A traditional Latin hymn, "Tantum ergo," introduced in Scene 4, is inverted in Scene 9, with the change in key reflecting the contrasting circumstances of the main character, Tony Caruso.
Compositional Technique
The opera's ten scenes demand a different musical style, ranging from commercial jingle, big band, and funk to Latin chant, verismo, bel canto, and gospel music.
Compositional Technique
Paul Salerni uses a simple ascending three-note motive, first heard in the Intern's opening melody, as a binding agent that recurs in each scene of the opera, though not always in the same manner.
Recording & Production
This recording was made possible by a generous grant from Christie and Ron Ulrich and was recorded at Star City Recording and Red Rock Recording in Pennsylvania in 2009.
Composition History
Dana Gioia, the librettist, was convinced by 1994 that Paul Salerni was the only composer capable of writing the music for the one-act opera, despite Salerni never having written an opera before.
Composition History
Paul Salerni, the composer, and Dana Gioia, the librettist, began their creative partnership in 1987 when Salerni set one of Gioia's poems to music.
Notable Performances
Tony Caruso's Final Broadcast premiered unstaged at Lehigh University in 2004 and later won the National Opera Association Chamber Opera competition in 2007, leading to its world premiere in Los Angeles.
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