Spoleto Festival USA Announces 2016 Bank of America Chamber Music Series Programs
33 concerts of 11 programs performed twice daily in Charleston’s historic
Dock Street Theatre throughout the Festival, May 27 – June 12, hosted by
series director Geoff Nuttall
Series includes two world premieres by composer-in-residence Osvaldo Golijov
June 4 and 5
Series debut by countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo
APRIL 11, 2016 (CHARLESTON, SC)—Geoff Nuttall, The Charles E. and Andrea L. Volpe Director for Chamber Music for the Bank of America Chamber Music series, today announced details of the 11 programs for the 33 concerts that will be performed at this year’s Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina from Friday, May 27 through Sunday, June 12.
This year’s series includes two world premieres by Argentinian composer Osvaldo Golijov who returns as the composer-in-residence, a position he held in 2011. In addition to the new works that will be performed on Programs V and VI, other Golijov works featured are Tenebrae (May 30 and 31), Lullaby and Doina (June 1 and 2), and Last Round (June 2 and 3).
Golijov and Spoleto Festival USA have enjoyed a long association. His work was featured in series concerts programmed by Artistic Director Emeritus Charles Wadsworth, including the world premiere in 1998 of Din that was commissioned by the Festival. The world premiere of the Festival-commissioned Tenebrae was part of the series in 2002. At this season’s performance of Tenebrae, which was written for soprano, clarinet, and string quartet, the soprano role will be sung by countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo who is making his series debut. Golijov’s work has also frequently been featured on Spoleto Festival USA’s Music In Time series. The St. Lawrence String Quartet’s celebrated musical partnership with Golijiv extends beyond the Festival; the quartet (Nuttall, Owen Dalby, Lesley Robertson, and Christopher Costanza) has performed and recorded many of Golijov’s compositions, including Lullaby and Doina with Palmer and flutist Tara O’Connor for its celebrated recording Yiddishbbuk in 2002.
“The St. Lawrence String Quartet has been working with Osvaldo Golijov since 1992 and I truly believe he is one of the most emotionally powerful and gifted composers working in the world today,” says Nuttall.
Celebrated countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo makes his series debut on Program I, performing two Handel arias and “Unico spirto” from Suzanne Farrin’s dramatic cantata La Dolce Morte. This work was written for Costanzo and premiered on the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s MetLive Arts series on April 2. Costanzo, who last month garnered stellar reviews in the title role in the English National Opera’s production of Philip Glass’s Akhnaten, will also perform works by George Gershwin and Golijov.
Each of the 11 chamber programs in the 2016 series features Nuttall’s signature eclectic taste with compositions spanning more than 300 years. The Bank of America Chamber Music series begins on Friday, May 27 at 1:00pm and demonstrates Nuttall’s skill for programming well-known canonic jewels alongside new musical experiences. Among the many program highlights (audiences are frequently advised by Nuttall that the concert they have chosen to attend is the best) are songs by George Gershwin in acknowledgement of the Festival’s new production of Porgy and Bess. Program II (May 29 and 30) features “Summertime” and “Embraceable You,” performed by countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, oboist James Austin Smith, and pianist Pedja Muzijevic. Program X (June 10 and 11) features instrumental versions of “Summertime” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So” from Porgy and Bess performed by violinist Livia Sohn and Muzijevic.
Assembling distinguished musicians from around the world, the chamber series is renowned for its engaging artists and their onstage camaraderie as much as for their virtuosity. Returning artists include pianist Inon Barnatan, violinist Benjamin Beilman, baritone Tyler Duncan, bassoonist Peter Kolkay, double bassist Anthony Manzo, pianist Pedja Muzijevic, flutist Tara Helen O’Connor, clarinetist Todd Palmer, violinist/violist Daniel Phillips, pianist Stephen Prutsman, oboist James Austin Smith, violinist Livia Sohn, the St. Lawrence String Quartet (Nuttall, Dalby, Robertson, and Costanza), and cellist Alisa Weilerstein. In celebration of Spoleto Festival USA’s 40th season, the St. Lawrence String Quartet —the Arthur and Holly Magill Quartet in Residence—will be part of the Bank of America Chamber Music series for the entirety of the Festival.
Each of the 11 programs are performed three times with two performances daily at 11:00am and 1:00pm in the 463-seat Dock Street Theatre at 135 Church Street. The series is also recorded and broadcast by South Carolina ETV Radio and syndicated nationally and internationally by the WFMT Radio Network. The new Spoleto Chamber Music Series featuring performances from the 2015 Festival begins airing July 1.
