Spoleto Festival USA#Piccolo Spoleto

The festival experienced financial problems from its outset which produced a quick turnover in leadership. On September 27, 1976, Theodore "Ted" Stern, the president of the College of Charleston at that time, was named as the new chairman of the Charleston Coordinating Committee after the departure of Hugh Lane.{{cite news|title=Stern to Head Spoleto|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AAY1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=SU8KAAAAIBAJ&pg=3209,5775600&dq=spoleto+1977&hl=en|access-date=May 24, 2013|newspaper=Charleston News & Courier|date=September 28, 1976|page=1A|author=Jerry R. Sanders}} Personality disputes also arose involving Menotti. Menotti, who had served as the artistic director for the festival since its founding, claimed in 1991 that he was not interested in renewing his three-year contract when it ended in 1992 over artistic differences.{{cite news|title=Menotti to remain with Spoleto USA|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YH5JAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pQsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2593,5077751&dq=spoleto+1977+menotti&hl=en|access-date=May 24, 2013|newspaper=Charleston News & Courier|date=October 31, 1990|page=1B|author=Frank P. Jarrell}} The board did not officially accept his resignation immediately, but Menotti stood by his intentions, blaming artistic differences with the board and lack of personal control: "I no longer feel it is my festival, and this has been my life for 15 years. I feel a bit lonely among them. I'm treated like a clerk."{{cite news|title=Menotti affirms decision to quit as Spoletto director|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UAYqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=l84EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6033,4352431&dq=spoleto+1977+menotti&hl=en|access-date=May 24, 2013|newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal|date=October 14, 1990|page=B3|author=Larry McShane}}

Most significantly, Menotti had a poor relationship with the festival's general manager, Nigel Redden, who challenged programming decisions, expense accounts for Menotti, and administrative decisions by Menotti. Two camps developed on the board, splitting support between those backing Redden and those who supported Menotti (including Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr.). Mayor Riley supported Menotti so strongly that he threatened to withdraw city support for the festival if Menotti were pushed out.{{cite news|title=Hopes hang on fragile Spoleto cease-fire|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NKtbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4VENAAAAIBAJ&pg=6425,4587118&dq=spoleto+finances&hl=en|access-date=May 24, 2013|newspaper=Charleston News & Courier|date=June 2, 1991|page=16-A|author=Barbara S. Williams}} Eventually, in May 1991, Menotti issued an ultimatum that either Redden and his supporters resign or Menotti would. In August 1991, Redden resigned,{{cite news|title=Redden quits as head of Spoleto Festival|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MrEeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-M4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6670,3425650&dq=spoleto+1977+menotti+redden&hl=en|access-date=May 24, 2013|newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal|date=August 13, 1991|page=A2}} as did 19 of the 46 board members the next month.

The tumult affected the scope of the festival the following year; the budget for 1992's festival was $4.6 million, down about $1 million from 1991, and covering about 20 percent fewer presentations (103 in 1992 compared with over 120 in 1991).{{cite news|title=The Calm After the Storm at Spoleto?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/17/arts/a-calm-after-the-storm-at-spoleto.html?src=pm|access-date=May 24, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 17, 1992|author=Allan Kozinn}} In 1990 and 1991, the festival had raised about 44% of its budget (about $2.4 million) from private donations, but in 1992, the festival raised only $1.2 million from such donations, about 33% of its $3.6 million budget that year.{{cite news|title=Debt-ridden Spoleto looking for a new chief executive|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OrceAAAAIBAJ&sjid=d88EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6826,2313161&dq=spoleto+debt&hl=en|access-date=May 24, 2013|newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal|date=October 22, 1993|page=C3}}

