Theresa Sareo
By John Rizzo
There is a great phrase in the Agamemnon of Aeschylus
(the 5th-century BC Greek poet who spent his last years in Sicily) that really
captures the essence of tragedy – toi pathei mathos (lit.) “wisdom, through
suffering”. For many tragic heroes and heroines, the wisdom comes too late. But
in any genuine tragedy, no matter how many bodies are on the stage at the end,
or how much pain as been inflicted, there is always the inescapable impression
that something valuable has been learned, and that the future will be better for
it. For those lucky survivors that have suffered tragically, an additional,
special dimension in understanding life may be attained, a self-knowledge that
eludes most of us, something that does not ensure happiness, but should serve
them well in the years ahead. For singer/songwriter Theresa Sareo, surviving a
tragic accident has honed her artistic skills a bit, but more importantly, the
experience seems to have made her a stronger person who gives hope and comfort
to those who need it most.
Her sound somewhat reminiscent of Carole King (It’s Too Late Baby), Theresa
Sareo has been singing, composing and recording in New York City for over a
decade. If you visit her Web site, theresasareo.com, or her “My Space” page,
myspace.com/thresasareo, you can hear a number of her original songs. Her style
can be best described as “urban-country-rock.” Theresa has a sweet, but husky,
tone and she sings with authority – no amateur inhibitions in her delivery. On
her latest CD, Alive Again, she is backed up by some excellent musicians and the
overall effect is very compelling. Whether or not the style is your cup of tea,
the haunting beauty of her sound and the straightforward wording of her poetry
persuades one to listen. There’s an unmistakable melancholy in Sareo’s music,
but not a melancholy that depresses, but one that evokes empathy. As artists are
wont to do, she puts herself and her experience across effectively.
Theresa Sareo had her first brush with tragedy with the horrific events of 9/11.
“Like most New Yorkers, I was reeling from the attack,” she recalls. “I even
lost someone, a former high school classmate with whom I had reconnected after
the last reunion.” Also attention-getting was the loss of several gigs in the
wake of the disaster. Shaken and dramatically affected by the terrorism and its
aftermath, Theresa was moved to direct her talent towards the victims of the
catastrophe. “I began to write songs about 9/11. I had no idea that they would
describe my own life.” But they did. Because on a summer night in 2002, Theresa
Sareo was violently struck down at 34th Street and Park Avenue by a drunken
driver. When she regained consciousness at Bellvue Hospital, she learned that
she had lost an entire leg.
When some people are afflicted with a life-threatening disease or the loss of a
limb, they understandably slink away into a psychological shell, and their life
is effectively over. Others, like Theresa, are strengthened by the mishap and
actually become more extroverted than before. Far from withdrawing from the
world, Theresa has become more active in her music. She is also a sought-after
inspirational public speaker and she has donned the mantle of a true patriot,
visiting our troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan at Walter Reed and Bethesda,
many of whom have suffered the loss of limbs. More than just offering sympathy,
she is a living, breathing example of how a brave person confronts adversity. As
proof of this, Sareo has composed a song that has become a favorite throughout
the military, “Through a Soldier’s Eyes,” dedicated to wounded soldiers.
"And they will not be forgotten, and must never be denied
For we shall hold them up with our respect and our pride
So they can be proud and courageous, for everyone must know
The meaning of their sacrifice--lies behind a Soldier's Eyes"
With poetry like this, it’s not hard to see why this song is so popular!
“I feel like my connection to the military has come full circle, like my
connection to my Italian heritage,” says Theresa, for whom both traditions go
hand-in-hand. Born a Cerio, her family came to America from the Molise. She was
brought up very traditionally (“Pasta with the family every Sunday”) and family
members fought in World War I, World War II and Vietnam. She was “classically
trained as a soprano” as a young lady and “was bitten by the bug” to be a
professional singer after performing in a high school production of The Music
Man. Theresa has never been to Chicago but she “really looks forward” to the
opportunity to visit and perform in the Windy City.
Theresa has a regular gig of sorts in the Little Italy of the Bronx. She sings
on Saturday nights at: Il Fiume Ristorante, 621 Crescent St. Because she often
works in other cities, she advises that it is best to call to confirm her
appearance at 718-220-0077. Sounds like a great place to enjoy a nice Italian
dinner while listening to some first class singing!