Charles Wadsworth

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Charles Wadsworth is a classical pianist and musical promoter. In 1960, he gained international renown by originating the Midday Concerts at the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto. He also started the chamber music concert series at the Spoleto Festival USA, which he directs, performs at and hosts.

In 1969, Wadsworth performed the opening concerts at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. He led the series for twenty seasons, commissioning new works by Pierre Boulez, Samuel Barber and Leonard Bernstein, among others. He also presented many young performers, including Kathleen Battle, Richard Goode, Yo-Yo Ma, Peter Serkin, Pinchas Zukerman and Jessye Norman.

In 1996, Wadsworth organized a concert for the 1996 Summer Olympics including Pinchas Zukerman, Itzhak Perlman, Lynn Harrell and Frederica Von Stade.

Wadsworth has received awards from the French Government as a Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters, and from Italy as a Cavaliere Ufficiale in the Order of Merit. He has also received the Handel Medallion for his contributions to the cultural life of the City of New York.