2021 Spoleto Festival USA

On this episode of Spoleto Backstage, we highlight two passionate, exciting Romantic era sonatas for violin and piano, and hear some background about the pieces from the musicians who performed them at this year's Spoleto Chamber Music Series.First, we speak with Geoff Nuttall, violinist and the Charles E. and Andrea L. Volpe Director of Chamber Music for Spoleto Festival USA, about Robert Schumann's Violin Sonatas No. 1 in A minor, op. 105 1st Mvmt.Then, violinist Jennifer Frautschi joins us to discuss performing Camille Saint-Saëns' Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor, op. 75.

On this episode of Spoleto Backstage, we speak with Jessica Meyer, violist and 2021 Spoleto Chamber Music Series composer in residence, and hear her compositions featured in this year's series. We're also joined by violinist Livia Sohn, for whom Meyer wrote the new composition "From Our Ashes," to chat about the piece and returning to public performance after personal setbacks.

The opening of Spoleto Festival USA this year was unlike any other. Instead of a seated crowd fanning themselves in the blistering sun before city hall, a small group gathered in the shade of Washington Park.The mayor proclaimed the festival’s start as he typically does. But the confetti and church bells that followed were a surprise for many, even though they are an opening tradition.“To me there’s something emotional about that because it really does signal the start of the festival,” Jessie Bagley said. She is the Spoleto Festival USA Marketing and Public Relations Director.Bagley credits the festival’s Director of Production, Mike East, with making the unexpected happen. He just smiles when asked, humbly hanging his head and shaking it no.

On this first episode of Spoleto Backstage for 2021, host Bradley Fuller is joined by Geoff Nuttall, the Charles E. and Andrea L. Volpe Director of Chamber Music for Spoleto Festival USA, to discuss returning to the chamber music series after the cancellation of last year's festival. Then we hear the first concert from this year's series as the St. Lawrence String Quartet performs Franz Joseph Hayden's String Quartet, op. 76 no. 4 "Sunrise."

As the Spoleto Festival USA prepares to return with in-person performances for 2021, South Carolina Public Radio is announcing coverage plans for this year's festival.

Spoleto Backstage returns for a brand new season as the Spoleto Festival USA resumes in-person performances for 2021.