Chamber Music Series Subscriptions
Spoleto Festival USA offers three chamber music subscription packages that include benefits such as premium reserved seats, access to Patron Services Manager Sally Lovejoy, and free exchanges:
- SUBSCRIPTION A: $204 (six odd-numbered chamber concerts, 1:00pm)
- SUBSCRIPTION B: $170 (five even-numbered chamber concerts, 1:00pm)
- SUBSCRIPTION C: $374 (first performance of each chamber concert, times vary)
Subscriptions are available by calling Patron Services Manager Sally Lovejoy at 843.720.1114.
Tickets
Tickets to all Bank of America Chamber Music series performances are available online at spoletousa.org, by phone at 843.579.3100, or in person from the Spoleto Festival USA box office at the Charleston Visitor Center, 375 Meeting Street. Tickets will be available from the Charleston Gaillard Center starting May 2.
2016 BANK OF AMERICAN CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
PROGRAM I
Friday, May 27 at 1:00pm; Saturday, May 28 at 11:00am and 1:00pm
“Rompo i lacci” from Flavio, King of the Lombards
George Frideric Handel
Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor; James Austin Smith, oboe; Peter Kolkay, bassoon; St. Lawrence String Quartet; Anthony Manzo, double bass; Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord
“Ombra mai fu” from Xerxes
George Frideric Handel
Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor; St. Lawrence String Quartet; Anthony Manzo, double bass; Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord
Sonata in E-flat Major, wg. 63, no. 5
C. P. E. Bach
Pedja Muzijevic, piano
“Unico spirito” from La Dolce Morte
Suzanne Farrin
Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor; James Austin Smith, oboe; Peter Kolkay, bassoon
Piano Quintet in F Minor
César Franck
Stephen Prutsman, piano; St. Lawrence String Quartet
PROGRAM II
Sunday, May 29 at 11:00am and 1:00pm; Monday, May 30 at 11:00am
Concerto in B-flat Major, K. 191
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Peter Kolkay, bassoon; St. Lawrence String Quartet; James Austin Smith, oboe; Todd Palmer, clarinet; Anthony Manzo, double bass; Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord
String Quartet no. 1, “Kreutzer Sonata”
Leoš Janáček
St. Lawrence String Quartet
“Summertime” and “Embraceable You”
George Gershwin
Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor; James Austin Smith, oboe; Pedja Muzijevic, piano
Tzigane
Maurice Ravel
Livia Sohn, violin; Stephen Prutsman, piano
PROGRAM III
Monday, May 30 at 1:00pm; Tuesday, May 31 at 11:00am and 1:00pm
Sonata for Violin and Keyboard, no. 2 in A Major, BWV 1015
Johann Sebastian Bach
Geoff Nuttall, violin; Stephen Prutsman, piano
Aanloop en sprongen (Rincorsa e salti)
Louis Andriessen
Tara Helen O’Connor, flute; James Austin Smith, oboe; Todd Palmer, clarinet
Tenebrae
Osvaldo Golijov
Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor; Todd Palmer, clarinet; St. Lawrence String Quartet
Piano Sextet, op. 110
Felix Mendelssohn
Pedja Muzijevic, piano; Owen Dalby, violin; Daniel Phillips and Lesley Robertson, violas; Christopher Costanza, cello; Anthony Manzo, double bass
PROGRAM IV
Wednesday, June 1 at 11:00am and 1:00pm; Thursday, June 2 at 11:00am
Lullaby and Doina
Osvaldo Golijo
Tara Helen O’Connor, flute; Todd Palmer, clarinet; Owen Dalby and Geoff Nuttall, violins; Daniel Phillips, viola; Christopher Costanza, cello; Anthony Manzo, double bass; Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord
“Where’er You Walk” from Semele
“Why Do the Nations” from Messiah
George Frideric Handel
Tyler Duncan, baritone; Geoff Nuttall and Owen Dalby, violins; Daniel Phillips, viola; Christopher Costanza, cello; Anthony Manzo, double bass; Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord
Occupy Bassoon
III. Drumming and Chanting
Gordon Beeferman
Peter Kolkay, bassoon
Divertimento in C Major, Hob. II: 11, “Der Geburtstag”
Franz Joseph Haydn
