The Savannah Music Festival's 11th season kicks off March 21 and continues through April 6. Georgia's largest music festival, the event was created by Rob Gibson, who previously launched Jazz at Lincoln Center and later ran the Atlanta Jazz Festival.
Gibson’s vision was a “boutique festival – high end music from genres.” It includes jazz, pop, blues, classical, gospel, and “world music,” along with other bits. There’s a special focus on what Gibson likes to refer to as “genre-bending” acts: performers who defy traditional classification boundaries.
COUNTRY AND BLUEGRASS
Renewed interest in country music, evidenced by the success of the television series "Nashville," is reflected in this year's line-up, with Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, king and queen of "alternative country," performing on a double bill with Richard Thompson. The "Masters of Bluegrass" program will feature J. D. Crowe, Del McCoury, Bobby Hicks, and Bobby Osbourne.
WORLD MUSIC
Portuguese fado star Ana Moura will perform as part of an evening that includes the premiere of Robert Sadin's "Messina: Songs of the Night," featuring clarinetists Patrick Messina. The popular annual "Latin Dance Party" will feature the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.
CLASSICAL
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, here for the seventh consecutive year, will present the premiere of a piano concerto by jazz superstar Marcus Roberts, conducted by Robert Spano. The work was co-commissioned by the festival. Roberts is a one of the festival's regulars.
Violinist Daniel Hope curates the classical side of things, bringing along his vast network of friends and fellow artists. A recurring program over the festival is "Daniel Hope and Friends," with an open-ended format bringing together top classical artists for ad-hoc ensembles. This series will feature premieres of works by composers Alexandra Du Bois and Charlotte Bray.
In a new format combining serious dance with classical ensembles, the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, one of America's best-known performance groups, will perform with the Dover Quartet and Ensemble 39. Both groups embody the new, less formal face of classical music. For example, Ensemble 39 describes itself as a "band of music lovers and burrito enthusiasts" and a "mishmash of wind and string players."
Cellist David Finckel, one of the classical world's most influential leaders, is another "outside the box" figure reshaping the format, and he'll appear with pianist Wu Han, a frequent collaborator.
Other classical ensembles include the Miami String Quartet and the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio. Pianist Sebastian Knauer will perform with a chamber orchestra.
Recital artists will include Richard Goode, Cameron Carpenter, Jermey Denk, Simon Crawford-Phillips, and Lorenzo Borrani.
Acclaimed mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter will perform two special programs with Daniel Hope, one focusing on American songs and the other on German.
JAZZ
Jazz is always at the heart of this festival, reflecting Gibson's background in the genre. This season will feature the premiere of "Tick Tock" by Walter Blanding, performed by a septet including Lionel Loueke and Marcus Printup.
Superstars Ahmad Jamal, Charles McPherson, Houston Person, and René Marie will each lead their own ensembles in special programs. Pianist Aaron Diehl will perform solo and with ensembles including vibraphonist Warren Wolf.
Janet Monheit and Jennifer Sheehan will headline a special program: "Jazz Meets Cabaret."
BLUES AND R&B
Bradley & His Extraordinaires and Lee Fields & the Expressions will present their rhythm and blues acts. Tab Benoit and Otis Taylor will lead their bands on a double bill.
IN SAVANNAH
The host city is at its photogenic best in spring. Venues are within walking distance of each other, so it’s easy to spend a day or weekend wandering among them and stopping to eat along the way.
Despite the economic downturn, this year’s $3 million festival budget is the same as last year’s. Gibson said, “SMF 2013 is our most ambitious event to date. We are particularly excited about the new Ships of the Sea Museum North Garden Pavilion, a distinctive covered outdoor space that we’ll use for dance parties and musical styles whose express purpose is to make people feel good.” Attendance is expected to increase, because the additional venue has permitted new events.
HOW TO PLAN
For many of the programs, it's possible just to show up and grab seats. A safer bet, especially for marquee events, is to check in online at www.savannahmusicfestival.com and order tickets. You're also better off to reserve hotel rooms well in advance, as early spring is peak tourist season.