By 1993, personal conflicts reached a breaking point, with Menotti and the board of the Charleston festival arguing over those in charge of the festival, its artistic direction, and financing. Menotti, who had threatened the end the festival in Charleston left the festival in 1993; the local board, however, owned the rights to the name of the festival and pledged to continue it without Menotti.{{cite news|title=Board: Spoleto will survive without Menotti|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PbceAAAAIBAJ&sjid=d88EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6658,3824752&dq=spoleto+1977+menotti&hl=en|access-date=May 24, 2013|newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal|date=October 25, 1993|page=B3|author=Jeffrey Day}} Milton Rhodes was appointed the general manager in November 1993, and he immediately set about righting the finances, including negotiating the cancellation of about $400,000 in debt and securing a loan from South Carolina to cover another $600,000 of debt.{{cite news|title=The First Spoleto Without Menotti|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/01/arts/critic-s-notebook-the-first-spoleto-without-menotti.html|access-date=May 24, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 1, 1994|author=James R. Oestreich}} Still, the financial difficulties continued, and the 1995 festival lost an additional $900,000.{{cite news|title=Milton Rhodes: Spoleto Fest bids chief adieu|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JrEsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FxUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5632,6894&dq=spoleto+debt&hl=en|access-date=May 24, 2013|newspaper=Wilmington Morning Star|date=September 1, 1995|page=2A}}

In July 1995, Redden was recruited to return to the festival on an interim basis to help it overcome a debt of more than $1,000,000.{{cite news|title=Spoleto Manager Returns|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/30/us/spoleto-manager-returns.html|access-date=May 24, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 30, 1995}} The 1995 festival went over budget by 20%, and its full-time staff was cut in half.{{cite news|title=Spoleto Festival USA tries to cover expenses|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=V1MgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U88EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6631,2399436&dq=spoleto+debt+redden&hl=en|access-date=May 24, 2013|newspaper=The Spartanburg Herald-Journal|date=August 13, 1995}} During his first tenure with the festival, Redden had been successful in repairing the festival's flagging finances and left the festival having gone from a $500,000 deficit to a surplus of $1.4 million.{{cite news|title=Old general manager returning to Spoleto|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7ngjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YM8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6716,555507&dq=spoleto+debt&hl=en|access-date=May 24, 2013|newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal|date=October 3, 1995|page=B4|author=Bruce Smith}} Upon his return in 1996, Redden was again successful in turning the finances of the festival around, quickly raising $1.6 million and cutting debt in half.{{cite news|title=Spoleto USA back on track|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=COsyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dxUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3377,2030261&dq=spoleto+debt+redden&hl=en|access-date=May 24, 2013|newspaper=Wilmington Morning Star|date=May 20, 1996|page=3B}}

In September 2020, Nigel Redden announced his retirement from the festival, after 35 years of involvement with Spoleto.{{Cite web |last=Hogan |first=Maura |title='Inspirational leader' of Spoleto Festival USA, General Director Nigel Redden to retire |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/inspirational-leader-of-spoleto-festival-usa-general-director-nigel-redden-to-retire/article_d70dd914-fe56-11ea-ac64-eb21c4169d3d.html |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}} In July 2021, the festival announced Mena Mark Hanna as its new General Director. Hanna is the first person of color to lead the festival,{{Cite news |last=Hernández |first=Javier C. |date=2021-07-13 |title=Outspoken Music Scholar to Lead Spoleto Festival |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/13/arts/music/mena-mark-hanna-spoleto-festival.html |access-date=2022-04-07 |issn=0362-4331}} and the fourth general director in the festival's history.{{Cite web |last=Hogan |first=Maura |title=Spoleto Festival announces its new general director |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/arts/spoleto-festival-announces-its-new-general-director/article_65751862-e0c3-11eb-a2ec-df9a9bdfceb6.html |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}} Hanna previously served as the founding dean of the Barenboim-Said Akademie in Berlin.{{Cite web |last=Hogan |first=Maura |title=Spoleto Festival announces its new general director |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/arts/spoleto-festival-announces-its-new-general-director/article_65751862-e0c3-11eb-a2ec-df9a9bdfceb6.html |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}}

File:Pinckney House.JPG at 14 George St., Charleston, South Carolina]]

The Festival's mission is to present programs of the highest artistic caliber while maintaining a dedication to young artists, a commitment to all forms of the performing arts, a passion for contemporary innovation, and an enthusiasm for providing unusual performance opportunities for established artists. One of the Festival's tenets is to provide young artists the opportunity to work with veteran directors, designers and performers. Artists who performed at Spoleto Festival USA early in their careers include Renée Fleming, Emanuel Ax, Joshua Bell, Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Yo-Yo Ma.

