Spoleto Festival USA has just announced its 2009 festival schedule and tickets are now available for sale on the festival’s Web site. Due to the economic crunch, Spoleto has had to cut back on the number of performances it is offering in 2009. This season there are 120 performances, which is down by 22 from last year’s 142. The budget for this year’s festival is significantly less than 2008’s as well, going from $8.4 million to $6.2 million. Raking up $372,000 in debt, 2008's festival was the first in 13 years to be in the red.
The 2009 schedule features Gustave Charpentier’s Louise as the only opera performance of the season. Questions were raised about whether or not the Wachovia Jazz series would continue given that the bank had been purchased last year. It will in fact continue under the same name, bringing in five acts. The Westminster Choir also returns with Bach, Buxtehude, Josquin Desprez, Frank Martin, and Moses Hogan as just a few composers included in their program.
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With the current state of the economy, I've been noticing various articles being written about the impact financial crises are having on music festivals. Of significant importance is Spoleto Festival USA, one of FP's top tier classical festivals. Two different online news sources based in Charleston, South Carolina, where the festival is held, have produced articles describing Spoleto’s financial outlook. I, myself, am no economist so I will leave you with links, a short description, and excerpt from each article.
"Lowcountry braces for fallout from bank's sale" (The Post and Courier)
This article describes the impact of the sale of Wachovia Corp., an annual financial supporter of Spoleto for the past 14 years, to Citigroup Inc. Read more »
Piccolo Spoleto is having a deal where you can get into four Piccolo Spoleto events absolutely free AND bring up to seven of your friends. To find out how you can qualify, call (843) 724-7305 or contact me at jessica@festivalpreview.com and I'll send you the details.
Spotlight Concert Series
A TRIBUTE TO STEPHEN PAULUS
Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 6pm
New Tabernacle Fourth Baptist Church, 22 Elizabeth St.
WAYANG MODERN SHADOW PUPPET THEATRE
Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 6pm
New Tabernacle Fourth Baptist Church, 22 Elizabeth St.
CHAMBER MUSIC CHARLESTON
Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 6pm
New Tabernacle Fourth Baptist Church, 22 Elizabeth St.
BALKAN STRING QUARTET
Friday, June 6, 2008 at 6pm
New Tabernacle Fourth Baptist Church, 22 Elizabeth St.
