Spoleto Festival USA Announces Its 2019 Chamber Music Series, Featuring 30 Composers, 22 Artists, and Four Mystery Performances

Spoleto celebrates Geoff Nuttall’s 10th year as the Charles E. and Andrea L. Volpe Director of Chamber Music

Eleven programs, each performed three times
May 24 – June 9 | Dock Street Theatre

 

April 1, 2019 (Charleston, South Carolina) — Geoff Nuttall, The Charles E. and Andrea L. Volpe Director for Chamber Music, announced details of the 11 programs—33 total concerts—to be performed during the 2019 Spoleto Festival USA season.

Long considered a linchpin of the Festival since its inaugural concerts in 1977, the Bank of America Chamber Music series continues to be one of the most beloved artistic elements of the Festival. “The series’ ongoing success is due, in no small part, to Geoff Nuttall’s enthusiasm for the music presented and his own excellence as a performer,” says Festival General Director Nigel Redden. “The camaraderie of musicians onstage is special—and the performers are some of the top chamber musicians in the world. When Geoff was appointed director in 2009, he had some very big shoes to fill of the previous director, Charles Wadsworth. I’d say Geoff has certainly done so.” 

Nuttall first performed during Spoleto Festival USA in 1995, when his St. Lawrence String Quartet was invited by then-director Charles Wadsworth to perform as the quartet in residence. Nuttall became associate artistic director of chamber music in 2008, and when Wadsworth retired in 2009, Nuttall was appointed host and director. In this role, Nuttall is responsible for enlisting musicians for each piece on the 11 varied programs, which reflect Nuttall’s eclectic tastes and passion for music within and beyond the traditional canon. Interspersed with his signature wit and commentary, concerts flow effortlessly from 17th-century classics to 21st-century premieres.

“I love combining the old with the new and the standards of the repertoire with rarely heard gems. I want to encourage audience members to open their ears, discover new things from a musical point of view, and think about possibilities for future listening,” says Nuttall. “The eclecticism of the series as a whole really started with Charles—though he never announced the programs ahead of the concerts. The audience’s trust in his programming was such an inspiration to me. So this year, I’m working on a tip-of-the-hat to him and bringing some elements of surprise back.” On four of the 11 programs, Nuttall has scheduled a mystery performance—artists and selections for “Geoff’s Surprise Picks” will be revealed during the concerts.

As commissioning new work has long been a pillar of Spoleto Festival USA’s mission, the Bank of America Chamber Music series has engaged several artists as composer in residence, including Doug Balliett, Osvaldo Golijov, Jaroslaw Kapuscinski, Jonathan Berger, and Mark Applebaum in recent years. This season, cellist Paul Wiancko, the 2019 Bank of America Chamber Music composer in residence, will debut his Oboe Quintet written for oboist James Austin Smith and the St. Lawrence String Quartet on Program III. Wiancko currently writes for and performs as a member of Ayane & Paul and the Bird’s Eye Trio and tours regularly with the American Contemporary Music Ensemble. His three-part piece LIFT, written for the Aizuri Quartet, was featured on the group’s album Blueprinting, nominated for a 2019 Grammy Award. Writes NPR Music, “If Haydn were alive to write a string quartet today, it might sound something like Paul Wiancko’s LIFT.” Two of Wiancko’s other works will be performed on Programs I and V, and he will join the musicians onstage in performance.

Four other musicians are new to the Festival. On Program V, violinist Karen Gomyo, makes her Spoleto debut in Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy, op. 25, and Paul Holmes Morton, a gifted theorbo and banjo player, appears in Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Celli in G minor, RV 531. Amy Harman, principal bassoonist of the English National Opera Orchestra, joins the series on Program VI in Poulenc’s Trio for Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano. And David Byrd-Marrow, the solo horn of new music collective ICE (International Contemporary Ensemble), first takes the Dock Street stage for Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings, op. 31 on Program VIII.

Returning to the series for Britten’s Serenade is tenor Paul Groves, who also sings as Herod in the Festival’s all-new production of Richard Strauss’s Salome (May 24, 30, June 2, and 5 at the Charleston Gaillard Center). Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo also sings during Bank of America Chamber Music. This will be his fourth return to the series, and on Program I, he will perform a selection of Handel and Philip Glass works from his Grammy-nominated album ARC.

