Community Corner
Cristina Fontanelli's 3rd-annual "Christmas in Italy®" Show
Direct
from New York, Award-winning singer and PBS/NY affiliates Host for Andrea
Bocelli and Il Volo, CRISTINA FONTANELLI brings her highly-successful
program of Italy’s best-loved songs, arias, Neapolitan and Christmas classics
during her 3rd-Annual “Christmas In Italy®” concert at the Sherwood Auditorium at The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, on
Friday, December 13 at 7:30 PM. Called
a “vocal genius” by the New York Sun, Ms. Fontanelli’s show is a love
letter to her Italian heritage and a tribute to her grandparents. “I decided to begin this annual Holiday tradition
to preserve these musical “gems” and to teach them to younger generations.”
says Ms. Fontanelli. The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (Sherwood
Auditorium) is located at 700 Prospect Avenue, San Diego, CA 92037. Tickets and information can be purchased
through Brown Paper Tickets: 1-800-838-3006/Event/448431 or on-line: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/448431 . “Christmas in Italy®" will also take place for the 10th
year in New York City on Saturday,
December 7 at 3 p.m. at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center http://tribecapac.org/christmas-in-italy. More information on Ms.
Fontanelli can be found at www.cristinafontanelli.com and on “Christmas in Italy®" at www.christmas-in-italy.com . https://www.facebook.com/events/733467433349351/
For
this special one-day event, Ms. Fontanelli will be accompanied by piano,
mandolins, guitar and accordion in order to evoke the authentic Italian flavor
of the music. The Mary Star of the Sea
Choir of La Jolla (Music Director Jim Belasco) will join Cristina and a
children’s chorus t/b/a.
Cristina
Fontanelli
is PBS/NY Affiliates host for Andrea Bocelli’s September concert “Live From
Central Park”, “Il Volo Takes Flight”, Vienna Boys Choir and Qi Gong specials.
She appeared on CBS-TV Weekend NY in interview/performance/co-hosting roles; (Cristina Fontanelli
describes the show on this 2010 CBS-TV interview YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xDMoWNe1c4&feature=email) She has performed for Jimmy Kimmel’s “Feast of San
Gennaro” in Hollywood; is the voice of “Nonna” on PBS-TV Chef Lidia
Bastianich’s animated Christmas special; and is the “voice” of Domino’s Pizza
on the national radio commercial. She has performed for the Clinton White
House, the Presidential Inaugural Ball in 2005 for President George W. Bush,
with The Boston Pops, the St. Louis Symphony, at Feinstein’s at the Loews
Regency, has completed 3 world tours with the Mantovani Orchestra and has sung
title roles with the Palm Beach, New Jersey, New York Grand and Cairo Opera
companies.
Brooklyn-born
Cristina Fontanelli was awarded the OSIA Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts
(previous recipients include Luciano Pavarotti), has been cited as one of the
most notable alumni of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (along with Robert
Redford, Anne Bancroft, Cecil B. Demille, Anne Hathaway et al) and has been
named “Woman of the Year” by many Italian organizations throughout the country.
Find out what's happening in La Jollawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
For
this special one-day event, Ms. Fontanelli’s musicians will include local
artists: Maestra Leigh Sutherlin (piano), London-trained classical mandolinist Christopher
Acquavella and Gary Payne (mandolin), Norm Panto (accordion) and Joe Amato (guitar).
Mr. Acquavella will play the mandolin which was the centerpiece of the film
“Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” starring Nicholas Cage and which was also used in “The
Queen” and “Harry Potter” movies. The
mandolin was made in 1933 and is known as “baby” for it’s strong, sonorous,
warm sound and perfect intonation.
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
(Sherwood Auditorium) is located at 700 Prospect Avenue, La Jolla, CA and tickets
for “Christmas In Italy®” are sold through Brown Paper Tickets
Find out what's happening in La Jollawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
(1-800-838-3006/Event #448431) and online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/448431
with tickets ranging from $38 to $48 (Group
discounts available). Ms. Fontanelli’s website is www.cristinafontanelli.com and www.christmas-in-italy.com Press Inquiries:
Please contact the office of Fontanelli Productions, 212 -217-6181
(Photo in red dress:
Luigi Scorcia)(Photo: Chris Acquavella, mandolin)