It’s almost impossible to ignore the vibrant sounds echoing from the Dock Street Theatre. The Bank of America Chamber Music series has been integral to the Spoleto Festival since its first year. For a little over two weeks, the Chamber series brings 11 different programs featuring a wide variety of instruments including violin, clarinet and the cello.
With a long history in the Chamber Music Series, violinist Livia Sohn is prepared to take the stage once again this year. Her late husband Geoff Nuttall was once the director of Chamber Music. This year, Sohn said she has felt so much love during the series. Under new leadership from Paul Wiancko, Chamber Music continues to be done so well.
“It’s been difficult, but it’s been really nice to see this transition, this passing of the torch,” she said. “And to see chamber music continue to thrive.”
For about an hour and 15 minutes, attendees are presented with breathtaking pieces, both new and old. Works by famous composers such as Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Beethoven are performed alongside newer pieces by composers audiences may not have heard before. Several musicians even present their own original compositions.
Even unfamiliar pieces are given the same stage, allowing audiences to experience music that could one day earn a place among the classics.
“I think it’s a really special place because we treat everything the same, whether it was written yesterday or 400 years ago,” Sohn said. “It’s this concept that music is music and there’s no greater place of democracy than music.”
For the musicians presenting their own works, Sohn said it gives them the opportunity to speak to the audience about what compelled them to write their piece. Attendees gain that insight while witnessing up-and-coming creative work.
Playing for the Chamber Music Series for the past 18 years, pianist Pedja Muzijevic enjoys the variety of the programs and the inclusion of new music.
“It’s more interesting to look at the flow of the program and how there’s something in a meal,” Muzijevic said. “There’s something else, something pickled, there’s something sweet, I think that’s the beauty of it.”
The Dock Street Theatre has hosted the Chamber Music Series since its inception. The historic site, originally opened in 1736, underwent massive renovations after a devastating fire in 1740. Today, it hosts live theater and musical performances.
It’s a fitting home for the Chamber Music Series, offering both rich history and an ideal venue for the calm atmosphere. For Sohn, the space isn’t too big or small for both the audience and performers. The venue seats fewer than 500 people.
“It’s not too casual, but more than that, there’s something magical that happens in the empty space above where the audience sits in front of the performer on stage,” Sohn said.
Sohn explained that sometimes a concert hall can feel really dead because of the empty space, no matter how much energy the performer might be putting into the show. But if the performer is able to find the right synergy, then it can become really magical.
Muzijevic found that the people are what really make the show. Making friends and having a routine is what makes the experience so great.
“It’s a very intense camaraderie, friendships and music making,” he said. “You get into this routine, getting up early, rehearsing, playing the concert, getting on the stage, rehearsing and play the next concert. It’s quite fun.”
As the series nears its conclusion, Sohn said she has felt the energy begin to build. The ending can be bittersweet, she said, because everyone knows it is about to come to a close. With a Tchaikovsky piece planned for the final performance and the premiere of a new violin concerto, Sohn said audiences have much to anticipate.
“I’m like a child,” Sohn said. “Just incredibly excited.”
IF YOU WANT TO GO:
Multiple performances remain in the series, including June 4,June 5, June 6 and June 7. Tickets typically range from $45 to $78. Performances begin at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m.
Madelyn Taylor is a magazine, news and digital journalism graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
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