Pianist and composer Stephen Prutsman performs, among other works, Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Piano Sonata on Program II as well as an original score to Buster Keaton’s silent film, College. Two other pianists return to the series: Inon Barnatan (Programs VIII, IX, and XI) and Pedja Muzijevic (Programs I, III, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and XI). Other returning musicians include oboist James Austin Smith, who performs a solo, Three Angularities, written by his father Larry Alan Smith; bassist and 2018 composer-in-residence Doug Balliett, whose composition “Echo and Narcissus” appears on Program II; flutist Tara Helen O’Connor; violinist Daniel Phillips; violist Meena Bhasin; and cellists Nina Lee and Joshua Roman.

The 2019 season marks distinguished clarinetist Todd Palmer’s 25th return to the chamber music series; this year he plays on Program VI in Copland’s Appalachian Spring, as well as on Programs VII, IX, X, and XI. His arrangement of the Overture from Rossini’s Barber of Seville during Program XI culminates the series on Sunday, June 9. The full program can be found below.

Tickets to the 2019 Bank of America Chamber Music series at Dock Street Theatre can be purchased online at spoletousa.org or by calling 843.579.3100. In-person box office operations will be located at Charleston Gaillard Center beginning April 30. Tickets may be purchased Monday through Sunday, 9:00am to 5:00pm.

 

Spoleto Festival USA

Founded in 1977, Spoleto Festival USA is an annual 17-day performing arts festival in Charleston, SC, that presents leading artists in classical and popular music, opera, jazz, dance, and theater. The 2019 season takes place May 24 to June 9 in various locations on the downtown peninsula, including the historic Dock Street Theatre and the Charleston Gaillard Center. Spoleto Festival USA is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization.

Geoff Nuttall

Geoff Nuttall began playing the violin at age 8 after moving to Ontario from Texas. He spent most of his musical studies under the tutelage of Lorand Fenyves at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, the University of Western Ontario, and the University of Toronto, where he received his bachelor’s degree. In 1989, Nuttall co-founded the St. Lawrence String Quartet. As a member of his Grammy-nominated foursome, he has played more than 2,000 concerts throughout North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. He is now on faculty at Stanford University, where the St. Lawrence String Quartet has been ensemble in residence since 1999, and makes his home in Portola Valley, California, with his wife Livia Sohn and sons, Jack and Ellis. The 2019 season is Nuttall’s 10th season as the Charles E. and Andrea L. Volpe Director for Chamber Music.

Images
A selection of high resolution images can be found in Spoleto Festival USA’s online gallery.

For more information, visit the press room.

 

BANK OF AMERICA CHAMBER MUSIC

GEOFF NUTTALL, THE CHARLES E. AND ANDREA L. VOLPE DIRECTOR OF CHAMBER MUSIC

ARTISTS

Composer in residence/Cello                Paul Wiancko

Countertenor                                      Anthony Roth Costanzo

Tenor                                                 Paul Groves

Flute/Piccolo                                       Tara Helen O’Connor

Oboe                                                  James Austin Smith

Clarinet                                              Todd Palmer

Bassoon                                              Amy Harman

French Horn                                        David Byrd-Marrow

Piano                                                  Inon Barnatan

Piano/Harpsichord/Organ                     Pedja Muzijevic

Piano                                                  Stephen Prutsman

Violin                                                  Karen Gomyo

Violin/Viola                                          Daniel Phillips

Viola                                                   Meena Bhasin                                                         

Cello                                                   Nina Lee

Cello                                                   Joshua Roman

Double Bass/Viola da Gamba                 Doug Balliett

Theorbo/Banjo                                     Paul Holmes Morton

ST. LAWRENCE STRING QUARTET

Violin                                                  Geoff Nuttall

Violin                                                  Owen Dalby

Viola                                                   Lesley Robertson

Cello                                                   Christopher Costanza

 

PROGRAM I

May 24, 1:00pm

May 25, 11:00am and 1:00pm

 

Piccolo Concerto in C major, RV 443

Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741)

                        Tara Helen O’Connor, piccolo

                        Geoff Nuttall and Owen Dalby, violin; Daniel Phillips, viola; Christopher Costanza, cello;

                        Doug Balliett, double bass; Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord

 

“Liquid Days”

Philip Glass (b 1937)

“Ombra mai fu” from Xerxes

George Frideric Handel (1685 – 1759)

“1000 Airplanes on the Roof”

Philip Glass

                        Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor

Tara Helen O’Connor, flute; James Austin Smith, oboe; Geoff Nuttall and Owen Dalby, violin;
Daniel Phillips, viola; Doug Balliett, double bass;Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord

 

