VPO American Italian Celebration 2023

AMERICAN ITALIAN

CELEBRATION

CONTENTS Theatre Staff.......................................................................................................... 2 Whitney Morse on The Sharon® L. Morse Performing Arts Center........................ 3 Program................................................................................................................ 4 Message from the Maestro..................................................................................... 5 Maestro..............................................................................................................6-7 Featured Artists..................................................................................................8-9 Orchestra Roster................................................................................................. 10 VPO Donors..................................................................................................11-12 Business Partners................................................................................................. 13 Coming Soon.................................................................................................14-15

THEATRE STAFF Executive Director.......................................................................... Jason Goedken Artistic Director.............................................................................Whitney Morse Associate Artistic Director..................................................................Angel Creeks Director of Operations..........................................................................Jon Cronin Production Manager........................................................................Mike Giovinco Booking Manager.............................................................................Sierra Baggins Senior Marketing Coordinator......................................................... Taylor Adkins Senior Business Manager................................................................... Sean Graham Lighting Director................................................................................ Mason Shell Associate Lighting Supervisor...................................................... Alison Southgate Senior Production Coordinator.............................................................. Madi Carr Audio Visual Director...........................................................................Luke Bezio House Manager.....................................................................................Alec Speers Assistant House Managers..........................Mark Kirschenbaum, Nichole Pollack Director of Ticketing & Customer Relations............................... Yasmeen Stogden Ad Sales............................................................................................ Taylor Adkins marketing@significantproductions.org All shows produced by SignificantProductions.org Significant Production, Inc. is a nonprofit production company that operates The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center and The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol in The Villages. ©2023 The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center. ©2023 Significant Productions, Inc. SPAC442;0923;460

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WHITNEY MORSE on

The Sharon®L. Morse

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Dear Patron of the Arts, Welcome to The Sharon® L. Morse Performing Arts Center!

Much like the building’s namesake, my grandmother, Sharon L. Morse, we love all varieties of the performing arts here. It is in her memory that I, along with my amazing team of artists and arts administrators, strive to bring many different types of the highest quality entertainment here to The Sharon.

Since opening in 2015, we have strived to establish your trust, that a show at The Sharon is a show worth seeing. Perhaps you find yourself here today to see a concert of one of your favorite musicians, or to take in the national tour of a Broadway show. Either way, we encourage you to consider trying out a new show that perhaps you haven’t heard of before, knowing that it has been intentionally curated by our team.

We welcome you to The Sharon: a place for you to see an old favorite, but also a place to discover your new favorite. I sincerely hope you enjoy the show today, and I look forward to seeing you here again soon!

See You at The Sharon,

Whitney Morse Artistic Director

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PROGRAM The Sound of Music Suite Somewhere Over the Rainbow Tu Ca Nun Chiagne Mister Snow You Raise Me Up Marechiare Soliloquy La Danza O’ Surdato Nnammurato

~ Intermission ~

Funicolando I Am What I Am Un Amore Così Grande Perfect Symphony Johanna Moon River O Sole Mio The Prayer Funiculi’ Funicula’

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MESSAGE FROM THE MAESTRO Tonights concert is dedicated to Oscar Feliu, Artist, Project Creator and Co Founder of The Villages Philharmonic.

Dear Friends and Supporters of The Village Philharmonic, It’s amazing how quickly time passes! This 2023-2024 season celebrates our Orchestra’s 20th anniversary. To me, it seems like it was just yesterday when my close friend Oscar Feliu and I planned/dreamed of creating a musical project that would fulfill the task of disseminating opera, symphonic repertoire and contemporary music in this wonderful city, The Villages.

Our goals were and still are driven by several factors, these include: dedication and passion. With these two factors we built what is today The Villages Philharmonic.

This latest concert and selections of songs you will hear, are Oscar Feliu’s favorites.

We, the guest artists, orchestra and staff wish to dedicate this concert to Oscar Feliu: artist, mentor, talent scout and to me, a brother. Thanks to his commitment, dedication to our city The Villages, we have reached an organizational and artistic level of the highest quality.

Musically Yours, Pasquale Valerio Musical Director and Founder

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MAESTRO PASQUALE VALERIO, MAESTRO Pasquale Valerio is an internationally acclaimed Orchestral Conductor. In 2004 he founded The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra, became its musical director, and is still engaged in concerts and tours throughout Florida and worldwide.

