Listen to the entire program:

From men in tutus, an opera featuring puppets and everything in between, Spoleto Festival USA’s 2010 season has delighted, and at times, disappointed. Hosts Jennifer Foster and Marc Overton talk over the best – and worst – in this summary of the Spoleto Festival USA, and we’ll revisit some of the memorable voices from the 2010 Festival, including General Director Nigel Redden, new Chamber Music Director Geoff Nuttall, Colla Marionette company director Piero Corbella, Polish jazzman Leszek Możdżer, and Charleston mayor Joseph P. Riley.

We’re also hearing another Spoleto voice – and personality - for the last time. Emmanuel Villaume made his Spoleto Festival USA debut 20 years ago conducting Renée Fleming in The Marriage of Figaro. Completing the circle, Villaume conducted the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra in the Overture to Mozart’s opera as one of two encores at his last concert as Spoleto’s Music Director for Opera and Orchestra.

Whistling may not come to mind when you think of necessary skills on a job application. But, for tenor Robert McPherson’s job as Hob in Flora, an Opera, this skillset was at the top of the list. As with any new position, skills take time to master, and after a while, Robert was whistling while he worked, as he explains to Marc Overton.

Winner of the 2009 Avery Fisher Prize, the young Israeli pianist is one of the most talked-about young artists today He joins Marc Overton to discuss his style, his approach to chamber Music…and Brahms, whose music he’s playing for his Spoleto debut.

A zesty performance of the “Rondo Alla Zingarese” movement, played in concert this week at the Dock Street Theatre, featuring violinist Livia Sohn, violist Barry Shiffman, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, and pianist Inon Barnatan.
Unleashing Instruments
Gervais Street Hagerty takes a walk down our street to Marion Square and finds an unconventional petting zoo with a refreshing mission. Chamber Music Charleston’s Instrumental Petting Zoo unleashes instruments to budding instrumentalists.
Gervais Street Hagerty takes a walk down our street to Marion Square and finds an unconventional petting zoo with a refreshing mission. Chamber Music Charleston’s Instrumental Petting Zoo unleashes instruments to budding instrumentalists.
Churches of Charleston: Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
Our audio/video tour continues with a visit to the spiritual heart of Jewish Charleston.
Our audio/video tour continues with a visit to the spiritual heart of Jewish Charleston.
Mendelssohn: Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66: Finale
Kahal Kadosh is home to Piccolo Spoleto’s popular “World of Jewish Culture” series, including a June 6 concert called “Jewish Music Among Old Friends.” From that concert we’ll hear violinist Yuriy Bekker, cellist Kenneth Law, and pianist Stephen Buck play Mendelssohn.
Kahal Kadosh is home to Piccolo Spoleto’s popular “World of Jewish Culture” series, including a June 6 concert called “Jewish Music Among Old Friends.” From that concert we’ll hear violinist Yuriy Bekker, cellist Kenneth Law, and pianist Stephen Buck play Mendelssohn.

Marc Overton revels in experiencing the arts “outside the box,” for example, beyond the television screen.

The second of two encores to Emmanuel Villaume’s last concert as Spoleto Festival USA Director for Opera and Orchestra, and a fitting end to our 2010 Spoleto Festival USA coverage. Villaume conducts the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra.