LE
Luca Esposito
  • Music Business
  • Class of 2018
  • Medford, NY

Luca Esposito to Perform in Crane Opera Ensemble and Orchestra Production

2017 Nov 3

The award-winning Crane Opera Ensemble and Orchestra at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music is set to present an uproarious double-bill, bringing together Giacomo Puccini's comic opera in one act, "Gianni Schicchi," combined with the modern sequel, "Buoso's Ghost," by contemporary composer Michael Ching, from Nov. 16 to 18.

The cast and orchestra includes Luca Esposito of Medford, NY, who will be performing percussion in the orchestra.

The production will open with an educational outreach performance for area schools, which will be offered at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16. Two evening performances will be offered, at 7:30 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17 and 18, in the Sara M. Snell Music Theater.

Set during the 15th century in Florence, Italy, "Gianni Schicchi" is about the death of the rich Florentine, Buoso Donati. After his death, his greedy relatives hear a rumor that Buoso left his entire fortune to an order of Friars instead of them. This rumor causes the family to make a desperate search for Buoso's last will and testament, only to discover that they have been disinherited. The family then asks Gianni Schicchi to help them change the will, but the sly Schicchi turns their scheme against them. The performance will be sung in Italian with English supertitles.

The hilarious sequel, "Buoso's Ghost," was written by Michael Ching for Opera Memphis in 1997. The contemporary sequel begins with the final bars of "Gianni Schicchi" and follows Schicchi as he tries to discover the circumstances of Buoso's death. The performance will be sung in English with supertitles.

Led by Musical Director Kirk Severtson, the production of "Gianni Schicchi" and "Buoso's Ghost" features students and faculty from The Crane School of Music in the cast and orchestra, as well as students from Crane and the SUNY Potsdam Department of Theatre and Dance behind the scenes. Faculty member Dr. Jonathan Stinson, baritone, will sing the title role alongside the students in the cast.

Tickets for the Crane Opera Ensemble production of "Gianni Schicchi" and "Buoso's Ghost" are $15 for the general public and $10 for SUNY Potsdam faculty, staff and students. To purchase tickets, contact the Community Performance Series Box Office, located in the lobby of SUNY Potsdam's Performing Arts Center, by calling (315) 267-2277 or visiting http://www.cpspotsdam.org.

The award-winning Crane Opera Ensemble is a significant source for opera and music theatre in the North Country region of New York State. The ensemble provides exciting opportunities for students to experience all facets of opera performance and production, through rehearsals, coaching and classes related to performance practices and production techniques. The ensemble's productions have garnered awards from the National Opera Association (2015, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2003), The American Prize (2011), and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (2010). To learn more, visit https://www.potsdam.edu/academics/Crane/opera.

About The Crane School of Music:

Founded in 1886, SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music has a long legacy of excellence in music education and performance. Life at Crane includes an incredible array of more than 300 recitals, lectures and concerts presented by faculty, students and guests each year. The Crane School of Music is the State University of New York's only All-Steinway institution. For more information, please visit http://www.potsdam.edu/crane.