Cristina Fontanelli to Perform at Gala Honoring Connie Francis as “Woman of the Year”

International singer/actor CRISTINA FONTANELLI will be the featured entertainer for the Il Circolo 35th Anniversary Gala on Sunday, March 20, 2011, at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, FL, where Connie Francis will be named “Woman of the Year.”
 
March 17, 2011 - PRLog -- NEW YORK, NY: Award-winning international singing sensation CRISTINA FONTANELLI will perform as the featured entertainer at the Il Circolo 35th Anniversary Gala on Sunday, March 20th, 2011, at 6pm at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, FL, where Connie Francis will be named the organization’s “2011 Woman of the Year.”

“I’m thrilled to have been invited by Il Circolo on this auspicious occasion to entertain their guest of honor, Connie Francis,” says Ms. Fontanelli.  “Ms. Francis holds the highest place in the history of great singers and entertainers. I’m humbled that they have chosen me to be an integral part of their tribute to this great musical ‘icon.’”

Ms. Fontanelli’s performance at this gala evening will feature well-known Italian classic songs to celebrate Ms. Connie Francis such as Torna a Sorrento, Con Te Partiro, and Mamma.

To view a brief video clip of CRISTINA FONTANELLI performing “Torna a Sorrento,” from her recent appearance on CBS New York (Channel 2), refer to http://newyork.cbslocal.com/category/video-on-demand-news...

A favorite entertainer in the Palm Beach area, Ms. Fontanelli has performed at previous Il Circolo Galas at the Breakers Hotel and at the Palm Beach Opera at the Kravis Center including the roles of Nedda in "I Pagliacci"; the title role of "The Merry Widow" and Musetta in "La Boheme" to very fine reviews. While appearing at the Palm Beach Opera, Ms. Fontanelli had the privilege of performing under the baton of Maestro Anton Guadagno who was well-known for conducting great singers such as Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo.

For interviews with Ms. Fontanelli, please contact Miller Wright or Dan Fortune at Miller Wright & Associates at (212) 977-7800.

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THE PALM BEACH DAILY NEWS calls Ms. Fontanelli “a true singing actress”

THE NEW YORK SUN hails Ms. Fontanelli as a “vocal genius”

THE NEW YORK TIMES has praised her singing as having “technical ease” and “flaunting bravura”

FORBES magazine sums up Ms. Fontanelli’s artistry as: “She has no equal.”

Cristina Fontanelli has become a well-known personality through her recordings, her appearances on radio, in concert, nightclubs, opera, and her acting debut on network television. She is the “voice of Domino’s Pizza” on their current national radio commercial. A listing of the popular “giants” she has appeared with include Tony Bennett, Joel Grey, Vic Damone and others. Ms. Fontanelli is the voice of “Nonna” on the beloved TV Chef Lidia Bastianich’s 2010 PBS Christmas special (featured in over 300 PBS outlets across the U.S.) and she appeared in an interview/performance/co-hosting on CBS Weekend New York with 15,000,000 viewers at the end of 2010. Her beautiful soprano voice has taken her to the White House as part of President Clinton’s holiday celebration and on January 20, 2005 Cristina Fontanelli was invited to open the ceremonies at the Stars and Stripes Inaugural Ball for President George W. Bush – this following her “Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts” from the Order Sons of Italy in America (previous honoree Luciano Pavarotti).

Cristina is a proud member of the three top performing unions – SAG/AFTRA/EQUITY and has been named one of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts’ most notable alumni (along with Robert Redford, Danny DeVito, Edward G. Robinson and others). 2010 appearances included the opening ceremonies of the prestigious Hamptons Classic Horseshow, singing the National Anthem on Capital Hill in Washington D.C. for the testimony by fashion-icon Giorgio Gucci, her 3rd-annual appearance for TV Host Jimmy Kimmel in Hollywood CA, her 4th-annual appearance at Feinsteins at the Regency Hotel, singing Happy Birthday to Mickey Rooney for his 90th birthday celebration at Feinsteins (Donald Trump, Regis Philbin, Tony Bennett, et al in attendance) and a gala at the Pierre Hotel in NY City for Gucci.

Ms. Fontanelli is a guest artist with many prestigious orchestras including the Boston Pops and the St. Louis Symphony performing in major concert halls throughout the U.S. and the world, including the Lincoln and Kennedy Centers and major concert halls throughout Japan, Korea, the Middle East and Canada. She has completed three world-tours with the Mantovani Orchestra, has sung at Gracie Mansion at the invitation of Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Washington, D.C. for the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and the Italian Embassy, Lincoln Center with stars from the Metropolitan Opera, the Waldorf-Astoria for the Columbus Citizens Foundation honoring Franco Zeffirelli and Maestro Riccardo Muti and the prestigious National Arts Club in NYC. She appears annually at the world-famous, Feinstein’s at the Regency Hotel, in NYC, and has received rave reviews for her nightclub entertainment abilities, in addition to her classical concert and operatic appearances.

Recent appearances include the Hilton in Atlantic City, St. Patrick’s Cathedral NYC, a 9/11 memorial concert at Rockefeller Center with the NYPD Concert Band (televised on CNN, Fox National and NY Channels 5, 7 and 9) and the Columbus Day Parade on 5th Avenue NYC. She was signed by platinum-record winning producer to record “Cristina Fontanelli Sings Great Italian Favorites”. Her numerous awards include the American Opera Auditions and awards from the Puccini and Koussevitsky Foundations. She has received “Woman of the Year” awards from the NYC Transit Authority, the NJ Federation of Italian and Italian-American Societies, Ethnic Press Council of Toronto and the Salerno Club of the State of NY. Ms. Fontanelli sings and entertains in 8 languages.

Ms. Fontanelli’s “Christmas In Italy” Program is in its eighth year in 2011 and is a vocal journey through Italy’s best loved songs and arias as well as Neopolitan and Christmas classics. Her repertoire includes songs and arias by Donizetti, Tosti and Puccini along with such classics as “Torna A Surriento,” “Chisto Paese d’o Sole” and the Italian Christmas classic “Tu Scendi dalle Stelle” (You Came Down From The Stars.”).

“I started the ‘Christmas In Italy’ Program in an effort to preserve the great songs of my heritage which are being lost and to teach them to younger generations,” says Ms. Fontanelli.

Born in Brooklyn, she also attended The Juilliard School in addition to being a distinguished graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Fontanelli’s CD Great Italian Favorites is currently available.

For more information, refer to http://www.cristinafontanelli.com.


Press Contact:
Miller Wright & Associates, (212) 977-7800
PRInquiries@cristinafontanelli.com
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