Closed Universe

Paul Wiancko (b 1983)

                        Christopher Costanzo, cello; Pedja Muzijevic, piano; Owen Dalby, violin;

                        Daniel Phillips, viola; Paul Wiancko, glockenspiel

 

Piano Quintet in C minor, op. 1

Ernst von Dohnányi (1877 – 1960)

                        Stephen Prutsman, piano; St. Lawrence String Quartet

 

PROGRAM II

May 26, 11:00am and 1:00pm

May 27, 11:00am

 

Piano Sonata, op. 27 no. 2, “Moonlight”

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)

                        Stephen Prutsman, piano

 

“Echo and Narcissus”

Doug Balliett (b 1982)           

                        Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor; Tara Helen O’Connor, flute; James Austin Smith, oboe;

                        Owen Dalby and Daniel Phillips, viola; Christopher Costanzo, cello; Doug Balliett, double bass

 

Three Angularities

Larry Alan Smith (b 1955)

                        James Austin Smith, oboe

 

String Quartet in C major, op. 76 no. 3, “Emperor”

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 – 1809)

                        St. Lawrence String Quartet

 

PROGRAM III

May 27, 1:00pm

May 28, 11:00am and 1:00pm

 

“One Charming Night” from The Fairy Queen

Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor; Tara Helen O’Connor, flute; James Austin Smith, oboe; Christopher Costanzo, cello; Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord

“Seek Not to Know” from The Indian Queen

                        Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor; James Austin Smith, oboe; Geoff Nuttall, violin;     Christopher Costanzo, cello; Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord

“Dido’s Lament” from Dido and Aeneas

                        Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor; St. Lawrence String Quartet;

                        Doug Balliett, double bass; Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord

Henry Purcell (1659 – 95)

 

Oboe Quintet (world premiere)

Paul Wiancko (b 1983)

                        James Austin Smith, oboe; St. Lawrence String Quartet

 

“Zoom Tube”

Ian Clarke (b 1964)

                        Tara Helen O’Connor, flute

 

Geoff’s Surprise Pick

 

Piano Quintet in E-flat minor, op. 87

Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778 – 1837)

                        Pedja Muzijevic, piano; Owen Dalby, violin; Daniel Phillips, viola;

                        Christopher Costanza, cello; Doug Balliett, double bass

 

PROGRAM IV

May 29, 11:00am and 1:00pm

May 30, 11:00am

 

Flute Quintet in B-flat major, op. 19 no. 5

Luigi Boccherini (1743 – 1805)

                        Tara Helen O’Connor, flute; Geoff Nuttall and Owen Dalby, violin;

                        Daniel Phillips, viola; Christopher Costanza, cello

 

College

Silent film by Buster Keaton (1895 – 1966)

Original score by Stephen Prutsman (b 1960)

                        Stephen Prutsman, piano; Geoff Nuttall and Owen Dalby, violin;

                        Daniel Phillips, viola; Christopher Costanza, cello

 

PROGRAM V

May 30, 1:00pm

May 31, 11:00am and 1:00pm

 

When the Night for Cello Quartet

Paul Wiancko (b 1983)

                        Joshua Roman, Paul Wiancko, Christopher Costanza, Nina Lee, cello

 

Sonata for Flute and Keyboard in G minor, BWV 1020

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685—1750)

                        Tara Helen O’Connor, flute; Stephen Prutsman, piano

 

Geoff’s Surprise Pick

 

Concerto for Two Celli in G minor, RV 531

Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741)

                        Joshua Roman and Christopher Costanza, cello

                        Geoff Nuttall and Owen Dalby, violin; Daniel Phillips, viola; Nina Lee, cello;

                        Doug Balliett, double bass; Paul Holmes Morton, theorbo; Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord

 

“Carmen Fantasy,” op. 25, from Bizet’s Carmen

Pablo de Sarasate (1844 – 1908)

                        Karen Gomyo, violin; Pedja Muzijevic, piano

 

PROGRAM VI

June 1, 11:00am and 1:00pm

June 2, 11:00am

 

Concerto Grosso, op. 6 no. 8, “Christmas Concerto”

Arcangelo Corelli (1653 – 1713)

                        Geoff Nuttall and Karen Gomyo, violin; Nina Lee, cello

                        Owen Dalby, violin; Daniel Phillips and Meena Bhasin, viola; Christopher Costanza, cello;

                        Doug Balliett, double bass; Paul Holmes Morton, theorbo; Pedja Muzijevic, organ

 

