Spoleto is home to the "Festival dei Due Mondi," also known as the "Festival of the Two Worlds," first organized and founded by Gian Carlo Menotti. The festival has developed into one of the most important cultural manifestations with a three-week schedule of music, theater, and dance performances.
Gian Carlo Menotti wanted to establish a counterpart of the festival in the USA. So, the organizers searched the US for a city that would offer the same charm and hospitality as Spoleto, Italy, and a wealth of theaters, churches, and other performance spaces. Charleston was rightly selected, and held its first festival in 1977. Spoleto Festival USA produces its own operas, which are rarely performed masterpieces by well-known composers, and also presents theater, dance, and music ranging from classical to jazz. It is now one of the world's major performing arts festivals. This year it begins May 27.
One of my regularly attended events of the festival is the finale with its impressive fireworks display. In previous years, the Spoleto Finale was always scheduled at Middleton Place. This is my favorite fireworks show in 2014 paired with a song performed by Pink Floyd called On The Turning Away. This year the Wells Fargo Spoleto Finale will held at the Firefly Distillery with Shakey Graves.
Shakey Graves is a Texas theater-kid-turned-Americana-rocker. He will bring to the event his unique "distinct stage presence, strong vocals, insightful lyricism, and melodies that linger." (The Post and Courier) Check out one of his sessions.
Pack a picnic, gather your blankets and chairs, and head to the new Firefly Distillery grounds in North Charleston on Sunday, June 12, with gates opening at 5:00pm. Adult beverages will be sold on site, so do not bring any alcohol in from the outside. Performances will begin at 6:00pm. The rousing fireworks display closes out the affair. You don't want to miss it.
Click on for complete Spoleto schedule.
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