A hot New York act has some Prince George ties.
Follow the threads to the P.G. Playhouse this weekend to see how O Sole Trio fits with our city.
Here's a hint. Check the passport of the baritone vocalist in the pop-opera music group. You'll find the name Giuseppe Spoletini. If you've lived in this city for even a little while, you'll be familiar with that surname. From cement trucks to construction to real estate to nightclubs, this place has been home to an active branch of the Spoletini family, the same branch from which grew Giuseppe. He was born and raised in Calgary, but he's been here many times over the years for all the functions that bring family together.
It was the family connection that is bringing O Sole Trio to Prince George now. When some of his cousins realized the New York group was in Western Canada for other concert appearances, they checked with him about dropping in on our location. The scheduling and routing worked, and the three music stars of the pop-classical world are indeed going to bring here the music that has wowed Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Centre, the Redlands Bowl and other premier venues.
"The Prince George Italian Club and the The Prince George Symphony are hosting us which is just a terrific gift. We have never performed in Prince George before, but I have spent a lot of time in Prince George growing up," said Spoletini.
He feigned dismay that the pulp smell would no longer be signaling their approach to the city. The last time he was here, the airshed cleanup hadn't been done. He was expecting many differences, but the big embrace of the interconnected Spoletini and Paolucci families was not one of them.
It had been that way for generations. In one familial effort, the entire Spoletini clan packed their bags in the one Italian town in which they all lived and moved as a small army to Canada. Calgary and Prince George were two of the main destinations.
"My father was in the same line (as the Prince George Spoletinis). He worked for Rolling Mix Concrete in Calgary," Giuseppe said. "My brother ended up playing professional football and so did my cousin. My sister is a trader with the stock market. And I ended up being an opera singer, so we were all very blessed. Our parents were really encouraging to all of us, and that was sort of the dream. They did everything and worked 24/7 so we kids could all do what we wanted."
It's the classic Italian immigrant story. It's such a backbone story of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in North America that the Lincoln Centre commissioned piano/violin virtuoso (he even sometimes plays them together on stage) David Shenton to write a stage performance that told the story through music of Italy's influence on modern culture. Shenton, a British American, is the other male in O Sole Trio, alongside his wife, soprano Erin Shields who grew up in a small Illinois town where her family owned a ravioli sauce business. It doesn't get much more Italiano than that.
The three found each other when Shenton and Shields were on the hunt for a vocal teacher for their children. Their neighbour, Spoletini, was a vocal instructor who jumped into the challenge enthusiastically.
They became friends, then occasional collaborators, then formed O Sole Trio when it became clear they had a knack together for this arts and culture work.
They now have several feature presentations in their repertoire, including a popular Christmas show, but the event they're bringing to Prince George is their Italian homage, showing off everything from Dean Martin to Pavarotti. Spoletini said there was so much material to choose from that they were able to select nearly perfect songs for their three aptitudes. The audience always reaps that bumper crop.
"It's different every time because just one audience reaction can totally change the dialogue, in an awesome way. We are just so excited to see our family, come to Prince George, and share our music," said Spoletini.
He said he no longer has to brace his two trio-mates for the onslaught of his family gatherings, which is what the Prince George cousins have already told him is coming.
"Oh, they are well aware. They've had the privilege of visiting Calgary before so they won't be shocked by all the food and the noise. They may even be counting on it," he laughed.
O Sole Trio will be at the P.G. Playhouse Saturday night. As is the wont of Italians when there's a cultural affair, the participants can sip on wine and enjoy appetizers, before, during, and after the concert.
It is a 7:30 p.m. start with advance tickets available online and in person via Central Interior Tickets.
