Cristina Fontanelli Announces 14th Annual CHRISTMAS IN ITALY

December 9 & 10 - Saturday at 8 PM; Sunday at 4 PM

Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street)
(by subway: #1, 2 or 3 train to 96th Street; by bus M104; by car: 96th Street Exit on West Side Highway - free Sunday on-street parking)

Tickets range from $35 to $68 (group rates available)

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Italian Orphanage Casa Famiglia in Meta di Sorrento, Italy; NYC Food Pantries; and VETS Ticket Foundation

Reservations: 212.864.5400 or www.symphonyspace.org

The cast includes

** Cristina Fontanelli

** John La Barbera, mandolin/guitar

** David Maiullo, piano

** Jay Posipanko and Barry Mitterhoff, mandolin

** Guest musician on accordion

** children of the Jersey City Ballet

** The Little Language Studio of Brooklyn
** Christmas in Italy Choir

and celebrity emcee, guest tenor and more.

Award-winning singer and PBS-TV host Cristina Fontanelli returns to Symphony Space for the 14th year of her magical "Christmas in Italy," (r) a love letter to her Italian heritage and her grandparents with an evening of music, dance, and holiday joy - Italian style - December 9 & 10. A special bonus - through the generosity of RONZONI - sponsor of "Christmas in Italy®" - each audience member will receive a free Ronzoni spoon and coupon for a box of free pasta.

Host of "Andrea Bocelli - Live From Central Park" and "Il Volo Takes Flight" - Cristina Fontanelli, called a "vocal genius" in the New York Sun, leads a huge cast of singers, dancers, and musicians in a joyous trip to Italy, filled with the Holiday spirit of peace and goodwill. "I began this beloved annual holiday tradition," explained Ms. Fontanelli, "to preserve Italy's great classic and popular songs and to teach them, and more importantly, to share the values and joy they represent, to younger generations."

Audiences will be treated to a program of Italy's best-loved songs, arias, Neapolitan and Christmas classics. The Little language Studio of Brooklyn (Alberta Gulotta, teacher) will sing the traditional Italian Christmas carol "Tu scendi dalle stelle" ("You came down from the stars"); the children of the Jersey City Ballet (Judith Elin, teacher/choreographer) will dance to "Dominick the Donkey"; the Christmas in Italy choir will sing "Silent Night"; and Santa Claus will stop by to join a rockin' rendering of "Santa Baby."

Ms. Fontanelli's beautiful soprano voice will fill the theater with irresistable Italian classics and popular songs, including "Mamma," and "Torna a Surriento," as well as an opera aria, "Ave Maria," and Christmas songs accompanied by the ensemble of musicians, specialists in Italian music from past and present.

Brooklyn native Cristina Fontanelli's rich professional life ranges from appearances with opera companies in the U.S. and abroad, to appearances at the Clinton White House, President George W. Bush Inaugural Ball in 2005, The Boston Pops, Palm Beach Opera, St. Louis Symphony, Feinstein's at the Loews Regency, and touring with the Mantovani Orchestra. The artist has performed for Jimmy Kimmel's "Feast of San Gennaro" in Hollywood; is the voice of "Nonna" on PBS Chef Lidia Bastianich's animated Christmas special, and the voice of Domino's Pizza on the national radio commercial. In 2014 Christina appeared in Italy after being invited by the Italian government as a world-wide representative artist of Pugliese descent.

Her awards include the OSIA Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts (previous recipients include Pavarotti); has been cited as one of the top alumni of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts; and has been named "Woman of the Year" by many Italian organizations throughout the country. Fontanelli continues to distinguish herself as an outstanding singer/actress and a dedicated custodian of the traditional music of Italy.

www.cristinafontanelli.com