Light Classics
A Symphonic Road Trip For All Audiences
Tour Italia!™ infuses Emmanuel Fratianni’s personal connection with his mother country, with the music of Ennio Morricone, Nino Rota and Ottorino Respighi, whose influence on the lyricism and creativity of Italian film music is noticeable. Informed by his many years in Hollywood as a composer, arranger and conductor, Emmanuel Fratianni brings deep insight to the composers' works, detailing their inspiring creative processes and personal collaborations with the great directors Fellini, Coppola and Sergio Leone.
Presented seamlessly with the conductor's narrative of regional anecdotes, composer histories and family stories, Mo. Fratianni plots a course for a delightful, rich and satisfying concert experience for all concertgoers - from film music fans to Masters' Series audiences!
Suggested program:
O. Respighi, Rossiniana 4th mvmt., Burlesca Per Orchestra
E. Morricone, Cinema Paradiso, The Mission, The Untouchables and more
N. Rota, The Godfather Suite, Amarcord, Romeo & Juliet Suite and more
Current Trends
World Premiere, September 16th, 2023
The Art Of Melody!™ is a symphonic suite composed by noted Swiss pianist Thierry Lang and arranged by Emmanuel Fratianni for chamber orchestra, jazz quintet, singers and soloists which premiered on September 16th 2023 with the Orchestre de Chambre de Fribourg, Switzerland to a sold out audience.
Emmanuel Fratianni’s sophisticated arrangements are influenced by Duke Ellington, Maurice Ravel with orchestrations reminiscent of legendary arrangers Johnny Mandel and Antonio Carlos Jobim. This compelling suite includes an exquisite diversity of colors and genres, from bossa nova and traditional ballads to up-tempo jazz melodies where singers and soloists highlight the elegance and diversity of Thierry Lang's prolific composing career.
Suggested program:
M. Ravel, Ma mère l'oye, Suite
T. Lang, The Art Of Melody
Concerto for Tuba & Masterwork
With Gene Pokorny, principal tuba of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra by Lalo Schifrin was composed for Gene Pokorny, principal tuba of the Chicago Symphony, as soloist. Schifrin’s Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra (2017) reflects his life experience, incorporating Argentine tango, jazz, and classical music elements in a turbulently virtuoso three-movement mélange for tuba and orchestra. the Tuba Concerto is a bravura showpiece for the solo instrument.
Emmanuel Fratianni and Gene Pokorny delivered a stellar performance of the Tuba Concerto in April 2023 with the Santa Barbara Chamber Players, receiving great acclaim which served as a preview to the highly anticipated June 2023 performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra led by its eminent music director Riccardo Muti.
“Pokorny’s vaunted command of his oft-maligned instrument is, awesome. Tone quality and lyricism conjured sound images of caramel and melted butter; technique moved delicately but with the speed of light, unhampered by mere notes, of which there are plenty.” The Voice Magazine, Santa Barbara
“Pokorny received enthusiastic ovations from the audience and colleagues, with Muti giving Pokorny his patented affectionate face pats.“ Chicago Classical Review
Suggested program:
A. Borodine, In the Steppes of Central Asia
L. Schifrin, Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra
L. Schifrin, Mission Impossible Theme
E. Elgar, Enigma Variations
Family Film Concert
Peter and the Wolf Live
Peter and the Wolf Live, the stop-frame animation, directed by Suzie Templeton and produced by BreakThru Films, won an Oscar in 2008 for Best Animated Short Film and is performed live to Prokofiev’s score.
Perfect for family, school and general audiences, Peter & The Wolf Live has become many promoters’ preferred way to program Prokofiev’s iconic score. The 30 minute film is silent (with only a few sound effects) and there are a number of options available for an 1 hour performance.
Peter & The Wolf Live was performed with the Utah Symphony conducted by Emmanuel Fratianni in 2015 in Salt Lake City, Provo and Ogden, UT.
"Children and grown-ups roared as the duck skated on the ice, gasped as Peter lassoed the wolf and giggled as a flightless bird strapped a balloon on its back in an attempt to fly." The Guardian
Suggested program:
S. Prokofiev, Peter and the Wolf Live
D. Dorff, Three Fun Fables (w/narrator)
American Premiere & Masterwork
September Suite
September Suite, by Emmanuel Fratianni is a contemporary Concerto Grosso for Jazz Quartet and Orchestra. The three-movement suite blends lush orchestral textures, drawing inspiration from the composer's early experiences as a jazz musician in Europe.
The piece evokes sounds and colors reminiscent of Debussy and Miles Davis, showcasing Fratianni's distinctive musical expression. The composition offers an alluring musical journey that traverses the realms of both classical and jazz traditions.
September Suite was commissioned by the City of Montreux, Switzerland for the opening of 1995 cultural season at Stravinsky Auditorium and performed by the composer’s Quartet with the Ensemble Orchestral de la Riviera.
Suggested program:
C. Debussy, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
E. Fratianni , September Suite
A. Dvorak, Symphony no. 7