Maestro Valerio was also the founder of the Lake Sumter Chamber Orchestra as well as co-founder and conductor of the Florida Lakes Symphony from 2005 to 2006.

He collaborates with various European orchestras such as the Philharmonic Orchestra ‘900 of the Teatro Regio Opera in Turin, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Prague, the Virtuosi of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, the Virtuosi of the Philharmonic of Bacau, the “A. Scarlatti” Symphony Orchestra of Naples, Orchestra Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.

In 2006 had the opportunity to assist Sir Antonio Pappano, current Music Director of the Royal Opera House in London This collaboration represented a great point of reference for maestro Valerio and indelibly marked his experience of conducting growth. From 2007 to 2009 he collaborated with the internationally known Viotti music festival in Vercelli, Italy and in May 2018 he began an ongoing cooperation with the North California Music Festival as guest conductor.

Pasquale Valerio was born in Naples to a family linked to cultural traditions and founding religious values. The great passion for music was evident from the first years of his life, but, only towards the tenth year of age did he begin his musical studies, first with the piano, and subsequently, at the age of thirteen years, when he began studying trumpet. It is in this period that Pasquale met Maestro Filippo Veniero, an important musical guide for subsequent studies. He studied trumpet at the school of Maestro Francesco Lentini, Bari Conservatory, with whom he obtained the middle completion and, subsequently under the guidance of Maestro Diego Benedusi, he obtained the superior completion of trumpet.

After completing his trumpet studies, he collaborated as an instrumentalist with orchestras of major opera and symphonic institutions including the Opera House “Teatro di San Carlo in Naples “and with other major opera orchestras and symphonic institutions. Simultaneously he studied Composition and Score Reading at the School of Maestro Filippo Veniero.

The meeting with two conductors, J Withney and Gunther Smidth (United States) conditioned the musical journey and made it possible that in 1998 Pasquale resumed his studies started in Naples with F. Veniero. Also important was the meeting with the famous conductor Anton Coppola in 1999, who became 6

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MAESTRO Pasquale’s mentor and guide.

Pasquale is a guest collaborator at festivals and international competitions, including: International Piano Competition “F. Schubert” in San Cristoforo Virtuosi of the Bacau Philharmonic, Romania, Viotti Music Festival, Camerata Ducale, Italy, Piano Festival of Carrara/Arezzo Orchestra 900’ of the Teatro Regio of Turin, Oída Symphony Orchestra (Arezzo) Philharmonic Orchestra of Benevento, New Orchestra Scarlatti and Florida Philharmonia In the academic year 2023 he was appointed Visiting Professor of Conducting Studies at the “London Performing Arts Academy”.

23/24 SEASON SEPT 3 / MAY 6

Tuesday, November 28..........................................................................Messiah Monday, December 18..................................................... Holiday Celebration Tuesday, December 19..................................................... Holiday Celebration Sunday, January 28 ....................................................Classical Concert Series Wednesday, February 14 ...................... American Music Celebration of Love Monday, March 18......................................................Classical Concert Series Sunday, April 21..........................................................Classical Concert Series Monday, May 6 ................... Opera Gala Magical Moments of Opera Scenes SUBSCRIPTIONS* & INDIVIDUAL TICKETS ON SALE CHOOSE AT LEAST 4 SHOWS & GET 10% OFF 352-751-7799

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FEATURED ARTISTS PASQUALE ESPOSITO, TENOR was born and raised in Naples, Italy. He immigrated to the United States winning the Green Card Lottery in 1998. He pursued his passion for music by studying at San Jose State University receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree where he was a distinguished alumnus in 2009.

He is an international crossover recording artist, acclaimed for his pop-opera delivery of songs. Esposito released 9 albums and began touring internationally with his first musical revue: Naples…That’s Amore in 2005. Thereafter, he toured with his CD of Original Compositions: A Brand New Me (2009) and Il Tempo (2011).

Following the success of spreading his rich Italian culture through music, he embarked on writing and producing his 1st PBS Special: Pasquale Esposito Celebrates Enrico Caruso in 2015. The program was filmed in the historic Castello Giusso in Vico Equense on the Amalfi Coast. Esposito was accompanied by the Orchestra Santa Chiara conducted by Maestro Renato Serio. The docu-concert pays homage to Caruso by taking the audience on a musical journey in Italy highlighting the life, career and songs that made Caruso an international star.

Maestro Placido Domingo collaborated in the program with an intimate interview.

The PBS Special had over 220,000,000 potential viewers coupled with a current live touring version. A CD, DVD and Bluray are available of the Special.

