Accordionist/arranger Joe Soprani is a powerhouse of energy! I spoke with Joe this weekend about his plan to premier a new arrangement for accordion and symphonic orchestra/concert band of the “Manhattan Concerto” by Eugene Ettore in the Spring of 2021 hopefully when things improve.

It will be a new arrangement of the symphonic work with the “Soprani” flair added to it. Joe played a portion of it over the phone for me. I can honestly say that Gene Ettore would have welcomed and enjoyed Joe’s presentation of it. Joe and Gene were very good friends, kindred spirits in the musical/accordion world. Joe said that because of the pandemic he keeps very busy practicing and arranging. He is working on the “Flight of the Bumblebee” for left hand stradella bass!

As it is in the planning stages, the target date for the premiere is Spring 2021 which coincides with the 100th Birthday Celebration of Eugene Ettore which I am working to bring to all. Eugene Ettore’s birthday is June 2, 1920. You can read more about him on the Eugene Ettore Memorial Website.

At 86 years young, Joe Soprani is going strong, always busy practicing, performing, and planning his next musical adventure. Over the years, I have attended many of his live performances as soloist and with orchestra, the most recent being his performance with the 65 piece Philly Pops Orchestra in Disney’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” on October 24-25, 2019. Joe said, “The score to ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ has a very powerful score and an interesting accordion part.”

In addition to performing in Broadway shows such as “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Zorba”, “Cabaret” and “Irma la Douce”, Joe has performed in world premieres of “Frida,” a musical that called for a virtuoso accordionist and “Another Kind of Hero,” a musical which featured him on stage for an entire scene. Joe, who appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and won the Arthur Godfrey Show, appeared with TV Star Nell Carter in a “Colors of Freedom” production at the Convention Center in Philadelphia in 1995. He also appeared with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops playing a special arrangement by Nero with Soprano Evelyn de LaRosa.

In November of 1997, Soprani became the first accordionist to perform in “La Traviata” by Verdi presented by the Opera Company of Philadelphia, at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. Klaus Arp, the opera conductor from Germany, decided to use the accordion in the small ensemble on stage during “La Banda” sections. Joe has also performed with Russell Watson on Good Morning America, and continues to promote the accordion as a serious instrument at various clubs and organizations. His workshops at schools and colleges, where he demonstrates his skills as performer and arranger to young composers and arrangers, have been well received.

Presently Joe is arranging, for accordion, a book of cocktail piano selections, a Hal Leonard Publication, arranged by Brent Edstrom. It will include selections such as “Blue Moon”, “Fly Me to the Moon” etc.

Please refer to ‘My Thanksgiving Story” in this publication’s Reports Section for more information about Joe Soprani.

Email: jsop119@verizon.net