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Tag: Dolores Cascarino

Philly Lunch with Musicians & Romeo Cascarino’s Music

The weather outside may have been frightful – and the commute somewhat problematic – but I was privileged yesterday to enjoy a most convivial lunch at Sansom Street Oyster House in Philadelphia with Dolores Cascarino and Bruce Hodges.

Dolores, a soprano who often performs under her maiden name, Ferraro, was married to composer Romeo Cascarino, whose music she indefatigably champions (most recently producing a lovely recording of his songs). Bruce is a prolific music writer, whose work has appeared in publications such as the Juilliard Journal, Playbill, The Strad, Overtones (the magazine of the Curtis Institute of Music), and WRTI’s Fanfare (accessible online).

Prosecco and conversation flowed copiously, as we shared an appetizer of grilled oysters. Dolores ordered the lobster roll and fries and Bruce and I enjoyed the gumbo special. For dessert: butterscotch pudding for Dolores (much better than it sounds!), cantaloupe sorbet for Bruce, and honey cake with whipped cream and cherry for me, with La Colombe coffee all around.

Is it any wonder that I was so uncharacteristically chatty? Two hours of sunshine on a rainy day. Thanks to Dolores and Bruce!

The recent release of Romeo Cascarino’s “Pathways of Love” is available as a digital download from all the usual sources. You can sample it, with soprano Jessica Beebe, here:

A selection of Bruce Hodges’ articles for WRTI:

https://www.wrti.org/people/bruce-hodges

May 15, 2025
Romeo Cascarino’s William Penn Opera

There’s an autumnal radiance about Romeo Cascarino’s best music. His depiction of the treaty with the Lenape, which forms the climax of his magnum opus, “William Penn,” expertly captures the mood of Benjamin West’s famous painting. Enjoy the complete opera, with commentary by my special guest, Dolores Cascarino, the composer’s widow – who created the role of Gulielma, Penn’s wife, opposite Metropolitan Opera bass-baritone John Cheek – this morning, beginning at 7:00 EST, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com.

November 20, 2016
William Penn Opera on WPRB Sunday

William Penn envisioned Philadelphia, the city he established in 1682, as a “greene Country Towne” along the Delaware River. Equally verdant was composer Romeo Cascarino’s vision of “William Penn,” the opera, which he crafted over a quarter century, from 1950 to 1975. The completed work was first heard at Philadelphia’s Academy of Music in 1982, to coincide with the 300th anniversary of the city’s founding.

I’ll be presenting Cascarino’s magnum opus tomorrow morning on WPRB, as I sit in for Sandy Steiglitz on “Sunday Morning Opera.” Metropolitan Opera singer bass-baritone John Cheek will sing the title role, and Christopher Macatsoris will conduct the Philadelphia Singers and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.

I will be joined in the studio by a very special guest: Dolores Cascarino, the composer’s widow, who created the role of Gulielma (as Dolores Ferraro), Penn’s first wife. She will offer insights into the opera and its creator, and share her memories of that premiere run of performances. The program will also include private recordings of some of the composer’s other works, with a special focus on his writing for voice.

I hope you’ll join me for this one-of-a-kind broadcast of a first-rate, virtually unknown American opera, in a recording which is not commercially available, with valuable insights from the composer’s closest confidante, who sang in the work’s first performance.

It all comes your way tomorrow, on “Sunday Morning Opera,” from 7 to 10 a.m. EST, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com.

Tune in early to enjoy a pre-show treat, the world premiere broadcast of collaborations with pianist Richard Rome, a producer in the field of commercial music, in arrangements made by Cascarino, who will conduct the orchestra in a program of works on celestial themes. The album, recorded at Cinecittà studios, outside Rome, was never released. Musicians for the sessions were assembled from performers who were heard on the soundtracks of Italian films of the era, who recorded for RCA Italia, and who played at La Scala Milan. The airing of this music, great background for your morning coffee, will begin around 6:30 a.m.

PHOTO: John Cheek as William Penn, with my guest, soprano Dolores Cascarino (née Ferraro), as Gulielma

November 19, 2016
William Penn Opera Rare Broadcast

Trust me. If you are interested in American opera or local history, you won’t want to miss this one.

Just in time for Thanksgiving, I’ll be sitting in for Sandy Steiglitz on WPRB’s Sunday Morning Opera with Sandy to host a rare broadcast of Romeo Cascarino’s “William Penn.”

Cascarino, born in South Philadelphia in 1922, labored at this, his magnum opus, for 25 years, from 1950 to 1975. It was given its premiere at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia in 1982, to mark the 300th anniversary of the founding of the city. Metropolitan Opera singer bass-baritone John Cheek assumed the title role, and Christopher Macatsoris conducted the Philadelphia Singers and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.

I will be joined in the studio by a very special guest: Dolores Cascarino, the composer’s widow, who created the role of Gulielma (as Dolores Ferraro), Penn’s wife. She will offer anecdotes about – and insights into – this beautiful and haunting opera.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: if Cascarino had completed “William Penn” within a few years of starting it, in the 1950s, the opera would now be mentioned in the same breath as Carlisle Floyd’s “Susannah” and Robert Ward’s “The Crucible.” It’s that good.

Join me for this one-of-a-kind broadcast of a first-rate, virtually unknown American opera, in a recording which is not commercially available, with valuable insights from the composer’s closest confidante, who sang in the work’s first performance.

It all comes your way on this week’s “Sunday Morning Opera,” which will be heard from 7 to 10 a.m. EST, on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com.

November 17, 2016

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