The Spoleto Festival has announced full details for the upcoming 2022 season.

Operas

As previously announced “Omar” will make its world premiere. The new opera by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels will be directed by
Kaneza Schaal and conducted by John Kennedy. The production will star Jamez McCorkle in the title role, Laquita Mitchell, Malcom MacKenzie, Cheryse McLeod Lewis, Catherine Anne Daniel, Adam Klein, Rebecca Jo Loebe, and Michael Redding.

Performance Dates: May 27, May 30, June 2, June 5, June 8, June 12, 2022

The second world premiere of the season will be “UnHoly War” conceived and performed by Karim Sulayman. The piece showcases selections from the early baroque period which are stitched together to reveal a story of the Crusades. The narrative shifts, however, as the works—originally written through a European lens by composers including Monteverdi, Salamone Rossi, Händel, d’India, and Giulio and Francesca Caccini—are sung from a contemporary Arab American perspective, examining the Western opera canon’s relationship to the Middle East. Kevin Newbury directs while Julie Andrijeski conducts.

Performance Dates: May 29, June 1, June 3, June 6, 2022

Matthew White, Lauren Michelle, Troy Cook, Brandie Sutton, Benjamin Taylor, and Calvin Griffin star in Puccini’s “La Bohème” in a production by Yuval Sharon. Vimbayi Kaziboni conducts the production which will reverse the order—starting with Act IV and ending with Act I—extracting hope from tragedy, life from death, and love from loneliness.

Performance Dates: May 28, May 31, June 4, June 7, June 11, 2022

Music

The festival will perform a concert entitled “Lift Every Voice” with soloists Catherine Anne Daniel, Laquita Mitchell, Jamez McCorkle, and Michael Redding. Brandon Waddles accompanies on piano.

Performance Date: June 1, 2022

Spoleto Festival USA Chorus Concert will be conducted by Joe Miller at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.

Performance Dates: June 3, June 11, 2022

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony will be performed by the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra and Chorus under conductor Joe Miller.

Performance Date: June 9, 2022