Each year, the Festival produces its own operas, which are often rarely performed masterpieces by well-known composers or traditional works presented in new ways. It also presents theater, dance and music programs ranging from classical to jazz, bluegrass, soul and blues. Since its inception, the Festival has presented over 200 international and U.S. premieres, notably Creve Coeur by Tennessee Williams and The American Clock by Arthur Miller. Other premieres have included Monkey: Journey to the West by Chen Shi-Zheng, Damon Albarn, and Jamie Hewlett; Peter and Wendy by Lee Breuer; The American Clock by Arthur Miller; The Mechanical Organ by the Nikolais Dance Theatre; Miracolo d’Amore by Martha Clarke; Empty Places by Laurie Anderson; Hydrogen Jukebox by Philip Glass and Allen Ginsberg; Praise House by Urban Bush Women; Three Tales by Steve Reich and Beryl Korot; and Tenebrae by Osvaldo Golijov

The official companion festival to Spoleto Festival USA, is operated by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs.{{cite news|title=Piccolo Spoleto Plans Grow|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kIRJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2wsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4637,4060719&dq=piccolo+spoleto&hl=en|access-date=June 3, 2013|newspaper=Charleston News & Courier|date=April 18, 1979|page=B1|author=Barbara S. Williams}} After two years of mini-festivals, Piccolo Spoleto was created as an official part of the overall Spoleto program in 1979.{{cite news|title=Piccolo Spoleto Will Encompass More Activities|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tGlJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wQoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1497,6591744&dq=piccolo+spoleto&hl=en|access-date=June 3, 2013|newspaper=Charleston News & Courier|date=April 30, 1980|page=B5|author=Barbara S. Williams}} Whereas Spoleto Festival USA features artists and performers of national and international renown, Piccolo Spoleto highlights outstanding local and regional artists with several hundred performances throughout the city. Piccolo Spoleto is "the perfect complement to the international scope of its parent festival and its 700 events in 17 days transform Charleston into an exhilarating celebration of performing, literary and visual arts."[http://www.charlestonspoleto.org/charleston-spoleto-festivals.html Piccolo Spoleto Festival website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314202110/http://www.charlestonspoleto.org/charleston-spoleto-festivals.html |date=March 14, 2012 }} Piccolo Spoleto concludes the day before the main festival with a free concert in Hampton Park.{{cite news|title=Piccolo wraps up festival with variety of act|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=noFJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uwsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6120,3091865&dq=piccolo+spoleto+hampton+park&hl=en|access-date=June 3, 2013|newspaper=Charleston News & Courier|date=June 10, 1984|page=A4|author=Terry Joyce}} Except for 2001 (when they were held on Daniel Island),{{cite news|title=Piccolo Finales moves to different location|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jpxIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zAoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5609,3582524&dq=piccolo+spoleto+history&hl=en|access-date=June 3, 2013|newspaper=Charleston Post & Courier|date=June 9, 2001|page=A15|author=Dottie Ashley}} the closing ceremonies have been held at Hampton Park since 1984 when the event coincided with the reopening of the refurbished park.{{cite news|title=Hampton Park Beautification|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yX9JAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uQsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2906,6863713&dq=piccolo+spoleto+hampton+park&hl=en|access-date=June 3, 2013|newspaper=Charleston News & Courier|date=May 22, 1984|page=A1}}

Each year members of the Festival Orchestra are selected by nationwide auditions to form the Festival's resident ensemble. The orchestra works with the Resident Conductor and Director of Orchestral Activities, John Kennedy, as well as with guest conductors in opera, symphonic, choral, chamber, and contemporary music performances. Over the years, the Festival Orchestra has proved to be an opportunity for young musicians to gain extensive performance experience. Alumni of the Spoleto orchestra can be found in almost every professional orchestra in the United States and many abroad.

Notes

{{reflist}}

{{Archival records|title=Spoleto Festival programs, 1958–2002|location= Music Division, Library of Congress|description_URL=https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/eadmus.mu023005}}

• [http://www.spoletousa.org/ Spoleto Festival USA website]
• [http://www.piccolospoleto.com/ Piccolo Spoleto website]
• [http://www.charlestoncvb.com/ Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau website]
• [http://www.festivaldispoleto.it Festival dei Due Mondi, Spoleto, Italy, website]

{{Gian Carlo Menotti}}

Category:Opera festivals in the United States

Category:Music festivals in South Carolina

Category:Tourist attractions in Charleston, South Carolina

Category:1977 establishments in South Carolina

Category:Music festivals established in 1977