Fresno Grand Opera

Joseph Bascetta

Internationally acclaimed stage director Joseph Bascetta will speak about the Fresno Grand Opera at the April 16 Friends of the Madden Library program. Bascetta will discuss the founding of the opera company and the final preparations currently being made for Aida, the second production of its 2003-04 season.

In 1999, Bascetta helped start the new Fresno Grand Opera and soon became its Artistic Director. He directed the company's first production, Madam Butterfly, with Maria Spacagna, and went on to direct their productions of Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Rigoletto, and most recently Tosca and La Traviata.

Bascetta began his career in New York City where he received the coveted Show Business Award for Best Director of the Year for his direction of Floyd's Susannah and Ward's The Crucible. His background includes training with the Royal Shakespeare Company of London , study with renowned Opera Director Frank Corsaro, and intensive study of the Stanislavsky acting technique with Stella Adler. The latter inspired him to establish the Opera Studio of New York for the purpose of bringing the acting values of Stanislavsky and Actors Studio to opera. His international credits include serving as American representative and acting teacher for the International Opera School of the Societa dei Concerti in Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy , and acting teacher for A.I.M.S. in Graz , Austria . Bascetta has served as Artistic Director of the Berkshire Opera, the Ontario Opera, and the Capital Artistic Opera Company.

Highlights of his international career include staging an outdoor extravaganza of Turandot for the renowned Pula Opera Festival in Croatia , a production that received much acclaim and was televised nationally. In addition, Bascetta directed Otello for the prestigious Music Festival at the National Theatre in Taipei , Taiwan , and a captivating production of La Sonnambula with world famous bass, Bonaldo Giaiotti, at the Festival de Opera in Tenerife , Spain .

A reception will be held in the Madden Library at 6 p.m. , followed by the program from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Reservations are required by April 12 by calling 8-5790.

Guests are welcome. A charge of $2 will be charged at the door for non-members; $1 for students. All Friends of the Madden Library meetings are accessible to the physically handicapped. A sign-language interpreter will be provided upon advance request. For more information call 8-2403.