TV HOST COGNAC WELLERLANE INTERVIEWS AT OPERA AND BROADWAY IN THE HAMPTONS

"Opera & Broadway of the Hamptons: A Southampton Salute to Summer" is an annual concert series taking place in Southampton, NY, featuring a blend of opera arias and Broadway showstoppers. This year's event, starring Cristina Fontanelli and her friends took place on Saturday, August 16th, at 7:30 PM. The concert was held at the Basilica of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, with proceeds supporting local scholarships, children's arts access, and free tickets for veterans. 

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PERFORMERS:

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CRISTINA FONTANELLI,
OPERA AND BROADWAY IN THE HAMPTONS,
VICTOR STARSKY TENOR,
STEPHANOS ANDREOTTI POP TENOR,
FAITH MULLALY,
KAILA ROSE GATTI,
ALEXANDER CHAPLINKSKIY ACCOMPANIST,
LUKE WALKER CELLIST,

CRISTINA FONTANELLI

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Cristina Fontanelli — has become a well-known personality through her recordings, her appearances on TV, radio, in concert, nightclubs, and opera, and through her acting debut on network television. She has appeared as PBS-TV/NY affiliates host for Andrea Bocelli’s “Live From Central Park” also starring Celine Dion and Tony Bennett; for the “Il Volo Takes Flight” special; Vienna Boys Choir and Qi Gong PBS-TV Specials. In November of 2014 Cristina was chosen by the Italian government as a world-wide representative of the Puglia region to sing in Bari, Italy.

An Unforgettable,Voice She is the “voice of Domino’s Pizza” on their national radio commercial, the voice of “Nonna” on PBS-TV Chef Lidia Bastianich’s Christmas special (in over 300 PBS outlets across the U.S.) and has appeared on CBS Weekend NY in interview/performance/co-hosting roles for the past 2 years.  Cristina’s beautiful soprano voice has taken her to the White House as part of President Clinton’s holiday celebration and Cristina 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 honorees include Luciano Pavarotti). FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT https://cristinafontanelli.com/

VICTOR STARSKY TENOR

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Tenor Victor Starsky, a native of Richmond Hill, New York, received critical acclaim this year for his performances as Don José in Sarasota Opera’s production of Bizet’s CARMEN, as well as his role debuts with New York City Opera as Mario Cavaradossi in Puccini’s TOSCA and Maurizio in Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s production of Cilea’s ADRIANA LECOUVREUR. Starsky made his debut as Nemorino with Charlottesville Opera in their production of Donizetti’s L’ELISIR D’AMORE.

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Starsky performed the role of Jim Casy in Master Voice’s Carnegie Hall presentation of Ricky Ian Gordon’s THE GRAPES OF WRATH. Of Starsky’s Don José, The Observer writes “While possessing a voice that flexes with nuance, the genius of Starsky’s stage performance is how he shares each tiny tear in his moral fabric as he follows and succumbs to Carmen despite every effort to cling to what he knows is moral and right. Watching his slow crumbling into unhinged desperation is unforgettable.” Starsky returned to Sarasota Opera as the tenor soloist in their fall 2024 Season concert, “THE MUSIC OF GIUSEPPE VERDI”, and looks forward to the title role in Verdi’s STIFFELIO with Sarasota Opera in winter 2025. In 2023, Starsky made his debuts as Radamés in Verdi’s AÏDA and George Gibbs in Rorem’s OUR TOWN at the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theater. He performed Roméo in Gounod’s ROMÉO ET JULIETTE with New York City Opera and Rodolfo in Puccini’s LA BOHÈME with Wichita Grand Opera.