Esposito had his successful debut at San Francisco Opera in June 2015 with the premiere of Marco Tutino’s Two Women (an opera adaptation of the 1960s film La Ciociara –with Sophia Loren whom he had the pleasure of sharing the stage with in her recent US Tour). The New York Times stated that Esposito sang with “airy charm” for his performance of Ragazzo del Popolo while the San Francisco Chronicle described Esposito as “a charismatic and dulcet-toned singer.”

In Spring 2018, Esposito released his 2nd Public TV Special on PBS Stations: Pasquale Esposito Celebrates Italian Piazzas. Esposito was accompanied by the Orchestra Talenti Napoletani conducted by Maestro Adriano Peninno. This docu-concert is a unique musical journey of culture, art, and tradition where Esposito dedicates a song to each of the beautiful piazzas (squares) performed in the prestigious Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples, Italy. A live concert version of the special followed with a robust 2018/2019 national tour.

In January 2020, Esposito filmed two new TV Specials in Naples, Italy at the historic Teatro Politeama. The first is a Christmas Special: In the Spirit of Christmas (Summer 2020 release) conducted by Maestro Adriano Peninno and the second is a Special titled: Il Tempo (Time) conducted by Maestro Ettore Gatta. Pasquale 8

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FEATURED ARTISTS is accompanied in both special by the Orchestra Talenti Napoletani. The second special comprises of a collection of songs that have influenced Pasquale Esposito’s career and personal life over the years. It’s expected release is set for March 2021.

SAMANTHA BARNES DANIEL, SOPRANO Central Florida native soprano performs actively as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the area. She earned her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Central Florida and her master’s degree in opera and vocal performance from Northwestern University. She is a two-time National semi-finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and was a Sarah Tucker Grant Nominee in the Richard Tucker Foundation Competition.

Ms. Barnes Daniel has performed with numerous organizations in the state and throughout the country such as Opera Orlando, The Orlando Philharmonic, Opera Tampa, Chautauqua Opera, Arizona Opera, The Illinois Philharmonic, The Villages Philharmonic, The Voices of Liberty and many others. Recent stage credits include the Mother in Hansel & Gretel, and Catherine of Aragon in Opera Orlando and Helena’s award winning Orlando Fringe show, 6 of VIII, for which she also wrote the book. She also maintains a private voice studio in Central Florida and serves on the voice faculty at Rollins College.

SEAN CHRISTOPHER STORK lyric baritone, has been singing across the state of Florida since graduating from Florida State University in 2007, including regular engagements with Opera Tampa as well as First Coast Opera in St. Augustine, The Florida Lyric Opera in Tampa, and The Villages Philharmonic, Imperial Symphony, and Orlando Philharmonic Orchestras. A strong supporter of modern music, his original works have been recorded on two CDs by the Basilica Choir of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe. Mr Stork is currently performing across the country with Diversita Opera Arts Company, Opera Tampa, The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra; Orlando Philharmonic; The Hudson Valley Chorale; Orlando Harmony; Orlando Exchange; the Dickens Carolers; and the Basilica Choir of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe.

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ORCHESTRA ROSTER FLUTE Nicolas Real, Principal Tanja Agreiter OBOE Amy Collins, Principal Chanmi Kim CLARINET Jason Gibbs, Principal Dominique Snider BASSOON Chris Eberle, Principal FRENCH HORN Joseph Lewinsky, Principal Dann O’Donnel TRUMPET John De Paola, Principal Tarcisio D’Addona TROMBONE Andrea Rowlison, Principal Jeremy Fielder Anthony Hill TUBA Robin Sisk PIANO Krystof Sebrakowski Zion Phoenix TYMPANI Chris Nolin PERCUSSION Jordan Holley

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DRUM SET Simon Ramos FIRST VIOLIN Stewart Kitts, Concertmaster Sandy Kitts David Dajiang Cindy Qi Baoling Xu Jose Guedez Michael De Jesus Carlos Jaques SECOND VIOLIN Gregory Carreno, Concertmaster Elizabeth Kitts Luisamar Navarro Natalie Kitts Yenifer Laurens Israel Mendez VIOLA Rafael Ramirez, Principal Juan C. Siviero Andrea Oliveira Francia Laurens CELLO David Calhoun, Principal Olga Beliaieva Valentina Alejandra Hernandez Espitia Helen Lewis DOUBLE BASS Kevin Gallagher, Principal Jonathan Timothy Ingram Mikey McCabee

