PHILIP WILLIAM TROPEA
I was born in Brooklyn, NY, to Salvatore Tropea and Giovanna Parisi. My mother was born in Boston, and my father was born in Messina, Sicily. My mom graduated from the Boston Conservatory majoring in voice and piano was called 'all the great sopranos rolled into one' by conductors and impresarios. During a bitterly cold winter while rehearsing the leading role in Puccini's, 'Tosca' for the New Jersey Opera Co., my mother developed facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy). Her doctor said it was stress from overwork, a recent stillbirth, and being pregnant with me. The doctor prescribed complete bed rest for the rest of her seven month pregnancy to save me.
After my birth, my mother began to teach voice and piano from our home when my father suffered a heart attack and died. I grew up listening to my mother's golden voice and became obsessed with singing and began vocal studies with her old teacher. Fausto Cleva, MET Opera Artistic Director asked me to study with him but his fee was too much for me while supporting my four children. Dr. Mario Carmen Ferraro, of 'Who's Who in Music', gave me a scholarship and sponsored my tenor debut in Community Center. The great tenor Tito Schipa heard me sing and asked me to join his Master Class.
After several years of singing in the NYC Metro Area, I auditioned for a Carnegie Hall production and was chosen over all tenors. A friend introduced me to Enrico Caruso's godson, Michele Sisca, who referred me to former Metropolitan Opera leading tenor, Giulio Gari. Gari chose me to sing the lead tenor role of Mario Cavaradossi in Puccini's, 'Tosca'. During rehearsals I became deathly ill. The best doctors in NYC couldn't diagnose my 'condition'. I gave up on my dream of a singing career and moved my family from noisy NYC to Ridgrfield, CT, hoping I would recover in this lovely, peaceful town.
I became worse. Finally after two years, ENT doctor, Jeffrey Monroe, diagnosed that I was suffering from a rarely-detected brain tumor, an 'Acoustic Neuroma', which grows inward and crushes the brain. Dr. Monroe referred me to the world's leading specialist, Dr. William House, in Los Angeles. During the life and death operation, my right side hearing and balance nerves were removed.
My mom taught me never to give up. I continued my vocal studies with Mario Lanza's musical mentor from MGM/RCA, conductor and biographer, Constantine Callinicos. I conceived and hosted a three-hour radio show (1993-2000) rated no. 3 by Arbitron's New York Ranker.
My wife Phyllis and I relocated to Florida and I published my dramatic novel, 'Marco', featuring both my mother's and my singing experiences which was a tragic parallel. The novel is a tribute to my mother, one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th Century, who sacrificed her career to take care of her four children during despairing times. Eva Franchi, the widow of popular tenor Sergio Franchi, whom I interviewed many times on my radio show, wrote a 'Foreword' for my novel. Eva said, 'Marco' a dramatic uplifting story with exciting singing would be an International box office success. International Author Elizabeth Haran with seventeen Best-Sellers wrote a marvelous Review.
When Al Pacino performed at Ruth Eckerd Hall May 31, 2011 he asked for a copy of my novel. Today I'm singing better than ever, and searching for an actor or producer to film my story. Not only does 'MARCO' serve as a legacy for my children and grandchildren, I feel it it speaks to each one of us that has a compelling story to tell.
The links to my two singing videos on youtube are: https://youtu.be/jpox_TMJqXE & https://youtu.be/pPvQ8r89W1w
