry land with a story to tell. Weaving delicate wit with powerful, investigative reporting, Sea Sick is a compelling production about the state of the global ocean based on Mitchell’s international bestseller of the same name. Come experience her adventures to the bottom of the ocean, the demons she discovered there, and her hope for the future.
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
May 27 May 28 May 29 May 30
8:00pm 8:00pm 7:00pm 2:00pm and 8:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 10 minutes Sponsored by American Express
AMERICAN EXPRESS WOOLFE STREET SERIES | THEATER
Sea Sick
“a remarkable feat of storytelling and reportage” The List
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
There will be a Q&A with Alanna Mitchell after each performance.
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Wonders at Dusk
AMERICAN EXPRESS WOOLFE STREET SERIES | THEATER
Experience the extraordinary Acclaimed illusionist Scott Silven awaits your arrival at Woolfe Street Playhouse for an extraordinary evening featuring his singular theater of the mind. Don’t be mistaken: it’s far beyond a magic show. Harnessing his uniquely hypnotic talents in mentalism, psychology, and the performing arts, Silven presents an unforgettable experience of aweinspiring intrigue and reveals the power of mystery and wonder in our lives.
WOOLFE STREET PLAYHOUSE Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
June 1 June 2 June 3 June 4 June 5 June 6 June 7
6:00pm 6:00pm 8:00pm 6:00pm 9:00pm 9:00pm 2:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes Sponsored by American Express Additional support provided by Charleston GI
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
“Absolutely dazzling...there are few performers who can affect you in such a surprising way” Time Out
CONVERSATIONS WITH Wednesday
June 3
5:00pm
See p 47 for more information about this free event.
The Believers Are But Brothers
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THEATER
Performed, Written, and Co-directed by Javaad Alipoor Co-directed by Kirsty Housley
An electronic maze of meme culture, 4chan, the alt-right, and ISIS We live in a time when old orders are collapsing: from the post-colonial nation states of the Middle East to the EU and American elections. Amid all of this, tech-savvy extremist groups are targeting a generation of young men who find themselves burning with resentment and an unfounded sense of entitlement. This multimedia show weaves together stories of three disaffected men and their journeys to radicalization— exploring the smoke-and-mirrors world of online extremism, anonymity, and hate speech. This production contains explicit content and utilizes WhatsApp to immerse the audience in the world of online radicalization.
Thursday
June 4
5:00pm
See p 47 for more information about this free event.
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
June 2 June 3 June 4 June 5 June 6
8:00pm 6:00pm 8:00pm 7:30pm 2:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 10 minutes
“One of the most fascinating shows I have seen in an age.” Financial Times
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
CONVERSATIONS WITH
EMMETT ROBINSON THEATRE AT COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
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AMERICAN EXPRESS WOOLFE STREET SERIES | CABARET
“A rare combination: devilish funny bones and heavenly vocal cords…no one now does it better than Meow!” The Evening Standard
Meow Meow Kamikaze cabaret The show may seem like it’s in shambles, but this international chanteuse always has control. Drawing from cabaret’s rich history to pop-culture hits and anything in between, nothing is off limits when mixed with Meow Meow’s uninhibited comedic patter and impeccable timing. For an unforgettably steamy evening, settle in with a drink at the intimate Woolfe Street Playhouse, a perfect setting for this “polished presentation of the spectacle of failure—a ruse that...creates a shabby frame within which Meow Meow’s voice can shine all the brighter” (The Guardian). WOOLFE STREET PLAYHOUSE Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday
May 22 May 23 May 24 May 25 May 26
9:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 8:00pm 8:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 25 minutes Sponsored by American Express TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Caleb Teicher & Company
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Bzzzz: It’s even fun to say Choreographer Caleb Teicher is known for mining America’s rich music and dance traditions. In Bzzzz, a beatboxer performs live as seven tap dancers blend snippets of Appalachian flatfooting and jazz dance into Teicher’s spirited and joyous tap style, skirting expectations at every turn. Don’t miss this evening—also including Variations, set to Glenn Gould’s timeless interpretations of Bach’s Goldberg Variations—filled to the brim with humor, theatricality, and emotional expression.
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
May 28 May 29 May 30 May 31
DANCE
EMMETT ROBINSON THEATRE AT COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 8:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 2:00pm and 7:30pm
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes The 2020 dance series is sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.
“Sunny, sweet, yet full of power” The New York Times
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
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Scottish Ballet The Crucible
DANCE
A perilous game of power and persecution Salem is on the brink. Its people fear the shadows in the forest, but the real monsters are much closer to home. As you watch this tight-knit society unravel into chaos, ask yourself: When everything hangs in a delicate balance, how far are you willing to go for the truth? Returning to Spoleto after its lauded 2015 rendition of A Streetcar Named Desire, Scottish Ballet unleashes the emotional force of Arthur Miller’s masterpiece in this “blazing interpretation” (The Observer), choreographed by Helen Pickett and accompanied by the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra. This performance contains a brief moment of nudity.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
“Sensual and arresting... storytelling ballet at its best” The List
CHARLESTON GAILLARD CENTER MARTHA AND JOHN M. RIVERS PERFORMANCE HALL Friday Saturday Sunday
May 22 May 23 May 24
7:30pm 6:00pm 3:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes The 2020 dance series is sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.
Opening-Weekend Fête
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Following Scottish Ballet’s spellbinding performance of The Crucible, the Opening-Weekend Fête celebrates the 2020 Festival at the beautiful Gibbes Museum of Art. Toast these spectacular dancers at the soiree of the season. Guests will mingle with artists and patrons, enjoy a sumptuous buffet supper, dance to live music in the garden, and wander the museum’s galleries. Festive attire
GIBBES MUSEUM OF ART Saturday
May 23 8:00pm
$385 per person ($200 tax deductible) For a Fête package including premium performance tickets, please call 843.720.1114.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Plus two free performances! 14
DANCE
TRISHA BROWN: IN PLAIN SITE Meet at Hampton Park for an up-close experience “you’ll remember for the rest of your life” (The Scotsman). On May 28, the company performs site-specific iterations of Trisha Brown’s early work. HAMPTON PARK Thursday
May 28
5:00pm and 7:30pm
Approximately 45 minutes
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
“[Brown] was a maverick. She choreographed works meant to defy gravity” The New York Times
15
DANCE
Trisha Brown Dance Company A pillar of artistic investigation and ceaseless experimentation Celebrating its 50th anniversary season, this timeless dance company returns to Spoleto Festival USA (last here in 2015) with a trio of varied works, carrying on the innovative spirit of its founder, Trisha Brown. In her elegant and mysterious Foray Forêt, a marching band juxtaposes the work’s steady focus, while Groove and Countermove reflects the frenetic energy of its jazzy score. Also included is Working Title, one of Brown’s early explorations inspired by her childhood memories of running through Washington forests. COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SOTTILE THEATRE Friday Saturday
May 29 May 30
7:30pm 3:30pm
Approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
The 2020 dance series is sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.
16
DANCE
Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras
Sombras (Shadows)
High drama, faster footwork With hot-blooded passion, high drama, and unparalleled musicality, Sara Baras’s Shadows is a feast for the eyes and ears. After more than a decade, the flamenco superstar returns to the Festival, reinvigorating her trademark style, la farruca—a dance of rapid-fire footwork traditionally performed by men—and making it completely her own. Baras’s “dancing boils from within” (The Washington Post), and together with her company, one of Spain’s most adored, creates a dazzling display of poetry in motion.
CHARLESTON GAILLARD CENTER MARTHA AND JOHN M. RIVERS PERFORMANCE HALL Saturday Sunday
June 6 June 7
8:30pm 2:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes The 2020 dance series is sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
“Exceptional. A completely convincing display of firstrate dance and sheer star power” The Times
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PHYSICAL THEATER
US Premiere
La Galerie
Circus turned upside down, inside out, and on its head Picture this: You’re in an art gallery for a fancy night out, when, before your very eyes, suits and dresses change colors, and paint brushes suddenly replace champagne flutes. You’ve crossed into another world! In this contemporary circus extravaganza, seven acrobats pull out all the stops to immerse the audience in collective bewilderment. Quebecbased Machine de Cirque makes its Spoleto debut with breathtaking feats and live music for a performance that’s at once playful, poetic, and just a bit perilous.
MEMMINGER AUDITORIUM Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
June 2 June 3 June 4 June 5 June 6 June 7
6:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 6:00pm 5:00pm 3:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes Sponsored by Sherman Capital Markets, LLC
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Machine de Cirque
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PHYSICAL THEATER
“an exposé of strength, flexibility and courage under duress” Limelight Magazine US Premiere
Gravity & Other Myths Out of Chaos
An adrenaline rush from start to finish TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
After sold-out runs in 2014 and 2018, this high-octane Australian physical theater company returns to Spoleto, this time with the US premiere of Out of Chaos—a work the artists describe as “our boldest and most ambitious yet.” In it, hard-edged, explosive acrobatics collide with intimate, verbal confessions to create insight into what it feels like to be onstage in real time. MEMMINGER AUDITORIUM Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday
May 22 May 23 May 24 May 25 May 26
8:00pm 2:00pm 7:00pm 5:00pm and 8:00pm 6:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes
CONVERSATIONS WITH Saturday
May 23
2:00pm
See p 47 for more information about this free event.
Get Out
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In Concert MUSIC
Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra Music Composed and Conducted by Michael Abels
Spine-tingling cinema and score When a young African American man visits his
This film is rated R.
CHARLESTON GAILLARD CENTER MARTHA AND JOHN M. RIVERS PERFORMANCE HALL Tuesday
May 26
Approximately 2 hours Sponsored by Spoleto SCENE
7:30pm
white girlfriend’s family estate, he uncovers a sinister secret that threatens to ensnare him. Jordan Peele’s groundbreaking film Get Out (Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, 2017) is equal parts gripping thriller and provocative social commentary—a “subversive horror masterpiece” (The Atlantic). This Universal Pictures film is shown on the big screen as Michael Abels, the composer, leads the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra and members of Westminster Choir as they perform his heart-pounding score. See p 2 for additional events featuring the work of Michael Abels.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
© 2017 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
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MUSIC
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony Music by Ludwig van Beethoven Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra Westminster Choir Charleston Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Ode to Joy, ode to Beethoven Join in the worldwide celebration of Beethoven’s 250th birthday with a performance of his uplifting and epic final symphony. The Westminster Choir, Charleston Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra join forces for an exuberant offering that climaxes with a full-voiced expression of effervescent joy. See pp 28 and 30 for additional offerings from Westminster Choir.
CHARLESTON GAILLARD CENTER MARTHA AND JOHN M. RIVERS PERFORMANCE HALL Thursday
June 4
8:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes Sponsored by BMW Group Plant Spartanburg
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
The Planets
MUSIC
Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra Conducted by Jonathon Heyward
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Outer space through a Charleston lens The Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra presents an exhilarating lineup of repertoire, including “Rhapsodic Overture,” by Edmund Thornton Jenkins, a Charlestonian born in 1894, whose early music education was received at his father’s orphanage on King Street; Liszt’s sparkling Piano Concerto no. 1, performed by another Charleston son, Micah McLaurin; and Holst’s blockbuster The Planets—all under the baton of guest conductor Jonathon Heyward, who returns to his hometown for this spectacular evening of music making.
CHARLESTON GAILLARD CENTER MARTHA AND JOHN M. RIVERS PERFORMANCE HALL Saturday
May 30
8:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes Sponsored by BMW Group Plant Spartanburg
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
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MUSIC
Bank of America Chamber Music Directed and Hosted by Geoff Nuttall
Your midday musical treat
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Party at the Dock Street! Overflowing with effusive musicianship and camaraderie, 11 boisterous programs—each performed three times—feature bright contemporary compositions and canonic gems. This season, hear beloved returning players and fresh new faces perform Beethoven’s Septet in E-flat major; Schubert’s double cello quintet; and the world premiere of a work that commemorates St. Lawrence String Quartet’s 25th year performing at the Festival, created by the “fierce and lyrical” (The Strad) composer-inresidence Jessica Meyer. More information available at spoletousa.org; full program details will be available in April 2020. All concerts approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes Sponsored by Bank of America Additional support provided by The McNair Foundation The St. Lawrence String Quartet is the Arthur and Holly Magill Quartet in Residence.
