Spoleto Festival USA is one of the world's major performing arts festivals and the American counterpart to the Festival of Two Worlds held annually in Spoleto, Italy. Founded in 1977 by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Gian Carlo Menotti, the 17-day event quickly became a haven for a broad range of artistic styles and forms from both established and emerging artists in more than 120 performances of ballet, opera, dance, visual arts, symphonic, theater, classical music and jazz. Charleston was selected as the perfect venue with its various theaters, churches, and other performance spaces. Spoleto has earned a reputation for offering programs of the highest artistic caliber, supporting new and innovative works, nurturing outstanding young artists, and expanding public appreciation of the arts.

Charleston, South Carolina is small enough to be dominated by the arts for the duration of the Spoleto Festival, but also large and sophisticated enough to provide a knowledgeable audience. The festival has now firmly established itself as a major event and ticket sales for the last edition topped US$2.5 million. The season finishes with a traditional Festival Finale at Middleton Place, where visitors can enjoy America's oldest landscaped gardens topped off by great music and spectacular fireworks display.

The Festival has presented 100 international premiers and 93 U.S. premieres since its inception. Operas are produced annually specifically for the festival by well?known composers or traditional works is presented in new ways. Notable performances include Creve Coeur by Tennessee Williams and The American Clock by Arthur Miller. The 2011 Spoleto Festival USA will be held from May 27 to June 12.

2011 Spoleto Festival program lineup features three opera productions of distinct style and subject; two major European theater ensembles; a dance series showcasing Spain-based Corella Ballet, created two years ago by American Ballet Theater star ?ngel Corella; Circa, a contemporary circus ensemble, delivering intricate sequences with precision and aplomb; the Bank of America Chamber performing twice daily in the historic Dock Street Theatre; and Paolo Ventura, an Italian miniaturist and photographer, with his series of photographs entitled Winter Stories.