Cristina Fontanelli isn’t just a world-class vocalist, she is one of the most influential voices and humanitarians of our time. With a career that stretches from the stages of Lincoln Center to opera houses around the globe, Fontanelli has built a legacy of artistry, service, and love for the Italian culture that shaped her. Her performances whether on PBS, at the White House, or in historic theaters throughout Italy — carry a warmth and richness that reflect generations of tradition.
Beyond her acclaimed career, Fontanelli has devoted herself to uplifting children and preserving great music through her foundation and her beloved Christmas in Italy® production, now in its 22nd year. Her work has opened doors for young performers, supported special-needs youth, and kept the beauty of Italian music alive for audiences worldwide. In every chapter of her journey, Cristina Fontanelli proves that influence is not only measured by the stages you stand on, but by the lives you touch along the way.
Your upcoming Christmas in Italy® event has become a cherished tradition. What can attendees look forward to this year, and what makes this performance uniquely special?
Cristina: This year is our 22nd annual and the venue we will hold it in is particularly meaningful. It is the historic and majestic St. Jean Baptiste church on 76th Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. The church houses the relics of St. Ann (Jesus’ grandmother). There have been many miraculous cures and occurrences in that church, including with our “Christmas in Italy®”. We held it there in December of 2020 during the absolute height of the Covid pandemic. All of the theaters were shuttered including the Broadway shows, Radio City, Museums, everything, but because the churches remained open, thanks to the efforts of a beloved Monsignor from Brooklyn who went to the Supreme court of the State of New York to preserve the right to worship, we were able to do a modified but extremely profound version of our concert.
So the miracle is that we never stopped in 22 years. There is also a saying “St. Ann! St. Ann! Bring me a man!” LOL. My friend, who happens to be very beautiful and an upstanding person, was having extreme difficulties finding a good man that she could marry. And immediately after attending my concert in that church she found a great guy and got married. She swears it is because of the intercession of St. Ann!
The mission statement of The Cristina Fontanelli Foundation is to provide performance opportunities to children/youth performers. It is a first for us this year to present special needs/autistic youth to sing. I listened to their rehearsal video and it was clear that they needed some support because they are not strong enough to carry the music on their own. I NEVER WANT TO TURN children/youth away, so I came up with a BUDDY SYSTEM. The children will sing with their parents and their teachers. We will find a musical phrase or 2 where they can carry the tune themselves and then the adult voices will secure the melody along with their angelic children’s special needs voices. I KNOW that it will be very special and moving. Just thinking about it moves me to tears.
Italy clearly holds a deep place in your heart, both personally and professionally. Can you share how your heritage and experiences have shaped your artistic identity and career?
Cristina: I was born with 100% Italian origin roots. Maybe in the past there were Greek influences due to the part of Italy that my mother’s side comes from, Molfetta, which is on the Adriatic Sea directly across from Greece. As a matter of fact, my grandfather’s last name is De Candia which means from Candia, which is a City in Greece. And Molfetta is a Greek word.
So my blood and heritage was always Italian. But I never anticipated that being of Italian origin would hold such a prominent place in my entire life and career path! I did not grow up speaking Italian. I learned to speak fluent Italian later on when I decided to become an opera singer. Since my background and studies were in acting, I wanted to understand every word that I was singing and every word the other characters were singing as well.
When I started down this path of singing opera, learning to speak Italian fluently, then becoming a classical-crossover Italian pop singer, my future destiny was sealed. So many of my major career milestones were because I speak Italian and/or am Italian. I was hired by PBS — TV to host Andrea Bocelli’s historic concert in Central Park, to interview the Italian tenor group Il Volo for their very first interview on TV in the States, I won best actresss in 2 international film festivals because I speak Italian and much more. I also recorded my first commercial album when I was signed by platinum record producers whose songs were also recorded by Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow and the Four Seasons! The theme of my album, of course, “Cristina Fontanelli Sings Great Italian Favorites”.
Italian culture and the music I have preserved in my 22 year running charitable concert “Christmas in Italy ®” remain some of the most important (and melodic!) music that the world has ever known. Italian opera, Italian folk songs have a warmth and express the full range of emotions that cannot easily be equaled. The greatest opera composers came from Italy — Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini composed classics such as Madame Butterfly and La Traviata. Plus the amazing Neapolitan songs that I have sung from the beginning of my career such as “O sole mio” and “Torna a Surriento” — audiences still clamour for these songs. My engagements were arranged and underwritten by Dr. Louis Anthony Pisani and the organist is Stefono Sintoni.
You recently graced stages across Italy with your powerful performances. What were some of the most memorable moments, and how did the energy of performing in Italy influence you?
Cristina: In December 2024 I was invited to sing in Ravenna Italy which is where the great poet Dante Alighieri’s tomb is. It was a tremendously moving experience. The impresario invited me due to the work I do in the United States with my “Christmas in Italy ®’ and how I work with the children and youth.
I performed in the Teatro Alighieri — a stunningly beautiful gem of an opera house. The great Greek Diva, Maria Callas, also sang there. This was so meaningful for me because hearing her voice was the catalyst to making me choose an operatic career. I say this humbly, but major newspapers have compared me to her. And people that knew her in person have said the same things.
I also performed at the magnificent Duomo in Ravenna singing sacred pieces during the mass. Then we live-streamed a concert of Christmas songs in both Italian and English from the Basilica di San Francesco. Such history. It was very moving for me to be an Ambassador of Italian opera in Italy.
For readers who dream of visiting Italy one day — especially creatives seeking inspiration — what cities, experiences, or cultural moments would you recommend, and why?
Cristina: All of Italy is inspiring. The countryside, the cities, the monuments, the museums, the Vatican. Of course, for those studying art, Florence is a must. For those studying opera, a visit to Milan to experience the great opera house La Scala is a definite must.
I actually “sang” at La Scala. I won an international vocal competition and the prize was to go to Italy with a small group of 3 or 4 other talented young opera singers. We did a concert at the Casa Verdi, which is the retirement home in Milan for opera singers named after the great opera composer. The prize also included an audition for La Scala. A funny anecdote — I warmed up for my audition in the broom closet at La Scala. There was no place else to go. The rooms were locked except the room we were auditioning in. I then traveled throughout Italy doing auditions in Genova, Torino, Bologna. I accompanied another soprano who didn’t speak Italian. So many stories! I can’t go into them all here!!
Your career continues to span countries, genres, and audiences. What is inspiring you most right now as you prepare for your next artistic chapter?
Cristina: I have enjoyed a very eclectic career singing many types of music, and in 9 languages plus film acting and TV hosting. The thing I love, in addition to continuing to do that, is that I am now in a position to provide performance opportunities and employment to talented young artists. I love helping them in their career journey and watching them blossom, not only as singers, but as performers on the stage which is so important.
Also, from time to time, a new and creative opportunity comes up for me. I was recently invited by a well-known Yoga instructor to sing operatic and melodic selections during his Yoga retreat. It was a very spiritual experience and I have been invited back a handful of times now. The interesting thing is that when I teach voice, which I do on a limited basis due to my very busy schedule, I instruct my students that breathing for vocal technique is similar to the breathing in Yoga, deep and low in the body filling up and naturally expanding the lungs gently and fully.
Keep up to date with Cristina Fontanelli:
Instagram: @cristinafontanelli
Website: https://cristinafontanelli.com/
Tickets for Christmas in Italy® can be purchased here: https://www.purplepass.com/organizer/52950
(Banda Cittadina Di Ravenna photo credits: Andrea Monico)
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