DOCK STREET THEATRE
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PROGRAM I Friday Saturday
1:00pm 11:00am and 1:00pm
May 24 May 25
11:00am and 1:00pm 11:00am
May 25 May 26
1:00pm 11:00am and 1:00pm
May 27 May 28
11:00am and 1:00pm 11:00am
May 28 May 29
1:00pm 11:00am and 1:00pm
May 30 May 31
11:00am and 1:00pm 11:00am
May 31 June 1
1:00pm 11:00am and 1:00pm
June 2 June 3
11:00am and 1:00pm 11:00am
June 3 June 4
1:00pm 11:00am and 1:00pm
June 5 June 6
11:00am and 1:00pm 11:00am
June 6 June 7
1:00pm 11:00am and 1:00pm
MUSIC
May 22 May 23
PROGRAM II Sunday Monday
PROGRAM III Monday Tuesday
PROGRAM IV Wednesday Thursday
PROGRAM V Thursday Friday
PROGRAM VI Saturday Sunday
PROGRAM VII Sunday Monday
PROGRAM VIII
PROGRAM IX Wednesday Thursday
PROGRAM X Friday Saturday
PROGRAM XI Saturday Sunday
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Tuesday Wednesday
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Music in Time Directed and Hosted by John Kennedy
AMERICAN EXPRESS WOOLFE STREET SERIES | MUSIC
New sounds in music DIFFICULT GRACE “A cellist of power and grace” (The Guardian), Seth Parker Woods makes his Spoleto debut with a program taking its title from Fredrick Gifford’s Difficult Grace. It also includes the US premiere of Fausto Romitelli’s Your Time is Over, a concerto for cello and small orchestra. SIMONS CENTER RECITAL HALL AT COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON Saturday
May 23
7:00pm
DISTRESS TO SERENITY In response to the emotional and physical violence of our times, artists are creating music that answers distress with serenity. Performed by members of the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra, this concert features works by composers from Lithuania, Iceland, and the US. WOOLFE STREET PLAYHOUSE Sunday
May 24
5:00pm
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
...AT SOME POINT… Exploring social dynamics through the interplay of performance, imaginative compositions on this program include inti figgis-vizueta’s To give you form and breath, which draws inspiration from US Poet Laureate Joy Hargo’s “Remember” and channels indigenous traditions. WOOLFE STREET PLAYHOUSE Friday
June 5
5:00pm
All concerts approximately 1 hour Sponsored by American Express
ABOUT MUSIC IN TIME Never before has what we call “new music” been so diverse and relevant to our times. In programs at once meditative, humorous, and exhilarating, new works by young composers from around the world are shared in a convivial and relaxed setting.
Four Seasons Recomposed
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MUSIC
Music by Max Richter Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra Conducted by John Kennedy
What’s old is new again Composer Max Richter says he committed “an act of love towards [Vivaldi’s] fantastic masterpiece” (NPR) when he recomposed The Four Seasons—the origin of the best-known baroque earworms in Western culture. Are the virtuosity and patterns in the 18th-century original so different from a post-minimalist aesthetic? Hear John Kennedy lead the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra as they perform Richter’s familiar yet fresh work that topped classical album charts in 22 countries. COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SOTTILE THEATRE Monday
June 1
8:00pm
Approximately 1 hour Sponsored by BMW Group Plant Spartanburg
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
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MUSIC
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG —843.579.3100
You’ve heard it on public radio, now come see it live in Charleston! Live from Here is a Saturday-night destination for audiences everywhere. More than two million listeners tune in for this modern variety show featuring a unique blend of musical performances, comedy, and audience interaction. Acclaimed musician and songwriter Chris Thile welcomes a wide range of well-known and up-and-coming talent to share the stage and create a beautiful listening experience. Guests appearing in this special broadcast will be announced prior to the event.
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MUSIC
Live from Here with Chris Thile TD ARENA AT COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON Saturday
June 6
Doors open at 5:00pm Recording begins at 5:45pm Approximately 2 hours, 15 minutes Presented in partnership with the College of Charleston. Additional support provided by The ETV Endowment of South Carolina.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG —843.579.3100
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MUSIC
The Stations Music by Carlo Gesualdo Westminster Choir Conducted by Joe Miller Photography by Tom Kiefer
The suffering we carry Soap, shoelaces, wallets, bibles—personal items or contraband, confiscated or lost? In Tom Kiefer’s photographs, migrants’ possessions discarded at an Arizona Customs and Border Protections facility render strong emotions. For this distinctive choral-and-visual experience, Kiefer’s work is paired with that of Carlo Gesualdo, a late-Renaissance composer whose progressive music influenced composers from Stravinsky to Boulez some 350 years after his death. At a lutenist’s first note, Westminster Choir singers lead the audience on foot through Memminger Auditorium, performing settings from Gesualdo’s Responsoria—a cycle from Holy Week Tenebrae services—and pausing at each image for reflection and song. See pp 20 and 30 for additional offerings from Westminster Choir.
MEMMINGER AUDITORIUM Friday Sunday
May 29 May 31
7:00pm 8:00pm
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Approximately 1 hour Made possible in part by The Brand Foundation of New York, Inc.
Tom Kiefer’s photography will be on view at Memminger Auditorium on Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Viewings are free and open to the public.
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MUSIC
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
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MUSIC
Westminster Choir Concerts Conducted by Joe Miller
Shimmering sonic alchemy Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Westminster Choir’s founding by hearing this magnificent ensemble do what they do best. A repertory program featuring Britten’s Hymn to St. Cecilia and works by Paweł Łukaszewski, Daniel Elder, and Jake Runestad, as well as Westminster favorites, showcases the choir’s virtuosity and versatility, all in the setting of one of Charleston’s historic sanctuaries. See pp 20 and 28 for additional offerings from Westminster Choir.
ST. MATTHEW’S LUTHERAN CHURCH Saturday Saturday
May 23 May 30
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes
5:00pm 5:00pm
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Wells Fargo Cistern Finale 31
An inspiring evening under the oaks Returning to Spoleto after their triumphant debut in 2018, husband-and-wife duo Michael and Tanya Trotter are back, serving up a welcome combination of healing and pain, freewheeling joy, and swampy Southern soul. As Americana Awards’ 2019 Best Emerging Artist, The War and Treaty’s transcendent vocals and funky bass lines teem with swagger, vulnerability, and “contagious energy” (Charleston City Paper), as well as the confidence gained only by artists who are wholly—and proudly— themselves.
MUSIC
The War and Treaty COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON CISTERN YARD Sunday
June 7
8:30pm
Programming at the College of Charleston Cistern Yard is kindly endowed by Carlos, Lisa, and Blake Evans.