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VPO DONORS 2023-24 CONCERT SEASON ORCHESTRA CIRCLE $10,000+

Dennis R. Carney

Ken & Mary Shutts

Margaret M. Dick

David & Jeanette Colvin

Joan Spires

Charlotte Conway

Anna Whipple

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph DeVuono

SUITE CIRCLE

Linda Ferens Maurice & Betsy Joy Dean & Audrey Throndsen

Ralph William Gingery Carol Guglielm

$100 – $499

Janet Howell

Bernie & Elizabeth Albrecht

Doris Martin

Gene Armani

George Neal Darlene Pruett

Randall & Gemma Benjamin Linda Boese

Charlotte & John Gates

Dr. & Mrs. Winfred Stringer

Dora Bryan

David & JoAnne Kelch

Abbott & June Webber

Doug & Sharon Bretz

Diane Kupchak

Keith & Randee Workowski

Thomas & Linda Casey

Richard & Charlotte Rahm

OVERTURE CIRCLE

Glenda Crandall

Mary Thomas

$500 – $999

Barbara Dipol

Katheryn Batman

James & Karen Donavan

Robert Becker

Mary Dzuro

Michelle Boone

Greg & Mary Feichtel

Roger & Julie Cooper

Jack & Nancy Fieldman

Ruth DiMare

Leslie Flanders

Sarah Jordan

Richard & Jeanne Geoffrion

Mia Ford

Steve & Donna Bell

Richard Hoag

William & Gail FraserGiacchi

Noel Kott

Lisa French

William & Sharron Leonhirth

Peter Fritz & Carol Mangan

Robert & Sara McPhail

Mary Ann Garback

Norman Lee & Terri Schaffer

Alan Geller

MAESTRO CIRCLE $5,000 – $9,999 Augusto Bernardini Jeff & Ursula Bergman

Peter & Mary Jane Moeller

Don & Bonnie Waggoner SYMPHONY CIRCLE $2,500 – $4,999 Avrum Abramowitz

CONCERTO CIRCLE $1,000 – $2,499 Anonymous Donor John Canner Bonita Carnes

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Paul & Dorian Schnirring

Kenny & Elizabeth Constant

Greg & Carolynn Gilbert

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VPO DONORS 2023-24 CONCERT SEASON Doris Goodwin

Tera White

C & H Van Benthuysen

David & Kathleen Haviland

Theresa R. White

Eric Williams

Debbie Halye

Carole Williamson

Susan Wright

Bob & Debbie Wilson

Richard & Susan Jacobs Marlene Knopf Brad Koozman Gregory & Bonnie Larson Gayle Marra Eileen McCabe James McQuiniff Nick & Donna Meister Kathleen Miller Thomas Murphy Fritz & Debbie Neal John Nickelson Phillip Oliveira Robert A. Phillips Ron & Grace Ranger Barbara Reynolds Frank & Deborah Salerno Paul & Rita Segnatelli Andrew & Mary Sloan George Stenz Ronald Streib Tony & Joanne Sutylo Donna Thompson Roy & Jackie Ullrich Richard & Grace Waller Robert & Joan Waller Marie Washburn Jeffrey Wheeler

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Patricia Wilson Mary Yankowski Andrea Ziccarelli

MEMORIAL DONATIONS Bill Barnes: Susan Escobedo

Joseph Zientara

Fred Boyd: Frank & Janet Argenziano

ARIA CIRCLE

Fred Boyd: Mr. & Mrs. Manning

Up to $99 Barbara Athanasiou Irene Coen Louise Elwood

Fred Boyd: Don & Janet Schiegel Carolyn Johnson: Richard Johnson

Susan Escobedo Paul F. Gaecke Jordan Galvarino Paul & Ann Hagerty Valery Heyduk K. L. Hoffman Irene Hong-McAtee Lora MacPherson Joanne Michalski Donald Mooty Robert Muzzi Patrice Pastore Geraldine Piscitelli Marianne Reinhard Sally Rowe Erika Schaffer Joyce Smidt Robert Smidt

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BUSINESS PARTNERS BUSINESS PARTNERS Blackston Financial Advisory Group FMK Restaurant Group Francesco’s Ristorante Fross & Fross Wealth Management

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Havana Country Club & Legacy Restaurant at Nancy Lopez Country Club by Suleiman Family Restaurants Royal Décor Company Sheds N More

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COMING SOON

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COMING SOON

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