Wadsworth to retire after 2009 Spoleto Festival

Those who attended the 1 p.m. Bank of America Chamber Music concert Saturday received quite a surprise when, during a pause in the middle of the performance, director Charles Wadsworth announced that he will retire following the 2009 Spoleto Festival USA.

A mix of brilliance, irreverence and folksiness, Wadsworth is credited by festival General Director Nigel Redden with "teaching a generation of people to love chamber music" and by Charleston Mayor Joe Riley with helping to bring the festival to Charleston in 1977 and making certain that it remained here, despite severe ups and downs.

Following his announcement, Wadsworth, who was reached by phone at his temporary lodgings downtown, said, "I thought carefully about my decision and felt the timing was right. After all, I'll be 80 in May of 2009, which makes 50 years since I began hosting and directing chamber music, starting with the Festival of Two Worlds in Italy in 1959 and with the Spoleto Festival USA in 1977. Now I feel it's about time I went out to pasture and stop performing professionally."

Wadsworth is one of the few people who has been with the Spoleto Festival since its founding and has been known internationally for not only the programming of chamber music but also for his performances that include playing at the White House for Presidents John Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. He founded the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in 1969.

The musician and director said he will take time to compose and perhaps make a CD. "And I will be happy to perform for some fundraisers, but not be paid for it," he emphasized, adding with a touch of vintage Wadsworth humor, "And I did notice that Victoria's Secret has an ad for a salesperson."

The longtime director said he had informed Redden, Riley and festival chairman Eric Friberg of his decision Friday. He also said Geoff Nuttall, violinist with the St. Lawrence String Quartet, would continue next season in his role as associate artistic director of the Bank of America Chamber series.

Asked about a search for Wadsworth's successor, Redden said, "Charles is one of the main pillars of Spoleto and he saved it when (founder Gian Carlo) Menotti left in 1993, and forced the artistic directors to choose between Italy and Charleston. Charles chose Charleston.

"Also, it is impossible for anyone to imitate someone like Charles, who has the ability to make an esoteric genre such as chamber music so appealing to a large audience. Therefore, someone else will have to come in and create a whole new persona."

Redden said that for Wadsworth's 80th birthday there will be "a huge celebration, a celebration of Charles' incredible gift to this city, and his gift to the country."

Emphasizing that Wadsworth was instrumental in pushing to locate the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston when some doubted it would succeed, Riley said, "Next year will mark the end of a magnificent era, as the Dock Street Theatre has been filled with Charles' magic for all these years." He added, "Certainly, Charles' charm, wit and graciousness made the music even more wonderful." The mayor said that Wadsworth would be here to celebrate the opening of the renovated Dock Street Theatre in 2010.

"Well, we have a whole year to say our goodbyes," said Wadsworth, who cut the conversation short for an important reason. "We're having all the chamber musicians over for a party here tonight and I'm rushing to get to the liquor store before it closes."

Reach Dottie Ashley at dashley@postandcourier.com or 937-5704.