Opera & Broadway of the Hamptons
Presents
July 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Cristina Fontanelli and her Fabulous Friends
DON'T MISS IT! LIMITED TIX AVAIL! THIS SATURDAY, JULY 23 AT 7:30 P.M. NEWSDAY'S PICK OF THE WEEK! "BEST EVENT ON THE NORTHFORK ALL YEAR!" Opera & Broadway of the Hamptons Duck Walk Vineyard, 44535 Main Rd. Southold, NY 11971
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Continuing the 30-year tradition of bringing world-class artists to the North and South Forks of Long Island – featuring Award-winning Singer/PBS-TV Host, Cristina Fontanelli, plus tenor and baritone world-class singers and giving performance opportunities and scholarships to local children/young people. Tax-deductible Sponsorship and Ticket Donation Opportunities.
Duck Walk 2019
Cristina Fontanelli & Her Fabulous Friends presented a memorable evening combining Broadway songs and Opera talent in the beautiful setting of Duck Walk Vineyard North in North Fork, Long Island, July 13, 2019
Cristina Fontanelli
Cristina Fontanelli – has sung title roles with the Palm Beach Opera, the Cairo Opera, Opera of Hong Kong, Kazakhstan Opera, NY Grand Opera, and the NJ State Opera and as guest artist with numerous orchestras including the Boston Pops, the St. Louis Symphony and the Mantovani Orchestra. She has toured the Middle East as an “Ambassador of Opera”, also in major concert halls of the Far East, Puerto Rico, Canada and the United States, including the Kennedy and Lincoln Centers. Cristina appeared as PBS host for Andrea Bocelli “Live from Central Park” also starring Celine Dion, David Foster and Tony Bennett; for the “Il Volo”; Vienna Boys Choir and Qi Gong PBS specials and is currently host of “Michael Buble: Tour Stop” on PBS/WLIW. She is the “voice of Domino’s Pizza” on their national radio commercial, the voice of “Nonna” on Lidia Bastianich’s PBS Christmas special and has appeared on CBS Weekend in performance/co-hosting roles and with TV star, Kevin James. Cristina is a regular at the iconic NYC Broadway nightclub, Feinsteins/54 Below. In 2018 she starred in a short film underwritten by top Hollywood producers, the Russo Brothers thru a NIAF (National Italian American Foundation) grant for which she won BEST ACTRESS at the Cutting Room International Film Festival in NYC. She is nominated as BEST ACTRESS for the same role in Las Vegas at the Venus International Film Festival (July 31,2019). Cristina’s beautiful soprano voice has taken her to the White House as part of President Clinton’s holiday celebration and she was invited to open the ceremonies at the Stars and Stripes 2005 Inaugural Ball for President George W. Bush. Cristina is a proud member of the top performing unions – SAG/AFTRA and ACTORS/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, etc.). Cristina’s numerous awards include the American Opera Auditions; the Puccini and Koussevitsky Foundations; the “Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts” from the Order Sons of Italy in America (previous honoree Luciano Pavarotti) and “Woman of the Year” NYC Transit Authority, the Ethnic Press Council of Toronto and numerous others. Appearances include the Hamptons Classic Horseshow, Capitol Hill for the testimony by fashion-icon Giorgio Gucci, singing Happy Birthday to Mickey Rooney for his 90th birthday celebration at Feinsteins (Donald Trump, Regis Philbin, Tony Bennett in attendance) documented in the Simon & Schuster book “The Life and Times of Mickey Rooney; she produces and stars in her “Christmas in Italy®” show. (16th year 2019 – Sunday, December 8 at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall.)
Ricardo Rivera
Ricardo Rivera, Baritone
A semi-finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, baritone Ricardo Rivera has made major debuts at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, San Diego Opera and Musica Viva Hong Kong. He has sung with the prestigious Opera Orchestra of NY at Avery Fisher Hall in the title role of “Orsini” and has received numerous outstanding reviews from leading publications: – “The cast was winning over all, especially the baritone, Ricardo Rivera as Orsini.” – Anthony Tommasini, The NY Times; “amazingly precise of musical and verbal gesture” – John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune. An audience favorite, we are proud to welcome Ricardo back with us this evening.
Riccardo Meri
Ricardo Rivera, Baritone
A semi-finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, baritone Ricardo Rivera has made major debuts at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, San Diego Opera and Musica Viva Hong Kong. He has sung with the prestigious Opera Orchestra of NY at Avery Fisher Hall in the title role of “Orsini” and has received numerous outstanding reviews from leading publications: – “The cast was winning over all, especially the baritone, Ricardo Rivera as Orsini.” – Anthony Tommasini, The NY Times; “amazingly precise of musical and verbal gesture” – John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune. An audience favorite, we are proud to welcome Ricardo back with us this evening.
RicHard Gordon
Originally from Wyoming, Richard’s varied musical career has ranged from Broadway orchestra pits to solo concerts in the jungles of Africa. As conductor/ accompanist, he toured extensively with Metropolitan Opera Diva, Patrice Munsel, and also Jane Powell and has worked with the Washington Opera in DC, New Orleans Opera, Pusan (Korea) Grand Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Anchorage Opera and Phillip Glass Ensemble. Equally at home teaching, he has served on the faculties of University of Liberia, Southern Methodist University, American Musical and Dramatic Academy, and Cincinnati Conservatory’s summer festival in Lucca, Italy.
Annalisa Emmett
graduate of Sacred Heart Academy and recipient of the Music Medal and Principal’s Award, Annalisa will be attending Hofstra University in the Fall 2019 pursuing a Music Major with a concentration in Vocal Performance and Minors in Drama and Musical Theatre, where she was awarded the Provost Academic Scholarship and a Vocal Performance Scholarship. As a member of the SHA Drama Club. Annalisa has performed such leading roles as Belle in Beauty and The Beast and the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella. Annalisa was also selected by NYSSMA for All County; All State; and All Eastern Vocal Ensembles. She has performed as a soloist in The Oyster Bay Music Festival every summer from 2017 to the present and is a Cantor at Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Lynbrook, NY (Cristina Fontanelli’s hometown growing up!). We welcome Annalisa to Opera & Broadway of the Hamptons as our special Summer Showstopper!