2008 Spoleto finale guaranteed to be something to celebrate

Orchestra to perform at Middleton Place's Butterfly Lakes for first time in 10 years

An energetic presentation of music by American composers and a fireworks show launched from a barge on the Ashley River will ensure a celebratory atmosphere as the Spoleto Festival USA ends today.

The annual festival finale will be held at historic Middleton Place as usual, but the concert will be at its Butterfly Lakes for the first time in 10 years. The stage on which the festival orchestra sits is perched on an isthmus between the lakes and appears to float.

The evening opens with a picnic on the greensward in front of the historic house, and concert-goers can stroll the gardens before dark. The terraced steps will provide the seating for the concert — be sure to bring a blanket to lie on — looking down on the stage between twin lakes shaped like a butterfly's open wings. Finally, a massive fireworks display lights up the sky at the end of the concert.

The program will open with Robert Moran's "Points of Departure," says John Kennedy, who will conduct the 85-member Spoleto Festival USA orchestra. The conductor described the music as an upbeat and almost danceable overture.

Kennedy says that in planning the program, he looked for music the audience would connect with and feel good about.

The staging, lighting and sound packages were barged up the Ashley River to Middleton Place for the first time, Rhys Williams, director of productions. It all was loaded onto the 120x30 foot barge Monday morningusing boom forklifts and about 35 people.

The tug boat and barge trip from the Parker Marine dock, just north of the festival scene shop, to Middleton Place took about five hours.

The fireworks made a separate trip the same way later in the week.

Members of the orchestra are selected from among those invited to try out in auditions that are held nationwide. The orchestra also accompanies the festival's operas and performs symphonic concerts.

Two interludes from Philip Glass' opera, "CIVIL warS,", also will be part of the concert, Kennedy says. Also, the orchestra will perform "Blur" a dance mix by Todd Levin, that is like disco music for a symphony.

"We end with Aaron Copland's 'Third Symphony.' The last movement is the original 'Fanfare for the Common Man.' The piece really captures the American spirit, hopes, conflicts and optimism," he says. "The music sounds like we are saying 'Yes we can,'" Kennedy says. "It's great for kicking off the fireworks.

"I think it's going to be the most fun finale ever."

Reach Wevonneda Minis at 937-5705 or wminis@postandcourier.com.

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