Festival enjoyed robust ticket sales

This year's Spoleto Festival USA came with a silver lining. Despite a challenging economy that forced organizers to reduce the festival's budget from $8.4 million to $6.2 million and limit some programming, ticket sales were mostly robust; and it appears the festival will end with a balanced budget, perhaps a modest surplus, officials said. Read More

Spoleto Finale

Hundreds of people picnicked Sunday beneath the Spanish moss-draped trees at the Spoleto Finale at Middleton Place. Read More

Another fine festival takes a bow

The party's over. After tonight, the 2009 Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra, which hadn't even held its first rehearsal a month ago, will cease to exist except in the memories of those who were there to play or listen during its few weeks of glory in Charleston. Read More

Chamber music performance brilliant

Franz Schubert's ethereal String Quintet in C major ended the 11th chamber music program Saturday and will be the last piece played today in the final concert. Charles Wadsworth programmed this for his final year as artistic director, a piece Spoleto Festival founder Gian Carlo Menotti often requested as a final one to end a festival. Read More

Calendar

Chamber concert delivers seasoned talent

Spoleto Chamber Music Series X, featuring very difficult and very beautiful music by Haydn, Dvorak and Schumann, was a delight to the packed audience at Memminger Auditorium. Read More

Spoletotoday.com

The festivals are in their final weekend: Piccolo's finale begins at 4 p.m. today and Spoleto will close Sunday with a finale celebration at Middleton Place. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 8:30 p.m. Read More

Fun won't include fireworks

Prepare for more than toe-tapping at this year's Piccolo Spoleto Festival Finale today. The music pulsating through Hampton Park will have you up and on your feet, predicts Ellen Moryl. "It is very, very upbeat, energetic music that will make you want to get up and dance," said the festival's executive director. "It will be a fitting conclusion to our festival." Read More

Early Music has rhythm, romance

Piccolo and Spoleto may be winding down, but the Early Music Series is still going strong at First (Scots) Presbyterian Church. Friday's program featured Brio in an "Oldies but Goodies" concert of music from the Medieval era, both the French and the Spanish Renaissances, as well as songs from the Sephardi. Read More

Jazz group serves up pure energy

Rene Marie's concert at the Gaillard Municipal Auditorium lived up to high pre-show expectations Friday as the vocalist and her band turned in a tasty jazz performance that simply delighted the nearly 2,100 fans. Read More