It’s good that Christmas carols are timeless.
San Jose tenor Pasquale Esposito released his last special edition and recording for PBS in his native Italy in January 2020, two months before the pandemic postponed all live concerts. So last winter, the project was frozen – and it will debut these holidays.
“In the Spirit of Christmas,” which has already premiered on KQED, will be performed live at 8pm on Saturday at the Montgomery Theater in San Jose.
The TV show was set at the historic Teatro Politeama in Naples, Esposito’s hometown, and was accompanied by the Talenti Napoletani Orchestra.
For this local concert, Esposito decided to partner with musicians from his alma mater. The University of San Jose Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by Fred Cohen, Director of the University’s School of Music and Dance.
The set list covers centuries and continents. Esposito, who began singing in church as a boy, will perform Italian classics such as Gesu Bambino and Ave Maria Medley, as well as America’s most beloved hymns over the years, including O Holy Night and White Christmas “.
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” is definitely one of my favorites. It has a special meaning for me, ”he said, because he and his family will indeed be home in Italy to celebrate Christmas with their relatives this season after they had to miss them last year.
“In the Spirit of Christmas” is the fourth public television episode for Esposito, who immigrated to the United States in 1998 and received his musical education at SJSU while singing at local Italian restaurants.
He burst onto the public television scene in 2015 with his tribute to the hero of his hometown of Naples, “Pasquale Esposito celebrates Enrico Caruso,” and then followed that love letter to Piazza Italia in 2018 and “Il Tempo,” a collection of personal favorites. … In 2022, he will embark on the Il Tempo concert tour.
A portion of Saturday’s concert proceeds and CD sales will benefit the Notable Music and Arts Organization, Esposito’s not-for-profit organization that offers music lessons to low-income Bay Area students.
Details: Saturday 8:00 pm at Montgomery Theater, 271 S. Market Street, San Jose. Tickets priced at $ 55-85 can be purchased on PasqualeEsposito.com or by calling 408-528-6308.
