Written by Bethany E. Larson

Photo by Bethany E. Larson

Watching string quartet Brooklyn Rider rehearse is, like their music, a mixture of experiences. While at rehearsal yesterday at the intimate Simons Center Recital Hall, I often found myself struck by the virtuosity of the playing and, just about the time that I was totally engrossed and in my own little world, the Riders would laugh or begin talking, snapping me out of the musical hypnosis.

One thing is for sure–the guys are as laid back as they are talented. Watching them play is an experience in and of itself, due to their incredible talent and technical skills, but watching them rehearse reminds you that they are just four guys who really enjoy playing music together. And that is what makes it fun.

Photo by Bethany E. Larson

Check out the video from rehearsal below.

Brooklyn Rider will perform June 10th at 9PM. Click here for tickets.

Look on the web or in Sunday’s The Post and Courier for your keeper print section - Spoleto 2010 - the complete calendar for Spoleto Festival USA and Piccolo Spoleto 2010. It tells you day by day what is happening, litsing the times, venues, costs and where to get tickets.  If you forget to pull it out of the paper, you can download it here from postandcourier.com.

We also tell you about the Goldring Arts Journalism Program, a collaborative project with The Post and Courier, that brings 19 graduate student and two professors to Charleston to cover the festivals.

Hint: It’s orange, says Spoleto 2010 and has the much discussed Spoleto poster on the cover.

The City of Charleston is working hard on the Piccolo Spoleto schedule and book. Tickets are now available through piccolospoleto.com.

Due to popular demand, Spoleto Festival USA announced today that they will add a performance of “Monkey: Journey to the West.” The new performance will be June 1 at noon.

The festival reminds us: Called ‘Simply a piece of musical theater of the most spectacular kind,’ by The Times of London, Monkey is the remarkable brainchild of an international team of three innovative artists: Chinese director Chen Shi-Zheng, whose Peony Pavilion achieved great success at the 2004 Spoleto Festival USA and the British artists behind the award-winning animated band Gorillaz, Damon Albarn (composer) and Jamie Hewlett (visual concept and animation.)

A huge success at its premiere at the Manchester International Festival earlier this year and subsequent performances at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, this ‘circus opera’ makes its American premiere at Spoleto Festival USA.

Tickets for “Monkey: Journey to the West” and all 2008 Spoleto Festival USA performances are available online at www.spoletousa.org and by phone at )843) 579-3100.

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According to Piccolo, here’s what’s hot this year. Piccolo, supposedly the Little Sister to the Big Festival, has hundreds and hundreds of events. Once we have plowed through the program, we’ll tell ya what we think. You can get Piccolo’s e-newsletter by signing up at the Web site.

Also note that: Piccolo’s annual Reggae Block Dance is moving to a new location in 2008…Marion Square.
REGGAE BLOCK DANCE
Saturday, May 24, 2008 from 7-11pm
SLICE International headlines this annual outdoor music event favorite! Enjoy the pulsating rhythms of the Caribbean as Piccolo brings African drumming, dance and reggae music to Marion Square.

CUBAN BLOCK PARTY
Saturday, May 31, 2008 from 7-11pm
The Jazz Artists of Charleston bring the sounds and flavor of Cuba to Marion Square with a concert featuring the Garage Cuban Band, followed by headliner Havana Son.

TICKET BROCHURES AND PROGRAM GUIDES:
Ticket brochures have arrived and are in the mail! If you can’t wait to get one, go to a Charleston Area Publix Super Market to get your free copy or go to the Gaillard Auditorium in Downtown Charleston.

Wondering What the Hot Tickets are So Far For This Year’s Festival?

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Choral Artists: Sandlapper Singers / Early Music: Vivaldi Guitar Concertos / Spotlight Concerts: St. Petersburg String Quartet at Mepkin Abbey / Young Artists: CofC “Broadway Highlights”

DANCE: Dance Festival / Great Gig Dance Ensemble / Twisted Tango

JAZZ AND BLUES: Harbor Cruise: Rolling on the River Review / Ann Caldwell in John Street Jazz / Tommy Gill Trio Upstairs at Mistral / The Voice of Wanda Johnson

MUSICAL THEATRE: Always Patsy Cline / PIAF: Love Conquers All / God’s Trombones /

PICCOLO FRINGE: A Complete History of Charleston For Morons / Harvard Sailing Team / I Live Next Door to Horses / Cody Rivers Spectacular II

SPECIAL EVENTS: An Afternoon of Porgy & Bess / The Lovell Sisters / Charleston Men’s Chorus / Memorial Day Concert / Na Fidleiri

THEATRE: The Mammologues / All About Bette / A Devil Inside / The Tragedian