Director's Choice - SMF 2010
As Artistic Director, I am fortunate to work closely with Daniel Hope (Associate Artistic Director, Chamber Music), Marcus Roberts (Associate Artistic Director, Jazz Education) and Gene Pinion (Education Director) to ensure that each programmatic area of our festival is of the highest artistic caliber. While it would be impossible to pick a favorite event, I have selected a dozen concerts that should be special and memorable.
ASO with Lang Lang: Even if you disagree that he's "bigger than the Beatles," there's no debate Lang Lang is exposing classical music to millions of people. His Savannah debut with one of the nation's finest orchestras under the direction of Robert Spano on a program that also includes Tchaikovsky's 5th should make for plenty of fireworks.
The Assad Brothers/Roby Lakatos Ensemble: This one-time only pairing showcases one of the world's most extraordinary violinists with his band, and two of the great classical and Brazilian guitarists in our time. If you don't become a believer in gypsies and wizards, see me after the concert.
Major Minors: Sierra Noble/Sarah Jarosz: 18-year-old Sarah Jarosz could have turned pro out of high school but chose the New England Conservatory to further her startlingly original songwriting and creative ways of singing and playing. 19-year old Canadian Sierra Noble shares this double bill and emphatically demonstrates that the future is bright for young originals.
Wu Han, Philip Setzer and David Finckel: Two of the most heavenly piano trios ever written performed by three remarkable musicians and SMF favorites. If you don't get enough of David & Phil playing the Schubert Trios, they'll be back with the Emerson Quartet the following week for two all-Dvorak programs.
Chris Thile, Mike Marshall & Caterina Lichtenberg: Three virtuoso players from different generations, backgrounds and musical conceptions combine to showcase the history, elegance and firepower of the mandolin. Expect for Sarah Jarosz to show up and keep them all on their toes.
Sensations 2: If you don't get into the recital by Gabriela Montero and Gautier Capucon, the following evening offers these two amazing musicians alongside Daniel Hope and friends performing Dvorak's E-flat Piano Quartet and Brahms' 2nd String Sextet.
Yefim Bronfman: I'm a piano junkie with a handful of personal favorites, and Fema is certainly in that group. He's playing this same program at Carnegie Hall two weeks later for nearly twice the price, so save yourself a plane ticket and a room and spend the $57 in the beautiful Telfair rotunda - it'll be worth it.
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis: The best jazz orchestra in the world bar none, the JLCO makes their 3rd appearance here in as many years. They never repeat material and they just get better all the time.
New Orleans Blues Party: Crescent City piano showman Henry Butler knows how to light up a room and make people have a great time. With his trio rocking the Morris Center shortly after the JLCO concert, don't be surprised if Wynton and his guys get into the mix.
Nicole Cabell: This stunning young Southern Californian, on the verge of superstardom, is singing this season at The Metropolitan Opera and the Lyric Opera, as well as with the Chicago Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra. Her approach is intelligent and fresh, and her magnetic stage presence will be made clear in this all-American program at the glorious Telfair Rotunda.
All-Star Swing Summit: If you love jazz, this program represents the state of the art. Beginning with the three finalists in the Swing Central competition, the main concert showcases some of the greatest musicians today including the Clayton Brothers, the Marcus Roberts Trio, Wycliffe Gordon Quintet, Marcus Printup Quartet and others.
Bill Frisell Trio/Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba: Couldn't think up a better way to close the festival than to have two of the most modern sounding bands in the world on a double bill in the intimate Charles H. Morris Center. Americana meets Mali and the grooves will be flying in these Savannah debuts.
