Venues throughout the Historic District prepare for the start of the 2011 Savannah Music Festival. The festival, now in its 22nd season, will showcase more than 100 productions across a diverse assortment of genres including jazz, classical, blues, ethnic dancing and more.
The 17-day festival begins March 24 with a performance of Beethoven’s sonatas by pianist Sebastian Knauer. The opening performance is a part of a new series this year called “Music at 11” which will present solo recitals in an intimate setting at the Unitarian Universalist Church. “Music at 11” and the “Noon 30” series, promise performances at a much lower cost.
“Our Noon 30 series is a diverse mix of affordable daytime programs, while our late afternoon and evening concerts offer a range of thematic series, masterworks by great composers, dance parties, commissioned works and a multitude of Savannah debuts by internationally renowned artists,” said SMF executive and artistic director Rob Gibson.
Amongst those debuting at this year’s festival are the Avett Brothers, Sharon Jones, Band of Horses and Grammy Award-winning soprano Christine Brewer.
Tony Award-winning actor Job Rubinstein will also perform alongside violinist Daniel Hope in the world premiere of Marc Neikrug’s “Death Cell Memoirs of an Extraterrestrial” at Lucas Theatre on April 5.
The list of high-profile new artists is a testament to the growth of the festival over the years, making it now the largest musical festival in Georgia.
Also unique to the festival is the emphasis on music education through special concerts and workshops at Trustees Theater.
Savannah-Chatham County schools joins up with the festival through 10 workshops as a part of the Gulfstream Education Music Series. These workshops vary from learning the basics of percussion to introductory courses in Afro-Cuban dance.
Of course, the ethnic dancing experience is not just limited to the kids. Older music fans can experience Zydeco, Indian, Cajun, Cuban and other dance traditions by viewing the listings at the Charles H. Morris Center.
Besides bringing together artists from all over the southeast, the Savannah Music Festival also aims to promote diversity and education. “This unparalleled array of performances, combined with the wealth of culture and history that is unique to Savannah, make for an experience never to be forgotten,” said Gibson.
District will continue to bring you coverage beginning with the Savannah debut for Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, which is slated to top off the first night of festivities on March 24.
A full list of the performance times and dates can be accessed at savannahmusicfestival.org