Tara Helen O’Connor, flute; James Austin Smith, oboe; Daniel Phillips and Livia Sohn, violins; Christopher Costanza, cello; Anthony Manzo, double bass; Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord
Trio pathétique in D Minor
Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka
Todd Palmer, clarinet; Peter Kolkay, bassoon; Pedja Muzijevic, piano
PROGRAM V
Thursday, June 2 at 1:00pm; Friday, June 3 at 11:00am and 1:00pm
Sonata for Clarinet and Bassoon
Francis Poulenc
Todd Palmer, clarinet; Peter Kolkay, bassoon
Anniversary Bagatelles (world premiere)
Ludwig van Beethoven, arr. Golijov
Geoff Nuttall and Livia Sohn, violins
Piano Quintet no. 1 in D Minor, op. 89
Gabriel Fauré
Stephen Prutsman, piano; St. Lawrence String Quartet
Last Round
Osvaldo Golijov
Geoff Nuttall, Owen Dalby, Benjamin Beilman, and Livia Sohn, violins; Lesley Robertson and Daniel Phillips, violas; Christopher Costanza and Alisa Weilerstein, cellos; Anthony Manzo, double bass
PROGRAM VI
Saturday, June 4 at 11:00am and 1:00pm; Sunday, June 5 at 11:00am
Praeludium and Allegro
Caprice Viennois, op. 2
Fritz Kreisler
Benjamin Beilman, violin; Pedja Muzijevic, piano
Agamemnon’s Aria (world premiere)
Osvaldo Golijov
Tyler Duncan, baritone; St. Lawrence String Quartet
Souvenir de Florence
Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Livia Sohn and Benjamin Beilman, violins; Daniel Phillips and Geoff Nuttall, violas; Alisa Weilerstein and Christopher Costanza, cellos
PROGRAM VII
Sunday, June 5 at 1:00pm; Monday, June 6 at 11:00am and 1:00pm
Trio, TWV 42, “Gypsy Sonata”
Georg Philipp Telemann
Tara Helen O’Connor, flute; Daniel Phillips, violin; Christopher Costanza, cello; Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord
“Wandrers Nachtlied”
“Erlkönig”
Franz Schubert
Tyler Duncan, baritone; Inon Barnatan, piano
Quintet
Sean Shepherd
James Austin Smith, oboe; Todd Palmer, clarinet; Livia Sohn, violin; Daniel Phillips, viola; Anthony Manzo, double bass
Cello Sonata
Samuel Barber
Alisa Weilerstein, cello; Inon Barnatan, piano
PROGRAM VIII
Tuesday, June 7 at 11:00am and 1:00pm; Wednesday, June 8 at 11:00am
String Quartet in E-flat Major, op. 33 no. 2, “The Joke”
Franz Joseph Haydn
St. Lawrence String Quartet
Righteous Babe
Randall Woolf
Tara Helen O’Connor, flute; Pedja Muzijevic, piano
Off Pist
Svante Henryson
Todd Palmer, clarinet; Christopher Costanza, cello
Piano Quartet no. 2 in G Minor, op. 45
Gabriel Fauré
Pedja Muzijevic, piano; Benjamin Beilman, violin; Daniel Phillips, viola; Alisa Weilerstein, cello
PROGRAM IX
Wednesday, June 8 at 1:00pm; Thursday, June 9 at 11:00am and 1:00pm
Sonata in G Minor, op. 19
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Alisa Weilerstein, cello; Inon Barnatan, piano
Garden of Follies
Andrew Norman James Austin Smith, oboe; Pedja Muzijevic, piano
Ouverture-Suite, TWV 55:G10, “Burlesque de Quixotte”
Georg Philipp Telemann
Livia Sohn and Geoff Nuttall, violins; Lesley Richardson, viola; Christopher Costanza, cello; Anthony Manzo, double bass; Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord
PROGRAM X
Friday, June 10 at 11:00am and 1:00pm; Saturday, June 11 at 11:00am
Concerto for Oboe d’amore in A Major, BWV 1055
Johann Sebastian Bach
James Austin Smith, oboe d’amore; Livia Sohn and Geoff Nuttall, violins; Lesley Robertson, viola; Christopher Costanza, cello; Anthony Manzo, double bass; Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord
“Summertime” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So” from Porgy and Bess
George Gershwin arr. Heifetz
Livia Sohn, violin; Pedja Muzijevic, piano
String Quartet no. 1 in E Minor, op. 112
Camille Saint-Saëns
St. Lawrence String Quartet
PROGRAM XI
Saturday, June 11 at 1:00pm; Sunday, June 12 at 11:00am and 1:00pm
String Quartet in C Major, op. 20, no. 2
Franz Joseph Haydn
St. Lawrence String Quartet
Piano Trio in A Minor, op. 50
Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Inon Barnatan, piano; Geoff Nuttall, violin; Alisa Weilerstein, cello
