MUSIC

Spoleto Festival USA, the 17-day music and arts extravaganza in Charleston, S.C., opened this weekend with a sold-out performance of Richard Strauss’ opera “Salome,” prompting festival officials to predict financial success for the festival. Charles Way, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Spoleto ‘87, said the festival had more than $1 million in ticket sales before the first performance, putting the event $250,000 “ahead of where we were last year at this time.” Spoleto ‘86, a $3.2-million effort, broke even, as opposed to the 1984 and ’85 versions, which went into the red, Way said. He anticipates that ’87 Spoleto, which has cost $3.3 million, will end up in the black. In all, more than 70 performances by bands, dance groups, opera and theatrical companies, and other artists will be offered by Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto, a companion program.