With the Piccolo Spoleto Festival and summer right around the corner, it’s time again to take in the beauty of Charleston’s churches indoors and experience wondrous music from two classical staples: the Early Music Series and L’Organo.
Since 1986, the Early Music Series has been part of Piccolo Spoleto each May and June, offering a bountiful variety of classics and lesser-known music outside the Western music canon.
Hosted at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 3 p.m. daily from May 24 through June 7, the first week of the series included performances by the Spartina Consort and others, such as the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra Chamber Players.
That group’s musicians will also play May 30 with “Flowers of the French Baroque,” followed by a culmination of their best hits on May 31.
Scott Watson, director of the Office of Cultural Affairs for the city of Charleston, said the musicians aim to showcase the highlights of their current repertoire during their performances here.
Guitarist Christopher Teves, who first plays classical guitar on May 28, will return June 1 with College of Charleston Professor Emeritus and renowned recorder player Steve Rosenberg. He will also perform Baroque music on the recorder alongside Teves’s guitar work and then dazzling recorder solos to close out the series on June 7.
Rosenberg will also join percussionist Danny Mallon, viola player Mary Anne Ballard and organist Julia Harlow in “Drums, Winds & Strings Through the Ages” on June 4.
“Our friend Steve remains passionate, as he gets into his later years in life, about making sure that the recorder is not forgotten,” Watson said.
Violinist Micah Gangwer and members of the Charleston Symphony will offer Vivaldi’s most popular work on June 2 and 5.
The Early Music Series also couldn’t do without a hint of Mozart. Members of the Charleston Symphony will perform his Eine kleine Nachtmusik on June 3 and 6.
L’Organo rounding out the festival
Similar to the Early Music Series, L’Organo’s organ concerts will take place at 10 a.m. daily from May 26 to June 6 (with exceptions on May 31 and June 1) in various churches around the city.
New Zealand-born Eugene Lavery kicked off L’Organo on May 26 at St. Michael’s Church with pieces like Handel’s “Hornpipe” and Jongen’s Sonata Eroica. Then on May 27, Aaron Patterson of Philadelphia was to perform at St. John’s Lutheran Church for his performance, followed by Columbia’s Thomas Russell at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist the next day. Emanuel AME Church on Calhoun Street was to host Pamela Kane of Hilton Head May 29 for her third time at L’Organo.
Starting in the second week of the festival, L’Organo will also feature young organists Chase Olson, a senior at Oberlin College, who will perform May 30 at Summerall Chapel at The Citadel; and Baylor graduate Laura Smith, who will perform the “Star Wars Medley,” among other pieces, at John Wesley United Methodist Church at 3 p.m. on May 31.
Additionally, collegiate organist David Kraft of the University of Rochester performs at St. Michael’s on June 2, and Juilliard’s Eddie Zheng returns to the festival at the Cathedral of St. John on June 4.
“I think it really helps them build a sense of growing their career,” Watson said. “But it also helps keep things fresh for us.”
Along with the students, organist Sarah Carlson of Bemidji, Minnesota — who has performed at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris — will perform at 3 p.m. on June 1 at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church. Canadian organist Brennan Szafron will provide the audience with some Bach at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church on June 3.
Two other organists are Bostonian Rosalind Mohnsen, who will play at the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul’s on June 5, followed by Thomas Heidenreich at St. Matthew’s on June 6.
The pipes are already warming up, ready to do the same for audiences during L’Organo and the Early Music Series.
IF YOU WANT TO GO: “Early Music Series,” 3 p.m. daily through June 7, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. “L’Organo,” 10 a.m. daily through June 6 (except May 31 and June 1), at various locations.
Henry O’Brien is an arts journalism and communications graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
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