Pasquale Esposito
Pasquale Esposito | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Naples, Italy |
| Genres | Operatic pop |
| Occupation | Tenor |
| Years active | 1998-present |
| Website | www |
Pasquale Esposito is an Italian-born American tenor. He has released six albums and has toured internationally.[1]
Early life and education
Esposito is originally from Naples, Italy.[1] He has four sisters, and is the youngest out of the five siblings.[2] At home, his family played the music of Enrico Caruso, who was also from Naples.[3] He started singing when he was six and by age seven he was performing at church.[2][3] He started performing in bars when he was 14, singing Italian and American standards.[1]
In 1998, he visited California and decided to move to America. His family was not supportive of his goal to relocate, after which he received a green card through an immigration lottery.[3] After enrolling in ESL classes at Foothill College,[4] Esposito started studying music at San Jose State University in San Jose, California.[1] Esposito performed at Aldo's Ristorante in Los Gatos, California.[3] He graduated from the music program, with a degree in vocal performance, in 2009.[2] While at San Jose State, he studied under Professor Joseph Frank.[5]
Musical career
Performances
Esposito is a lyric tenor,[6] whose work focuses on operatic pop with occasional forays into traditional opera.[3] Musically, Esposito is inspired by the work of Claudio Baglioni, Enrico Caruso, Pavarotti, and Giuseppe Di Stefano. He performs in multiple languages, including Italian, Neapolitan, Spanish, and English.[2] Between 2005 and 2006, Esposito toured both Italy and the United States in support of his album Naples... That's Amore![5] In 2007 he then toured with Gigi D'Alessio and Anna Tatangelo on the US leg of their world tour. After this he toured his own show of original compositions called Simply Pasquale![7] In 2009 he performed Volare at a San Francisco Giants game.[1] Between that year and 2010, he toured internationally in support of his album A Brand New Me.[5] He has also performed for the San Francisco Opera,[8][9] the Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo,[10] the Fort Smith Symphony,[11] the National Steinbeck Center,[1] and the Folsom Symphony, for which he performed a Christmas program entitled Bianco Natale.[12]
PBS special
In 2015 Esposito starred in Pasquale Esposito Celebrates Enrico Caruso for PBS. This was his first PBS special, described as a "docuconcert" in which Esposito paid tribute to the work of Enrico Caruso. The concert section of the special was filmed at the historic Castello Giusso in Vico Equense on the Amalfi Coast and the documentary portions were filmed in both Italy and the United States. The special also featured Dino Natali as co-host and an interview with opera singer Placido Domingo. The special premiered on March 10, 2015.[2] Part of the documentary contains Esposito reflecting on his experience growing up in the same neighborhood that Caruso lived in while in Italy. A CD version of the concert entitled Pasquale Esposito Celebrates Enrico Caruso was also released for sale through PBS.[13]
Albums
Esposito's album Naples... That's Amore! represented an Italian musical revue, which he had also directed and produced.[5] His 2009 album A Brand New Me includes singing in both English and Italian, focusing on a pop music theme.[6][11] Each of the tracks on the album were an original composition. His 2012 album Il Tempo was a double-CD that contains both Neapolitan standards and original compositions.[5]
Discography
- My Passion (2000)[14]
- My Destiny (2004)[14]
- Naples...That's Amore! (2005)[14]
- Il Fornaio: Authentic Italy, Vol. 1 (2008)[7]
- A Brand New Me (2009)[14]
- Il Tempo (2012)[5]
- Pasquale Esposito Celebrates Enrico Caruso (2015)
Personal life
He lives in San Jose, California and Naples, Italy.[1] He is an American citizen and serves on the board of directors for the Little Italy San Jose Foundation. When not performing, he teaches voice lessons from his home.[3] He also operates Notable Music and Arts Organization, a music education non-profit.[15]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Joseph, Adam. "Italian tenor Pasquale Esposito makes his second appearance at the National Steinbeck Center". Monterey County Weekly. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Curci, Cookie. "Up Close and Personal With Italian Tenor Pasquale Esposito". News Blaze. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Ross, Martha. "San Jose tenor sings Caruso's praises". Lifestyles. San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
- ^ Beverly Zeiss. "Pasquale Esposito". Gev Magazine. p. 71.
- ^ a b c d e f Jennifer Robinson. "Pasquale Esposito Celebrates Enrico Caruso". KPBS Public Media.
- ^ a b John Rizzo. "Interview with Pasquale Esposito". Amici Journal. p. 2-3.
- ^ a b "Meet Pasquale Esposito" (PDF). Sensual Treats Magazine. May 2010. p. 12.
- ^ Joshua Kosman (14 June 2015). "S.F. Opera's 'Two Women' is a Puccinian retread". SFGate.
- ^ Renate Stendhal (2 July 2015). "Rape as Weapon of War: San Francisco Opera's World Premiere of Two Women (La Ciociara)". The Huffington Post.
- ^ Kathryn Doorey (28 April 2011). "Italian tenor Pasquale Esposito graces Carmel". Monterey County Weekly.
- ^ a b "Pasquale Esposito performs with the Fort Smith Symphony". Talk Business & Politics.
- ^ Susan Laird. "Italian tenor to perform in Folsom Symphony's 'Bianco Natale'". Village Life.
- ^ "Pasquale Esposito: Celebrates Enrico Caruso". Pasquale Esposito: Celebrates Enrico Caruso. PBA.
- ^ a b c d "Pasquale Esposito". AllMusic.
- ^ "Technology & Art Interviews - Pasquale Esposito". Modern Tek News.