Louis Gentile & Friends
Friday, Aug 23 | 7:00 PM
Louis Gentile, Heldon tenor from West Haven, CT., has performed in concert halls and opera houses throughout the United States and Europe. He began his musical career as a teenager, performing in Rock/Pop groups up and down the east coast of the USA. When he reached high school, Lou developed a love of Musical Theatre and Classical music. He began studying voice to better develop his instrument and secured leading roles in such productions as Man of La Mancha, Carousel and Showboat. His natural talent was evident to audiences and to his voice teacher, who encouraged Lou to consider a career in opera. Louis moved to New York City and immediately secured leading roles in productions at the famous opera restaurant Bianchi e Margarittas in Greenwich Village. He was awarded full scholarships to study voice in Siena Italy and at the Zürich Opera Studio in Switzerland. In Europe, he studied with Luciano Pavarotti and Neil Schicoff and worked with such Classical luminaries as Daniel Barenboim, Antonio Pappano, Raymond Leppard, and Jeffry Tate. Although he is known for award winning television productions of opera works, Lou never lost his love for writing and singing popular music. Many of his compositions have been used in film scores and his guitar skills were so admired by Robert Duvall that Mr. Duvall asked Lou to be his on-set coach during the production of the film, Tender Mercies. Louis has a strong desire to merge not only different genres of music but different art forms. He is in the USA to promote that concept through his current project, Rock Company.
Lou wishes to show his appreciation for the support and encouragement he received from friends, family, and the people of West Haven by performing a benefit concert to assist the West Haven Council on the Arts in its mission to build arts programs. Together with the WHCA and some very talented local performers, Mr. Gentile has put together a program of Classical, Rock, Jazz, and Standard music that is sure to entertain you.
The mission of the West Haven Council on the Arts is to strengthen and promote the arts in West Haven by nurturing an appreciation of and participation in artistic endeavors in all media. Through the conversion of the former Masonic Temple into the West Haven Center for Arts we intend to provide a forum for local, regional and national artists to display their talents.