Paul’s Episcopal Church in Alexandria. He said they are starting a bell choir but
“sometimes I ring it to get the choir’s attention.”
Spampanato came to St. Paul’s from Paris by way of New York City just as the
church was opening back up after the impact of COVID. “When I came here they
were still meeting with masks. It’s funny how we forget about masks and go on
with life.”
He had come to D.C. to work for the Washington National Opera Young Artistsprogram for two years. He heard about the organist in residence position at St.Paul’s “but they loved me and asked would I stay longer.”
Spampanato says his parents are Italian but he grew up in France. But everything
in his house was Italian—the tv, the bed, the food. He says he speaks Italian with
his mom and French with his dad. “The French always said I was Italian and the
Italians always said I was French. That’s what I love about America. They don’t
care. I can be who I want to be.”
He says he used to live in Paris and didn’t know much about D.C. before he came
here. He emphasizes D.C. is not a big city. “I like it when it’s crowded. I feel
alive. But D.C. is a gorgeous city, a bit quiet, but culturally not as enriching as you
would expect.”
Spampanato likes it in Alexandria. “When I was part of the scene in other cities in
Europe, I worked for a big concert opera and was like a piece of the puzzle; I
wasn’t able to express myself.” But here I have the liberty to create something I
have in my mind. I am real happy here.”
In the beginning at St. Paul’s Spampanato says he mostly played the organ but
now “the music director and I have decided I can do more. “Spampanato says he
assists the Music Director, Eric Schnobrick with music selection. “There is a lot of
work to do in organizing music—to match the best music with the readings.” And
Spampanato plays and sings at the 5:00 pm service. “I was shy with my accent
but people really like it.” He continues, “This is an easy congregation. They like all
kinds of music, and they compliment me.”
Now he is Asst. Music Director with a dream. “I think big. I would like to have an
ensemble that presents a concert series and to invite people from all over the
world.” He particularly likes Indian music for its spiritual and ancestral qualities
and would like to work on some crossover music with middle age.
“We could find a different location each week. Can you imagine a big concert on
the waterfront; it would bring people to the City. And we could go touring. I could
find a good small space in Alexandria—the city is right there—you can go out
afterwards and have a drink.” He wants to make the concerts “entertaining, not
boring, the kind you want to bring your friends back to.” He says there is a lot of
orchestra and opera in America. “We need baroque and chamber.”
Spampanato says he would like to have Alexandria be seen as a musical city.
He is hoping to begin these concerts in September. But it is complicated, and
there are so many decisions—which season to begin; do you want a theme for the
concerts or potpourri? He adds there is the overall structure to create and the
financial consideration to get supportive donors. “I have a lot of skills but not all
the skills.”
He is always thinking about how to make things better and says they are slowly
making changes in the sound of the organ. “There is one stop I don’t like. I don’t
like the sharp sound.” But making changes is complicated and expensive so the
organ builder will change the pipes “to lower the sound so it will blend with the
rest.” The next step is the really lowest stop which is digital “but I don’t want
digital. Adding the lowest pipe will make it more warm.”
He tosses his colorful scarf over the sparkly sweater. “I love fashion. Sometimes I
wear clothes to express yourself in each way.”
Spampanato sits at the piano practicing a piece by Gabriel DuPont that will be part
of his upcoming April 14 concert focusing on French artists. “DuPont is not a well
known composer that I chose for my dissertation. He was known for opera and
chamber music but passed away before his time. What might have been? I was in
my bedroom in Caen listening and heard him on the radio. He is not famous but
listen to this.”
Spampanato begins playing slowly. “La Maison dans Les Dunes” is deep, honest
and sincere. It has a lonely tug at your heart. He plays a jazzy chord. It adds
something more sweet. “And then I discovered where he lived. Who has a house
on the dunes? Also he is both an organist and a pianist like me so we have a
connection.”
Adriano pursued his studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique
de Paris, earning four Bachelor's degrees (piano, organ, choreographic
accompanying, and musicology) and a Master’s degree with academic honors in
collaborative piano.
When he isn’t singing, conducting or playing at St. Paul’s he often performs with
his musical partner, the soprano Axelle Fanyo, at venues around the world. They
recently won the Grand Prix Prince Rainier III of Monaco prize for singer-pianist
duos at the 11th Nadia and Lili Boulanger International Voice-Piano Competition.
The recent program was held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 228 S. Pitt at 7
p.m. on April 14. It featured an evening of French classical music played by
Spampanato including for piano Francis Poulenc, Deodat de Severac, Claude
Debussy and Gabriel Dupont and for organ Leon Boellmann, Gothic Minuet,
Prayer to Notre-Dame and Toccata. Attendees were invited to attend an outdoor
wine reception on the church grounds after the concert.