“Organizers of Spoleto Festival USA have announced the lineup for the 39th annual event” in May and June in Charleston, South Carolina, writes Lori Holcomb-Holland in Monday’s (1/4) New York Times. “Highlights of the 17-day festival include the world premiere of ‘Paradise Interrupted,’ a contemporary opera composed by Huang Ruo” designed and directed by Jennifer Wen Ma, designer of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “Also making world debuts will be ‘What Moves You,’ by the dancer Lil Buck and the cellist Ashley Bathgate, as well as the Spoleto-commissioned performance of Francesco Cavalli’s opera ‘Veremonda l’amazzone di Aragona.’ ” Members of the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra will perform music by Huang Ruo, Tan Dun, Barber, and Sibelius; and Charlie Chaplin’s 1931 silent film City Lights will be shown as the orchestra performs the soundtrack live. Also performing at the festival will be the Westminster Choir, Carlo Colla and Sons Marionette Company, the Casus Circus of Australia, Trisha Brown Dance Company, Shen Wei Dance Arts, Scottish Ballet, and Shakespeare Globe theater company. The festival will conclude with a performance of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, featuring a double choir and double orchestra.
Posted January 7, 2015