Trio for Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano

Francis Poulenc (1899 –1963)

                        James Austin Smith, oboe; Amy Harman, bassoon; Pedja Muzijevic, piano

 

Appalachian Spring

Aaron Copland (1900 – 90)

Tara Hellen O’Connor, flute; Todd Palmer, clarinet; Amy Harman, bassoon; Daniel Phillips, Karen Gomyo, Owen Dalby, and Geoff Nuttall, violin; Meena Bhasin and Isabella Costanza, viola; Christopher Costanza and Nina Lee, cello; Doug Balliett, double bass; Pedja Muzijevic, piano

 

PROGRAM VII

June 2, 1:00pm

June 3, 11:00am and 1:00pm

 

Geoff’s Surprise Pick

 

Sonata in E minor, Wq. 59-5

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714 – 1788)

                        Pedja Muzijevic, piano

 

Divertissement for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon

Erwin Schulhoff (1894 – 1942)

                        James Austin Smith, oboe; Todd Palmer, clarinet; Amy Harman, bassoon

 

Piano Trio in B-flat major, K 502

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 91)

                        Pedja Muzijevic, piano; Karen Gomyo, violin; Nina Lee, cello

 

PROGRAM VIII

June 4, 11:00am and 1:00pm

June 5, 11:00am

 

Battalia

Heinrich Biber (1644 – 1704)

                        Geoff Nuttall and Karen Gomyo, violin; Owen Dalby and Meena Bhasin, viola; Joshua Roman and

                        Nina Lee, cello; Doug Balliett, double bass; Paul Holmes Morton, theorbo; Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord

 

Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings, op. 31

Benjamin Britten (1913 – 76)

Paul Groves, tenor
David Byrd-Marrow, French horn; Geoff Nuttall and Karen Gomyo, violin;

                        Owen Dalby and Meena Bhasin, viola; Joshua Roman and Nina Lee, cello; Doug Balliett, double bass

 

Keyboard Concerto in D minor, BWV 1052

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750)

                        Inon Barnatan, piano

                        Geoff Nuttall and Owen Dalby, violin; Meena Bhasin, viola; Nina Lee, cello; Doug Balliett, double bass

 

PROGRAM IX

June 5, 1:00pm

June 6, 11:00am and 1:00pm

 

Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat major, K 452

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 91)

                        Pedja Muzijevic, piano; James Austin Smith, oboe; Todd Palmer, clarinet;

                        Amy Harman, bassoon; David Byrd-Marrow, French horn

 

Dual

Matthew Aucoin (b 1990)

                        Joshua Roman, cello; Doug Balliett, double bass

 

Piano Quartet in C minor, op. 15

Gabriel Fauré (1845 – 1924)

                        Inon Barnatan, piano; Geoff Nuttall, violin; Meena Bhasin, viola; Nina Lee, cello

 

PROGRAM X

June 7, 11:00am and 1:00pm

June 8, 11:00am

 

Geoff’s Surprise Pick

 

Octet in F major, D. 803

Franz Schubert (1797 – 1828)

Todd Palmer, clarinet; David Byrd-Marrow, French horn; Amy Harman, bassoon; Geoff Nuttall and Owen Dalby, violin; Meena Bhasin, viola; Nina Lee, cello; Doug Balliett, double bass

 

PROGRAM XI

June 8, 1:00pm

June 9, 11:00am and 1:00pm

 

Bassoon Sonata in F minor, TWV 41

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681 – 1767)

                        Amy Harman, bassoon; Nina Lee, cello; Paul Holmes Morton, theorbo;

                        Pedja Muzijevic, organ

 

Disco-Toccata

Guillaume Connesson (b 1970)

                        Todd Palmer, clarinet; Joshua Roman, cello

 

Piano Trio in D major, op. 70 no. 1, “Ghost”

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)

                        Inon Barnatan, piano; Karen Gomyo, violin; Joshua Roman, cello

 

Overture from Barber of Seville   

Gioachino Rossini (1792 – 1868), arr. Todd Palmer

                        Todd Palmer, clarinet; Amy Harman, bassoon; David Byrd-Marrow, bassoon;

                        Geoff Nuttall and Karen Gomyo, violin; Meena Bhasin, viola;

                        Joshua Roman and Nina Lee, cello; Paul Holmes Morton; Doug Balliett, double bass;

                        Pedja Muzijevic and Inon Barnatan, piano

 

 Contact: Jenny Ouellette, public relations manager
843.720.1137; jouellette@spoletousa.org