Celebrate the end of the 2020 Festival season with a special, standing-room-only Cistern Yard concert. Chairs, blankets, and outside food/beverages are prohibited. Concessions will be available onsite.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG —843.579.3100
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“South Africa’s Mozart” Nelson Mandela
WELLS FARGO JAZZ
Abdullah Ibrahim and Ekaya In the last year, jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim was named a 2019 NEA Jazz Master; released a critically acclaimed album, The Balance; and embarked on a world tour. His indefatigable spirit, however, is nothing new. He wasn’t deterred when his first album—released under the name Dollar Brand in apartheid-era South Africa, his home country—was censured by the government. Instead, oppression fueled his artistry; he became a hero to the anti-apartheid movement and later played during Nelson Mandela’s inauguration. Join us in welcoming Ibrahim and his band Ekaya and hear a true “modern master—steeped in blues, with a classicist’s touch and poet’s sense of phrasing” (The Wall Street Journal). COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SOTTILE THEATRE Tuesday
June 2
8:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes Sponsored by Wells Fargo TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
JAZZ TALK Monday
June 1
5:00pm
See p 47 for more information about this free event.
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WELLS FARGO JAZZ
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
34
WELLS FARGO JAZZ
Aruán Ortiz and Don Byron Duo Aruán Ortiz, piano
Don Byron, clarinet and saxophone
A vanguard of jazz meets a fast-rising star
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
As a trailblazing clarinetist, Bronx-born Don Byron is just as at home playing early jazz or funk as he is exploring free improvisation or drawing from classical repertoire—heck, he’s even known for klezmer. So it was kismet to team up with Cuban-born composer Aruán Ortiz, “one of the most versatile and exciting pianists of his generation” (Downbeat), for their 2018 album Random Dances and (A)tonalities, which Billboard named among the 10 best jazz albums of the year. Together, they create “an exhilarating dialogue that transcends generational and geographic boundaries” (Billboard). SIMONS CENTER RECITAL HALL AT COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Approximately 1 hour Sponsored by Wells Fargo
May 24 May 25 May 26 May 27
7:00pm 5:00pm and 7:00pm 5:00pm and 7:00pm 5:00pm
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WELLS FARGO JAZZ
Preservation Hall Jazz Band A slice of the Big Easy in the Cistern
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON CISTERN YARD Friday
May 22
9:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes Sponsored by Wells Fargo
Programming at the College of Charleston Cistern Yard is kindly endowed by Carlos, Lisa, and Blake Evans.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Is there a better way to kick off Spoleto’s 44th season than with the preeminent New Orleans jazz band in the Cistern Yard? On May 22, celebrate the ebullience, depth, and range of Preservation Hall Jazz Band, which has delighted audiences for nearly 60 years. Under the leadership of Ben Jaffe, this rousing septet carries forward a sonic continuum that stretches back to the city’s beginnings and redefines what New Orleans music is today.
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WELLS FARGO JAZZ
Two Wings: The Music of Black America in Migration Produced by Jason Moran and Alicia Hall Moran
Cultures in motion
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
In the years between 1910 and 1970, America saw one of its greatest shifts in population: a passage of roughly six million African Americans from the rural South to points north and west. For this multifaceted concert, pianist and MacArthur Fellow Jason Moran and famed mezzo-soprano Alicia Hall Moran delve into their families’ personal journeys as well as stories from this historic movement, weaving together music that spans classical and jazz to spirituals, rhythm and blues, and beyond. Guest artists include filmmaker and writer Julie Dash; singer, composer, and instrumentalist Toshi Reagon; and Grammy-nominated wind quintet Imani Winds coming together to celebrate the indelible and diverse creativity of African American communities in cities nationwide.
CHARLESTON GAILLARD CENTER MARTHA AND JOHN M. RIVERS PERFORMANCE HALL Wednesday
May 27
8:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes Sponsored by Wells Fargo
JAZZ TALK Tuesday
May 26
2:00pm
See p 47 for more information about this free event.
A New Orleans Jazz Celebration
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WELLS FARGO JAZZ
A star-studded tribute to the life and music of Danny Barker Guitarist and banjoist Danny Barker may have played with the best (from Jelly Roll Morton and Cab Calloway to Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker), but this jazz raconteur was much more than a sideman. Largely responsible for a resurgence in the New Orleans brass-band tradition in the 1970s, Barker served as a mentor to such top young talents as Wynton Marsalis and laid the groundwork for jazz generations to come. For one spectacular evening, an eight-piece all-star band—led by clarinet virtuoso Dr. Michael White and complete with horns, percussion, and featured vocalist Catherine Russell—gathers in the Cistern Yard to celebrate the life and achievements of a true Crescent City luminary.
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON CISTERN YARD Saturday
May 23
9:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes Sponsored by Wells Fargo Programming at the College of Charleston Cistern Yard is kindly endowed by Carlos, Lisa, and Blake Evans.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Jules Cahn Collection at The Historic New Orleans Collection, 2000.78.1.2113
38
WELLS FARGO JAZZ
Linda May Han Oh and Fabian Almazan A duo on the cutting edge Cuban American pianist Fabian Almazan and Australian bassist Linda May Han Oh first met in 2006 while pursuing master’s degrees in New York City. Since then, they’ve quickly risen to the top of the creative music scene as leaders and band members alongside the likes of Pat Metheny, Joe Lovano, and Terence Blanchard. In this duo setting, they explore the sonic possibilities with Oh on the electric and acoustic bass (and vocals) and Almazan imaginatively sculpting the sound of an acoustic piano.
SIMONS CENTER RECITAL HALL AT COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
June 3 June 4 June 5 June 6
7:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm 5:00pm
Approximately 1 hour Sponsored by Wells Fargo
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
“a bracing blend of lyrical modernism, modernjazz improvisation, and postmodern sonic disruption” The Boston Globe
39
WELLS FARGO JAZZ
The Cookers
“Player for player, there’s no better working band in jazz” The Boston Globe
An electrifying dream team of jazz legends
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON CISTERN YARD Thursday
May 28
9:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes Sponsored by Wells Fargo Programming at the College of Charleston Cistern Yard is kindly endowed by Carlos, Lisa, and Blake Evans.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
All-star, dream team, supergroup. Call it what you like: The Cookers’ seven members, each a standard-bearer in his own right, combine to form one of the finest straight-ahead jazz bands working today. Collectively, the group holds more than 250 years of professional playing—some having worked with the likes of Miles Davis, Art Blakey, and Sonny Rollins—using “tradition as a foundation for creative fury in the present moment” (Jazz Times).
Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi
40
FIRST CITIZENS BANK FRONT ROW
A celebration of shared experience Tracing the overlooked movement of sounds from Africa and the Arabic world and their influence on European and American music, Rhiannon Giddens (Omar, p 2) and Italian multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi illuminate the universality of music and the commonality of human experience. For a dreamy night in the live oak-canopied Cistern Yard, listen as these two 2020 Grammy-nominated artists play selections from their “thoughtful and ambitious” (Pitchfork) album, there is no Other. COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON CISTERN YARD Sunday
May 24
9:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes Sponsored by First Citizens Bank Programming at the College of Charleston Cistern Yard is kindly endowed by Carlos, Lisa, and Blake Evans.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
“one of American music’s most vitally prolific artists” Rolling Stone
CONVERSATIONS WITH Saturday
May 23
2:00pm
See p 47 for more information about this free event.
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FIRST CITIZENS BANK FRONT ROW
The Wood Brothers Warmth, soul, and stellar musicianship Dubbed “masters of soulful folk” by Paste Magazine, The Wood Brothers light up the Cistern Yard on May 29 for a concert that’s sure to “deliver nourishment for mind and body with great licks and even greater joy” (NPR). In January 2020, the virtuosic Grammy-nominated trio—Oliver and Chris Wood and Jano Rix—releases their seventh studio album, Kingdom In My Mind, drawing from a broad sonic spectrum that is their most spontaneous and experimental collection yet.
Friday
May 29
9:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes Sponsored by First Citizens Bank
Programming at the College of Charleston Cistern Yard is kindly endowed by Carlos, Lisa, and Blake Evans.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON CISTERN YARD
42
FIRST CITIZENS BANK FRONT ROW TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Steep Canyon Rangers Bluegrass at the Cistern: a perfect pairing The Grammy Award-winning Steep Canyon Rangers are known for bending the bluegrass aesthetic, wedding it to elements of pop, country, and folk rock to create a truly original sound. Together since 2000, the North Carolina-based sextet has developed a remarkable catalogue of 12 albums, yet for all of the “dazzling musicianship” on the band’s most recent release, Out in the Open, “what makes the greatest impression is its rich and varied songwriting...unmistakably moving the boundaries of what this genre can be” (Slant).
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FIRST CITIZENS BANK FRONT ROW
Wednesday
June 3
9:00pm
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes Sponsored by First Citizens Bank
Programming at the College of Charleston Cistern Yard is kindly endowed by Carlos, Lisa, and Blake Evans.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON CISTERN YARD
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VISUAL ARTS
Fred Wilson: Afro Kismet Fred Wilson: Afro Kismet features the internationally acclaimed conceptual artist’s most recent body of work originally produced for the 15th Istanbul Biennial. A MacArthur Fellow, Wilson is renowned for challenging assumptions of history, culture, race, and conventions of display. By reframing objects and cultural symbols, he alters traditional interpretations, encouraging viewers to reconsider social and historical narratives. In Afro Kismet, Wilson juxtaposes contemporary objects of his own making and museum-quality artifacts to investigate the long-ignored presence of communities of African descent in Europe.
GIBBES MUSEUM OF ART May 15 – October 4 This exhibition is sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield, Bank of America, and the Jane Smith Turner Foundation.
Omar Ibn Said’s original manuscript and an installation by Fred Wilson inspired by Ibn Said’s life will be on display. Visit spoletousa.org or gibbesmuseum.org for more information.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Installation view from the exhibition, Fred Wilson: Afro Kismet, Pace Gallery, 510 West 25th Street, New York, NY, July 10th – August 17th, 2018. From left: Mother Africa (2017); Tilted Heart, 2018; DREAMS (The teeth of the world are sharp), 2017; The Juggler, (2017); Spill Spread Splice Splurge (A.K.), (2017); Emilia’s Mirror - Act 5, Scene 2, (2013). Photograph by Tom Barratt, courtesy Pace Gallery.
Behind the Garden Gate
45
CHARLESTON
The Garden Conservancy’s National Open Days Program Charleston Horticultural Society
Walls of entwined ivy, dazzling blooms, and sundappled fern fronds abound in Charleston’s botanical sanctuaries. For the eighth year, Spoleto Festival USA collaborates with the Charleston Horticultural Society and The Garden Conservancy to open the Holy City’s garden gates for self-guided tours. Each Saturday tour features eight different private gardens, promising two full days of exploration and beauty in these artfully cultivated spaces.
Purchase tickets for both weekends to see all 16 gardens. Tours are self-guided.
Saturday Saturday
May 23 between 9:00am and 3:00pm May 30 between 9:00am and 3:00pm
Garden descriptions and more information may be found at gardenconservancy.org/open-days/charleston.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
46
Spoleto ETC
Audiences are invited to take advantage of many free opportunities to enhance their Festival experience. See p 47 for details.
Engaging The Community SPOLETO ETC
For a landmark season coinciding with Charleston’s 350th anniversary, Spoleto Festival USA remains committed to the community around us—from audience members gathered from 50 states and 16 foreign countries to the international artists on our stages, as well as our youngest and most impressionable listeners in Charleston-area schools. By design, our communities are wide-reaching, and we want to serve each member meaningfully. This year we will continue to partner with several educational institutions and organizations. By sending Spoleto artists into schools, inviting students into our theaters, and holding special master classes and workshops for budding artists, we aim to spark connections, remove barriers, and open doors to cultivate a sense of welcoming among all. Sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co. Spoleto ETC is made possible by Carol H. Fishman, in memory of Leo Fishman; The Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; and Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Bank of America Chamber Music artists including Director Geoff Nuttall perform special in-school concerts for students of Sanders-Clyde and Memminger elementary schools.
Information about contributing to the Festival and furthering the efforts of programs like Spoleto ETC can be found on p 49 or by visiting spoletousa.org.
Enhance Your Festival Experience
47
Want to learn more about an artist or experience something completely new? Under the umbrella of Spoleto ETC, the Festival aims to encourage all members of our community to get involved by offering a number of free events and opportunities.
Conversations With
Spoleto Salons at 14 George Street
Held during the Festival, CBS News journalist Martha Teichner interviews Festival artists for stimulating
Taking place before the Festival begins in May, these free discussions highlight behind-the-scenes aspects
exchanges about their work and creative processes. Conversations are free to attend; seats must be reserved. Visit spoletousa.org for tickets.
of Spoleto and its productions. Salon topics and exact dates/times will be announced in the spring.
With Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels (Omar, p 2) College of Charleston Sottile Theatre Saturday, May 23, 2:00pm
Trisha Brown Dance Company in Hampton Park
With Dael Orlandersmith (Until the Flood, p 6) Emmett Robinson Theatre at College of Charleston Sunday, May 24, 5:00pm With Scott Silven (Wonders at Dusk, p 8) Woolfe Street Playhouse Wednesday, June 3, 5:00pm With Javaad Alipoor (The Believers Are But Brothers, p 9) Charleston Library Society Thursday, June 4, 5:00pm
Jazz Talks
Jason Moran and Alicia Hall Moran (Two Wings, p 36) Charleston Gaillard Center, Salon I Tuesday, May 26, 2:00pm Abdullah Ibrahim (p 32) Simons Center Recital Hall at College of Charleston Monday, June 1, 5:00pm
Shared_Studios With an aim to create meaningful connections between people separated by distance and difference, Shared_Studios brings communities together in immersive spaces to talk, dance, play, and collaborate as if in the same room. Enter a shimmering gold portal during open hours or for a specific program (location and programming to be announced) and find yourself transported to Dakar, Senegal—near the birthplace of Omar Ibn Said 250 years ago—interacting with members of a community more than 4,000 miles away.
Selections from Tom Kiefer’s The American Dream On display in Memminger Auditorium as part of The Stations (p 28), Tom Kiefer’s powerful images will remain on view outside of the performance times. Visit Memminger Auditorium on Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Viewings are free and open to the public; tickets are not required.
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Larry Blumenfeld, the Festival’s Wells Fargo Jazz advisor and a Wall Street Journal jazz critic, speaks with artists presented as part of the Wells Fargo Jazz series to illuminate their concerts. Conversations are free to attend; seats must be reserved. Visit spoletousa. org for tickets.
Trisha Brown Dance Company (p 14) performs in Hampton Park on May 28 at 5:00pm and 7:30pm. See the dancers up-close as they perform site-specific iterations of the master choreographer’s early work. These outdoor performances are open to the public; tickets are not required.
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Thank You
With the 350th anniversary of Charleston’s founding on the horizon, 2020 is expected to be a monumental year for America’s favorite city. And though Charleston has changed greatly since Spoleto Festival USA began in 1977, our dedication to producing and presenting thoughtprovoking artistic programming has not. For 44 years, the Festival has pursued its mission to present programs of the highest artistic caliber while maintaining a dedication to young artists, a commitment to all forms of the performing arts, a passion for contemporary innovation, and an enthusiasm for providing unusual performance opportunities for established artists. TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Sherman Capital Markets, LLC Charleston GI Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
This commitment to the global artistic community would not be possible without financial support from many sources. The names of some of our most important corporate supporters are listed to the left. Foundations and individuals have chosen to support specific programs. You will find their names throughout this brochure. In addition to the generous support of the City of Charleston, we acknowledge contributions from the National Endowment for the Arts; the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts; and the County of Charleston. We also depend on contributions from over 1,000 individuals. Spoleto Festival USA salutes this extraordinary group of supporters and invites you to join them if you have not done so already.
Become Instrumental in the Festival’s Success
49
Your gift directly supports the exceptional artists and programming that you will experience throughout these inspiring 17 days.
Make A Gift Spoleto Society Members of Spoleto Society ($1,500+) enjoy unparalleled opportunities to experience the best of what the Festival has to offer; benefits range from personal ticketing assistance through our patron services manager to the opportunity to meet artists at special parties.
Festival Circle Members of Festival Circle ($100 – $1,499) receive an array of benefits, including advance access to tickets during our donor pre-sale and an invitation to the final dress rehearsal of a featured production.
Spoleto Scene Members of Spoleto SCENE ($150), the Festival’s youngpatrons group (ages 21 – 39), enjoy specially priced ticket packages and invitations to SCENE-only parties, happy hours, and behind-the-scenes opportunities.
Bravo Society
To make a gift to the Festival, visit spoletousa.org/support or call 843.724.1192.
Imagery Credits
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, pp 2, 3; Library of Congress, African and Middle East Division, Omar Ibn Said Collection, pp 2, 3; Steve Tanner, pp 4, 5; Nicholas Hussong, p 6; Chloe Ellingson, p 7; provided, pp 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 32, 33, 39, 45; Karl Giant, p 10; Em Watson, p 11; Andy Ross, pp 12, 13; Universal Pictures, p 19; William Struhs, pp 20, 22, 23, 30; sourced, p 21; Michael Yu Photo, p 24; Leigh Webber Photography, pp 25, 46, 48, 49; Devin Pedde, pp 26, 27; Tom Keifer, Billfolds and Wallets, 2015, pp 28, 29; David McClister, p 31; Holger Thoss, p 34; C. Goleman, p 35; courtesy of Alicia Hall Moran, p 36; provided and Clara Pereira, p 38; Karen Cox, p 40; Alysse Gafkjen, p 41; Sandlin Gaither, pp 42, 43
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
Members of the Bravo Society demonstrate a significant, yet simple, commitment to the Spoleto Festival USA of today and the Festival’s vibrant future. There are a variety of ways individuals may support the Festival through planned giving. To learn more, please call 843.720.1176.
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Featured Accommodations GO!
SPOLETO!
Take advantage of our hotel and ticket packages! Book a room with one of our featured Go Spoleto! hotel partners and receive a code to purchase a broad range of specially priced performance tickets. Each hotel offers a unique experience for Festivalgoers; check with the hotels for rates and availability. Learn more at spoletousa.org/gospoleto.
ANSONBOROUGH I N N SPOLETO!
E ME L I N E SPOLETO!
GO!
GO!
Built circa 1900, this 4-Diamond AAA-Rated boutique inn offers complimentary breakfast and an afternoon wine and cheese reception. Its spacious rooms are within walking distance to most Festival events.
Coming to Charleston in April 2020 and located in the heart of downtown, Emeline is a clever and thoughtfully designed retreat, crafted with the curious traveler in mind.
21 H AS E L L ST. | 8 4 3.7 2 3 .16 5 5
181 CH URC H ST. | 843.414.1661
AN S O N B O R O U G H I NN.COM
H OTELEMELINE.C OM
B E L MOND CHARLESTO N PLACE SPOLETO!
PA L ME R ’ S P I N C K N EY I N N GO! SPOLETO!
As Charleston’s luxury destination, Belmond Charleston Place offers the ideal launch point for Spoleto Festival USA. Enjoy upgraded accommodations, dinner for two at Charleston Grill, breakfast for two daily, and welcome amenities. Valid May 20 – June 10.
The Palmer’s Pinckney Inn has the best location in historic Charleston! Step out the front door and you are within walking distance to many Spoleto Festival USA events and the city’s top restaurants, shops, and tours! This hotel received a 2019 Award of Excellence on TripAdvisor.
205 ME E T I N G ST. | 8 0 0 .6 11.5 5 4 9
19 PINC K NEY ST. | 843.722.1733
B EL MO N D . C O M / C H ARL E STONP L ACE
PA LMERPINC K NEYINN.C OM
GO!
C HARLESTON MA RRI OTT SPOLETO!
ZERO GEORGE SPOLETO!
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
GO!
GO!
Just minutes from the historic district, the Charleston Marriott is perfect for Spoleto Festival USA travelers and offers modern accommodations with upscale amenities, including a rooftop lounge. 170 LO C K WO O D B LVD. | 8 4 3 .7 2 3 .3 0 0 0
Nationally awarded boutique hotel Zero George offers 16 elegant guest suites within five immaculately restored historic residences in the heart of downtown Charleston, just steps from many Spoleto performance venues.
M A R R I OT T. C O M / C H SMC
0 GEORGE ST. | 843.817.790 0 ZER OGEORGE.C OM
FR ANCIS MARION HOTEL SPOLETO!
GO!
Historic hotel in the grand tradition. Located in the historic district and walking distance to many Festival venues, restaurants, and shops. Rooms and spacious penthouse suites with unsurpassed views. Parking, valet. 387 K I N G ST. | 8 7 7. 7 5 6 .2 12 1 FR A N C I S M A R I O N C HARL E STON.COM
FE ST IVAL VENUE GUI DE Woolfe Street Playhouse, 34 Woolfe St.
5
College of Charleston Sottile Theatre, 44 George St.
10
Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting St.
2
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 405 King St.
6
TD Arena at College of Charleston, 301 Meeting St.
11
Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church St.
3
Simons Center Recital Hall at College of Charleston, 54 St. Philip St.
7
Charleston Gaillard Center / Spoleto Festival USA Box Office, 95 Calhoun St.
3
Emmett Robinson Theatre at College of Charleston, 54 St. Philip St.
8
Memminger Auditorium, 56 Beaufain St.
4
College of Charleston Cistern Yard, 66 George St.
9
Charleston Library Society, 164 King St.
12
Not on map:
Opening Ceremonies, City Hall, 80 Broad St.
Hampton Park, 30 Mary Murray Drive, Charleston, SC 29403
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FESTIVAL VENUE GUIDE
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1
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1. WOOLFE STREET PLAYHOUSE
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7. CHARLESTON GAILLARD CENTER, SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA BOX OFFICE
6. TD ARENA AT COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
3. SIMONS CENTER RECITAL HALL & EMMETT ROBINSON THEATRE
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2. ST. MATTHEW’S LUTHERAN CHURCH
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TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
5. COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SOTTILE THEATRE ST
4. COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON CISTERN YARD
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2020 Event Calendar
EVENT CALENDAR
21 MAY: THURSDAY 8:00pm
Romantics Anonymous (preview) DST (p 4)
22 MAY: FRIDAY 12:00pm 1:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:00pm
Opening Ceremonies OPN Chamber Music I DST (p 22) Until the Flood ROB (p 6) Omar SOT (p 2) Scottish Ballet CGC (p12) Gravity & Other Myths MEM (p 18) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Meow Meow WSP (p 10) Preservation Hall Jazz Band CIS (p 35)
23 MAY: SATURDAY 9:00am 11:00am 1:00pm 2:00pm 2:00pm 3:30pm 5:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 8:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm
Behind the Garden Gate (p 45) Chamber Music I DST (p 22) Chamber Music I DST (p 22) Conversations With Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels SOT (p 47) Gravity & Other Myths MEM (p 18) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Until the Flood ROB (p 6) Westminster Choir STM (p 30) Scottish Ballet CGC (p 12) MIT | Difficult Grace REC (p 24) Meow Meow WSP (p 10) Opening-Weekend Fête GIB (p 13) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) A New Orleans Jazz Celebration CIS (p 37)
TICKETS: SPOLETOUSA.ORG — 843.579.3100
24 MAY: SUNDAY 11:00am 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 3:30pm 5:00pm 5:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:00pm
Chamber Music II DST (p 22) Chamber Music II DST (p 22) Until the Flood ROB (p 6) Scottish Ballet CGC (p 12) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Conversations With Dael Orlandersmith ROB (p 47) MIT | Distress to Serenity WSP (p 24) Aruán Ortiz and Don Byron Duo REC (p 34) Gravity & Other Myths MEM (p 18) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Meow Meow WSP (p 10) Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi CIS (p 40)
25 MAY: MONDAY
30 MAY: SATURDAY
11:00am 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 3:30pm 5:00pm 5:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 8:00pm 8:00pm
9:00am 11:00am 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:30pm 3:30pm 5:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 8:00pm 8:00pm
Chamber Music II DST (p 22) Chamber Music III DST (p 22) Until the Flood ROB (p 6) Omar SOT (p 2) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Aruán Ortiz and Don Byron Duo REC (p 34) Gravity & Other Myths MEM (p 18) Aruán Ortiz and Don Byron Duo REC (p 34) Gravity & Other Myths MEM (p 18) Meow Meow WSP (p 10) Until the Flood ROB (p 6)
Behind the Garden Gate (p 45) Chamber Music VI DST (p 22) Chamber Music VI DST (p 22) Sea Sick WSP (p 7) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Trisha Brown Dance Company SOT (p 14) Westminster Choir STM (p 30) Caleb Teicher & Company ROB (p 11) The Planets CGC (p 21) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Sea Sick WSP (p 7)
26 MAY: TUESDAY 31 MAY: SUNDAY 11:00am 1:00pm 2:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm
