Pasquale Esposito’s “Voice of a Legend” Tour Comes to SCU
Santa Clara’s 4th annual Vari Symposium, celebrating the life and culture of Italy, delighted the crowd of nearly 500 guests who came to hear Pasquale Esposito as he honored the career of legendary tenor Enrico Caruso.
Esposito’s live performance was enhanced with video footage from his PBS special, Pasquale Esposito Celebrates Enrico Caruso. The special is a docu-concert that pays homage to Caruso by taking the audience on a musical journey highlighting the songs, places, and cities that made him an international star.
Throughout the concert, Esposito traced Caruso’s footsteps with Italian opera arias like “Nessun dorma”, Neapolitan songs such as “O sole mio,” Italian and American favorites including “New York, New York,” and original compositions accompanied by captivating footage of the Amalfi Coast and Naples, Italy.
Like Caruso, the young tenor was born in Naples, but Esposito later immigrated to the U.S. and pursued his academic interests in music by focusing on vocal performance and completing his B.A. in 2009 at San Jose State University’s School of Music. Since then, he has released seven CDs, collaborated with numerous artists, and toured abroad and throughout the U.S., including a successful debut at the San Francisco Opera in their world premiere of Two Women last summer.
Esposito was joined onstage by his friend and PBS co-star Dino Natali, who is known for his television appearances with Lucille Ball, Danny Kaye, Dean Martin, and Carol Burnett, and for his participation in a number of hit series: Kojak, Cagney and Lacey, Get Smart, and Barney Miller.
San Francisco Opera’s soprano Julie Adams joined Esposito for duets on “The Prayer” and “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici,” and for a solo performance of “Mi chiamano Mimì” from La Bohème.
The evening concluded with shouts of “bravo” and a standing ovation for Esposito, followed by a Q&A session with Santa Clara Associate Professor of Music Nancy Wait-Kromm.
The event was made possible by the Dr. Victor and Julia Botto Vari Italian Studies Initiative Established by the Varis to celebrate the influence and contributions of Italians in our world; all proceeds from the event will support community-based internships in the arts and humanities.
Friday, April 1, 2016 ~ 7:30 p.m. ~ Louis B. Mayer Theatre
Join us as we trace Caruso’s footsteps through Italian opera arias, Neapolitan songs, Italian and American standards, and original compositions accompanied by captivating footage of the Amalfi Coast and Naples, Italy.
About the Performers
Pasquale Esposito Tenor
His performance is an excerpt from his first PBS special, Pasquale Esposito Celebrates Enrico Caruso. The special is a docu-concert that pays homage to the legendary Caruso by taking the audience on a musical journey highlighting the songs, places, and cities that made him an international star. It was filmed at the historic Castello Giusso in Vico Equense on the Amalfi Coast and includes an interview with Maestro Plácido Domingo. He is touring throughout North America on his The Voice of a Legend ~ Celebrating Enrico Caruso tour based on the PBS Special.
Dino Natali Actor
Julie Adams Soprano
With special support from the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco Conversation.