Carlo Moresco
Encyclopedia
Carlo Moresco was an American conductor
, composer
, violin
ist, and stage director of Italian birth. He was one of the most important opera conductors in the city of Philadelphia during the 20th century, working for multiple opera companies in that city. He also held conducting posts with companies in Connecticut and at the Tulsa Opera
.
, Moresco began his conducting career in Italy. He came to the United States in 1947 following the end of World War II
when Fortune Gallo
recruited him to become music director of his touring San Carlo Opera Company
. He toured with that company up until at least 1955 when the last known performances of the SCOC were given.
from 1950-1954 and then served as interim music director of the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company
(PGOC) in 1956-1957. He worked on the conducting staff of the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company
from 1958-1961, before returning to the PGOC's conducting staff as music director in 1961. He was the PGOC's main conductor for the next 14 years, notably serving as Artistic Director from 1973-1975. He then worked on the conducting staff of the Opera Company of Philadelphia
from 1975-1977.
In 1956 Moresco was appointed music director of the Connecticut Opera
. He had previously worked with the company as a guest conductor as early as 1952. Even after resigning as director, he remained active conducting for the company through 1975. With the CO he notably conducted Magda Olivero
in her first performance in the United States as the title heroine in Francesco Cilea
's Adriana Lecouvreur
at the Connecticut Opera on 18 October 1969. He was later the music director of the Connecticut Grand Opera
during the 1979-1980 season.
in her first performance in a staged opera production in NYC at the St. George Theatre to an audience of roughly 3,000 people. The young soprano gave a highly lauded portrayal of Leonora in Giuseppe Verdi
's Il trovatore
to the Manrico of Giovanni Consiglio and Alzucena of Margery Mayer. In 1960 he conducted performances of Aida
and La bohème
at the Cincinnati Opera
. For the Toledo Opera
he led productions of Rigoletto
(1982) and Madama Butterfly
(1983).
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, and stage director of Italian birth. He was one of the most important opera conductors in the city of Philadelphia during the 20th century, working for multiple opera companies in that city. He also held conducting posts with companies in Connecticut and at the Tulsa Opera
Tulsa Opera
The Tulsa Opera, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the 18th oldest opera company in the United States and is ranked among the top 10 regional opera companies in the nation. The company produces three opera productions each season performed at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center...
.
Early life and career
Born in GenoaGenoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, Moresco began his conducting career in Italy. He came to the United States in 1947 following the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when Fortune Gallo
Fortune Gallo
Fortune Thomas Gallo was an Italian-born opera impresario. Gallo was owner and General Manager of the traveling San Carlo Opera Company from 1913 until its disbandment in the late 1950s.-Biography:...
recruited him to become music director of his touring San Carlo Opera Company
San Carlo Opera Company
The San Carlo Opera Company was the name of two different opera companies active in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century.-History:...
. He toured with that company up until at least 1955 when the last known performances of the SCOC were given.
Career in Philadelphia and Connecticut
While working for the SCOC, Morosco began a long career as one of Philadelphia's most important conductors. He served as the music director for the Philadelphia La Scala Opera CompanyPhiladelphia La Scala Opera Company
The Philadelphia La Scala Opera Company was an American opera company located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was actively performing at the Academy of Music between 1925 and 1954...
from 1950-1954 and then served as interim music director of the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company
Philadelphia Grand Opera Company
The Philadelphia Grand Opera Company was the name of four different American opera companies active at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the twentieth century. The last and most well known of the four was founded in November 1954 with the merger of the Philadelphia Civic...
(PGOC) in 1956-1957. He worked on the conducting staff of the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company
Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company
The Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company was an American opera company located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was active between 1958 and 1974. The company was led by a number of Artistic Directors during its history, beginning with Aurelio Fabiani. Other notable Artistic Directors include Julius...
from 1958-1961, before returning to the PGOC's conducting staff as music director in 1961. He was the PGOC's main conductor for the next 14 years, notably serving as Artistic Director from 1973-1975. He then worked on the conducting staff of the Opera Company of Philadelphia
Opera Company of Philadelphia
The Opera Company of Philadelphia is an American opera company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is the city's only company producing grand opera. The organization produces four fully staged opera productions annually, encompassing works from the seventeenth through the 21st century...
from 1975-1977.
In 1956 Moresco was appointed music director of the Connecticut Opera
Connecticut Opera
Connecticut Opera was a professional, non-profit, opera company based in Hartford, Connecticut, and a member of OPERA America. The company presented three fully staged opera productions during an annual season. It was founded in 1942 under the directorship of Frank Pandolfi and was the sixth oldest...
. He had previously worked with the company as a guest conductor as early as 1952. Even after resigning as director, he remained active conducting for the company through 1975. With the CO he notably conducted Magda Olivero
Magda Olivero
Magda Olivero is a soprano of the verismo-school of singing. She was born in Saluzzo, Italy. Olivero made her operatic debut in 1932 on Turin radio in Cattozzo’s oratorio I misteri dolorosi. She performed widely and increasingly successfully until 1941, when she married and retired from performing...
in her first performance in the United States as the title heroine in Francesco Cilea
Francesco Cilea
Francesco Cilea was an Italian composer. Today he is particularly known for his operas L'arlesiana and Adriana Lecouvreur.-Biography:...
's Adriana Lecouvreur
Adriana Lecouvreur
Adriana Lecouvreur is an opera in four acts by Francesco Cilea to an Italian libretto by Arturo Colautti, based on the play by Eugène Scribe and Ernest Legouvé...
at the Connecticut Opera on 18 October 1969. He was later the music director of the Connecticut Grand Opera
Connecticut Grand Opera and Orchestra
The Connecticut Grand Opera and Orchestra is a non-profit, professional opera company and orchestra based in Stamford, Connecticut in the United States...
during the 1979-1980 season.
Other activities
Moresco was conductor for New York's Richmond Opera, a short-lived Statten Island based opera company that was active during the late 1950s. With that company he notably led Eileen FarrellEileen Farrell
Eileen Farrell was an American soprano who had a nearly 60 year long career performing both classical and popular music in concerts, theatres, on radio and television, and on disc. While she was active as an opera singer, her concert engagements far outnumbered her theatrical appearances...
in her first performance in a staged opera production in NYC at the St. George Theatre to an audience of roughly 3,000 people. The young soprano gave a highly lauded portrayal of Leonora in Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
's Il trovatore
Il trovatore
Il trovatore is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Salvadore Cammarano, based on the play El Trovador by Antonio García Gutiérrez. Cammarano died in mid-1852 before completing the libretto...
to the Manrico of Giovanni Consiglio and Alzucena of Margery Mayer. In 1960 he conducted performances of Aida
Aida
Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...
and La bohème
La bohème
La bohème is an opera in four acts,Puccini called the divisions quadro, a tableau or "image", rather than atto . by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger...
at the Cincinnati Opera
Cincinnati Opera
Cincinnati Opera is an American opera company based in Cincinnati, Ohio and the second oldest opera company in the United States .-History:...
. For the Toledo Opera
Toledo Opera
The Toledo Opera is an American opera company based in Toledo, Ohio. Founded in 1959, the company's first General Director was Lester Freedman with conductor Joseph Hawthorne of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra serving as Music Director...
he led productions of Rigoletto
Rigoletto
Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo. It was first performed at La Fenice in Venice on March 11, 1851...
(1982) and Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. Puccini based his opera in part on the short story "Madame Butterfly" by John Luther Long, which was dramatized by David Belasco...
(1983).