Chamber Music III DST (p 22) Chamber Music III DST (p 22) Jazz Talk with Alicia Hall Moran and Jason Moran CGC (p 47) Aruán Ortiz and Don Byron Duo REC (p 34) Gravity & Other Myths MEM (p 18) Aruán Ortiz and Don Byron Duo REC (p 34) Until the Flood ROB (p 6) Get Out CGC (p 19) Meow Meow WSP (p 10)
11:00am 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 3:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:00pm
Chamber Music VI DST (p 22) Chamber Music VII DST (p 22) Caleb Teicher & Company ROB (p 11) Omar SOT (p 2) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Caleb Teicher & Company ROB (p 11) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) The Stations MEM (p 28)
27 MAY: WEDNESDAY
1 JUNE: MONDAY
11:00am 1:00pm 5:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:00pm
11:00am 1:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 8:00pm
Chamber Music IV DST (p 22) Chamber Music IV DST (p 22) Aruán Ortiz and Don Byron Duo REC (p 34) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Sea Sick WSP (p 7) Two Wings CGC (p 36)
Chamber Music VII DST (p 22) Chamber Music VII DST (p 22) Jazz Talk with Abdullah Ibrahim REC (p 47) Wonders at Dusk WSP (p 8) Four Seasons Recomposed SOT (p 25)
28 MAY: THURSDAY 2 JUNE: TUESDAY 11:00am 1:00pm 5:00pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm
Chamber Music IV DST (p 22) Chamber Music V DST (p 22) In Plain Site HPK (p 14) In Plain Site HPK (p 14) Omar SOT (p 2) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Caleb Teicher & Company ROB (p 11) Sea Sick WSP (p 7) The Cookers CIS (p 39)
29 MAY: FRIDAY 11:00am 1:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm
Chamber Music V DST (p 22) Chamber Music V DST (p 22) Caleb Teicher & Company ROB (p 11) Sea Sick WSP (p 7) The Stations MEM (p 28) Trisha Brown Dance Company SOT (p 14) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) The Wood Brothers CIS (p 41)
11:00am 1:00pm 6:00pm 6:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:00pm
Chamber Music VIII DST (p 22) Chamber Music VIII DST (p 22) Machine de Cirque MEM (p 17) Wonders at Dusk WSP (p 8) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Abdullah Ibrahim SOT (p 32) The Believers Are But Brothers ROB (p 9)
3 JUNE: WEDNESDAY 11:00am 1:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm
Chamber Music VIII DST (p 22) Chamber Music IX (p 22) Conversations With Scott Silven WSP (p 47) The Believers Are But Brothers ROB (p 9) Machine de Cirque MEM (p 17) Linda May Han Oh and Fabian Almazan REC (p 38)
7:30pm 8:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm
Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Omar SOT (p 2) Wonders at Dusk WSP (p 8) Steep Canyon Rangers CIS (p 42)
4 JUNE: THURSDAY 11:00am 1:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:00pm
Chamber Music IX DST (p 22) Chamber Music IX DST (p 22) Conversations with Javaad Alipoor CLS (p 47) Wonders at Dusk WSP (p 8) Linda May Han Oh and Fabian Almazan REC (p 38) Machine de Cirque MEM (p 17) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony CGC (p 20) The Believers Are But Brothers ROB (p 9)
5 JUNE: FRIDAY 11:00am 1:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 9:00pm
Chamber Music X DST (p 22) Chamber Music X DST (p 22) MIT | ...at some point... WSP (p 24) Machine de Cirque MEM (p 17) Linda May Han Oh and Fabian Almazan REC (p 38) The Believers Are But Brothers ROB (p 9) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Wonders at Dusk WSP (p 8)
6 JUNE: SATURDAY 11:00am 1:00pm 2:00pm 5:00pm 5:00pm 5:45pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm
Chamber Music X DST (p 22) Chamber Music XI DST (p 22) The Believers Are But Brothers ROB (p 9) Linda May Han Oh and Fabian Almazan REC (p 38) Machine de Cirque MEM (p 17) Live from Here with Chris Thile TDA (p 26) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras CGC (p 16) Wonders at Dusk WSP (p 8)
7 JUNE: SUNDAY 11:00am 1:00pm 2:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 3:30pm 5:00pm 8:30pm
Chamber Music XI DST (p 22) Chamber Music XI DST (p 22) Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras CGC (p 16) Wonders at Dusk WSP (p 8) Machine de Cirque MEM (p 17) Romantics Anonymous DST (p 4) Omar SOT (p 2) The War and Treaty CIS (p 31)
SENIOR, MILITARY, AND TEACHER DISCOUNTS Senior citizens, military personnel, and teachers may receive discounts on select performances with valid identification. Discounts may apply only to certain seating sections.
Venue Key OPN: Opening Ceremonies, City Hall DST: Dock Street Theatre
STUDENT TICKETS
SOT: College of Charleston Sottile Theatre
For information about Spoleto’s Student Ticket program, please visit spoletousa.org.
ROB: Emmett Robinson Theatre at College of Charleston
CGC: Charleston Gaillard Center
MEM: Memminger Auditorium CIS: College of Charleston Cistern Yard
GROUP SALES Discounted rates are available for groups of 10 or more on selected performances. For more information, call 843.720.1116. Please call the box office at 843.579.3100 to request accessible seating. Please call the box office at 843.579.3100 to request accessible seating. Program, artists, venues, and pricing are subject to change without notice. All running times are approximate. A $3 handling fee and a $3 facility fee will be applied to each ticket purchased. LATE SEATING Patrons arriving late to a performance will be seated solely at the house manager’s discretion. All audience members, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Lawn chairs are prohibited at all College of Charleston Cistern Yard events.
CONNECT WITH US @spoletofestivalusa @spoletofestivalusa
WSP: Woolfe Street Playhouse REC: Simons Center Recital Hall at College of Charleston CLS: Charleston Library Society STM: St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church TDA: TD Arena at College of Charleston GIB: Gibbes Museum of Art HPK: Hampton Park Turn to p 51 for a venue map and more details
HOW TO BUY TICKETS Tickets available online and over the phone beginning January 15. Visit spoletousa.org for information about presale access for donors. ONLINE— spoletousa.org BY PH ONE— 843.579.3100 IN PERS ON BEGINNING MAY 1— Charleston Gaillard Center 95 Calhoun St. Monday – Sunday 9:00am – 5:00pm
@spoletofestival spoletousa.org/blog
Gift certificates are available!
info@spoletousa.org
SAVE THE DATES Spoleto Festival USA 2021 May 28 – June 13
SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA 14 GEORGE STREET CHARLESTON, SC 29401-1524
SPOLETOUSA.ORG 843.579.3100
MAY 22 – JUNE 7, 2020
SPOLETOUSA.ORG