Opera With Cristina Fontanelli And Friends

On Sunday, September 4, at 5 p.m., Opera & Broadway of the Hamptons and The Cristina Fontanelli Foundation return to Southampton to present “A Southampton Salute to Summer: Cristina Fontanelli and Her Fabulous Friends.” The concert will be held at The Basilica Parish of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Southampton. Award-winning soprano and host Cristina Fontanelli will sing alongside guests, tenor Joseph Di Salle, baritone Antonio Watts and 14-year-old vocalist Mia Frohlich of Southampton.

In the great tradition of the last 30 years, Opera & Broadway of the Hamptons will present great musical “chestnuts,” highlighting famous arias and duets from opera and Broadway, plus famous Italian, Spanish and ethnic favorites such as such as “O Sole Mio.” This show was previously presented at Guild Hall, East Hampton. Taking place for the second year in a row in the magnificent Basilica of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the concert venue is within walking distance of Southampton Village shops and restaurants.

Cristina Fontanelli is a highly acclaimed singer and PBS-TV/WLIW host for Andrea Bocelli’s “Live From Central Park” and “Il Volo Takes Flight” and Michael Bublé’s Tour Stop. She has appeared with Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall and has also performed at the Kennedy Center, Boston’s Symphony Hall and other venues throughout the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. Fontanelli sang at the Clinton White House and for the Inauguration of President George W. Bush and has received the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts from the Order Sons of Italy in America. She is known on the East End for her appearances at the Hampton Classic, Guild Hall and at various charity events.

Joseph Di Salle has starred in premieres of contemporary operas, musicals and theatrical works as well as classics of the standard repertoire including Shakespeare and Molière. He has a wide range of operatic roles and has performed both internationally and throughout the U.S. and studied composition at Columbia University.

Baritone Antonio Watts has appeared as a concert and opera soloist throughout the U.S. and abroad. Since moving to New York in 2014, Watts has performed at The Metropolitan Opera House, The Kennedy Center and The Kaufman Center for Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall and at The Frick Collection Museum.

Mia Frohlich is a 14-year-old student at The Ross School in East Hampton. She played the starting role in the school’s production of “Annie,” and Eponine in “Les Misérables.” In 2020, she sang the National Anthem to commence the Southampton July 4th parade. In July she tapped in a performance at Disney World with her team from Our Fabulous Variety Show. When she isn’t performing, Frohlich plays on the girls JV golf team and girls varsity tennis team for her school.

Opera & Broadway of the Hamptons is a nonprofit organization giving performance opportunities to local children and providing tickets to underprivileged families and veterans and is produced under the auspices of The Cristina Fontanelli Foundation Inc. Tickets for “A Southampton Salute to Summer: Cristina Fontanelli and Her Fabulous Friends” are $25 to $65 ($64 at the door) at Eventbrite or cristinafontanelli.com. The Basilica Parish of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary is at 168 Hill Street, Southampton.