Starsky was honored to perform The Celebrant in Leonard Bernstein’s MASS with the premier conductor Maestro Maurice Peress in 2014. As an Adler Fellow with San Francisco Opera, was awarded the Shoshana Foundation’s Richard F. Gold Career Grant. Engagements for Victor during the 2024/2025 season include appearances as Maurizio in Cilea’s ADRIANA LECOUVREUR with Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Cavaradossi in TOSCA and Tenor Soloist in an all-Puccini Concert with New York City Opera, tenor soloist in an all Verdi Concert and the title role in Verdi’s STIFFELIO with Sarasota Opera, Cavaradossi in TOSCA with Teatro Lirico D’Europa, the Duke in Verdi’s RIGOLETTO with Teatro Lirico D’Europa and New England Opera Association at major theaters in NH and CT, and Pinkerton in New Jersey Ass. of Verismo Opera’s production of MADAMA BUTTERFLY at the newly renovated QPAC in New York.

STEPHANOS ANDREOTTI POP TENOR,

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Stephano Andreotti is a Classically trained tenor vocal performer. Having served the the stage for over 13 years, Stephano has had the honor and privilege to perform in venues across the U.S. and Europe. Stephano has won competitions such as the international Festival of Song USA and Double First place in the NATS competition. Stephano has been featured on television by News 12 long Island, Looking to make a difference with Gail, The Aurelia talk show, and Italian America Long Island. He is also an Opportunity Arts Affiliate.  FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT https://www.instagram.com/stephanosound

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ALEXANDER CHAPLINKSKIY ACCOMPANIST,

ALEXANDER CHAPLINSKIY is a pianist, chorus master, conductor, music arranger, and coach. Mr. Chaplinskiy was graduated cum laude from Saint-Petersburg Glinka Choral College, where he studied piano with Andrey Gorlov and Eugene Sirotkine. Alexander worked at the renowned Mikhailovsky and Mariinskiy Theaters (St. Petersburg, Russia). He participated in the productions of “Iolanta” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, “Peter the Great” by Andrey Petroff, “Silva” by Emmerich Kalmann, and “The Three Musketeers” by Alexander Tchaikovsky, as well as “The Children Chorus of Russia”.

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Fincluding the “Yaroslavna” ballet by Boris Tischenko, “Stabat Mater” by Tomaso Traetta, “Requiem” by Igor Vorobioff, “Catulli Carmina” by Carl Orff. At the same time, Mr. Chaplinskiy was invited by the Saint-Petersburg State University to join its choir as a choirmaster, pianist, arranger, and accompanist. There he coached the chorus and performed as a keyboard player in Gustav Mahler’s Symphony 8. He was also a part of the Russian premiers of “Messa per la pace” and Requiem by Karl Jenkins.

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As a music director, Mr. Chaplinskiy has accomplished his own projects such as the Russian premier of Steve Reich’s “Eight Lines” and “Tehillim”, as well as the world premiere of “The day of Angel” by Maria Grigoryeva.

Alexander’s piano performances included Piano Recital at the Saint-Petersburg University, a performance at Carnegie Hall as a finalist of the Forte International Music Competition, as well as Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto 2 with Moskovsky Cultural Centre Symphony conducted by Vladimir Smirnoff.

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In addition to being a finalist in the above-mentioned Forte International Music Competition, Mr. Chaplinskiy was awarded with the Third Prize at the prestigious Russian National Musical Competition in choir conducting.

LUKE WALKER, CELLIST

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Luke was born in Kingston, Jamaica and is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy and furthered his studies at the Berklee College of Music in Cello Performance.  

FAITH MULLALY

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Faith is entering 9th grade at East Hampton HS this September.  She has participated in NYSSMA with a grade of 100% and is a regular cantor at St. Therese of Lisieux Church in Montauk. She has sung at the Bay Street Theatre, the Old Whaler's Church and at the Montauk Lighthouse for the restoration ribbon cutting ceremony attended by the governor.  

KAILA ROSE GATTI

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kaila is a Mezzo Soprano from Montauk, New York.  She discovered opera the Montauk Public School and continued her studies at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Traverse City Michigan.  In the fall she will be attending the Boston Conservatory majoring in Classical Voice in Opera.

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KEEP READING COGNAC'S CORNER MAGAZINE FOR RED CARPET EVENTS IN MANHATTAN, LONG ISLAND AND THE HAMPTONS.

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COGNAC WELLERLANE