Accordionist/composer/arrange Joseph Soprani will perform in
“La Giara” ( The Water Jug) Concert Premiere of the Operetta by Patricia King on Friday June 20,2014 at 8:PM at the World Cafe Live Philadelphia.
“La Giara, the Water Jug”, merges Italian Folk music and Opera with Brazilian Choro and Jazz, telling the story of Patricia’s family’s emigration from Sicily to Philadelphia. Comprised of compositions, both dramatic and comedic, La Giara expresses themes relevant to gender oppression, migration and cultural losses that families experienced in adapting to a new world.
Music & Lyrics by Patricia King
Musical Director: Orlando Haddad
Artistic Director: John Nicholas Peters
With Patricia King, piano; Orlando Haddad, guitar; Jessica Lennick & Martha Stuckey, sopranos; Mike Dorsey, tenor; John Nicholas Peters, baritone; Jim Stager, bass; Joe Soprani, accordion. Narrated by Charlotte Blake Alston.
The World Cafe Live Philadelphia is located on 3025 Walnut Street in Philadelphia, PA. 19104
Joe Soprani is a noted accordionist, educator, arranger-composer whose reputation among professionals places him in the first ranks of contemporary accordionist. He has dominated the accordion scene in Philadelphia for over forty years playing in major concert halls, theatres, TV Shows and Hotels. He holds the distinction of being the only accordionist in the history of the Philadelphia Orchestra to appear as a featured soloist under Eugene Ormandy.
While accordion soloist with the USAF Band in Washington, DC under Col. George S. Howard, he won the “The Air Force Roger”, the most prestigious entertainment award in the US Air Force. He also was the first accordion soloist with the PA Army National Guard Band “The Adjutant General’s Own” for over eight years. On five occasions, Soprani appeared with opera singer Luciano Pavarotti at the Spectrum in Philadelphia and has performed for President Eisenhower at the White House.
To add to his impressive list of credentials, Soprani was invited to arrange the opening selection for Rock star Jon Bon Jovi’s 1996 world tour and has also written the official song for the International Rotary Club. In addition to performing in Broadway shows such as “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Zorba”, “Cabaret” and “Erma la Duce”, he has performed in world premieres of “Frida”, a musical that called for a virtuoso accordionist and “Another Kind of Hero”, a musical which featured Soprani on stage for an entire scene.
His future performances include:
June 1: 2:PM Rose Tree Park in Media, Pa, for the annual Italian Festival with the Coro Gabriele D’Aunnunzio.
June 1: 4:30PM, performance with the Delaware Youth Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Simeone Tartaglione
June 8: 3PM, Wilmington, Delaware..featured with the DSYO at St. Anthony of Padua Church for the opening concert in the church.
June 21: Astral Artists at the Barnes Foundation, Phila to accompany Kathryn Guthrie, soprano, in a variety of French selections.
June 28: 1PM,performance and workshop on “Arranging for Accordion” at Liberty Bellows in Phila.
July 15: Capital Steps with the US Air Force Band, Washington, DC
July 21: Citizens Bank Park, Performance with the Philly Phanatic, third consecutive year
For further information: sopranimusic@comcast.net
