New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/17/2015 -- Award-winning singer and PBS/WNET and NY affiliates host for "Andrea Bocelli: Live From Central Park" and "Il Volo Takes Flight" CRISTINA FONTANELLI brings her second-annual concert program of the world's best-loved classic songs during her "The Great International Songbook, plus wine reception" at Engelman Recital Hall at the Baruch Performing Arts Center at Baruch College on Saturday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. Ms. Fontanelli will perform songs and arias in 8 languages accompanied by world-class musicians who will include Robert Wilson on piano, Hernan Romero on classical/flamenco guitar, child protégée Jeffrey Zhang, piano; Benny Goodman protégée Sol Yaged on clarinet, mandolin, accordion and others T/B/A. Jim Masters, national PBS/WNET-TV host https://www.facebook.com/JimMastersTV will appear as emcee of the concert. http://www.internationalwinemasters.com/ is the sponsoring wine company. All ticket buyers will be entered into a free raffle for entry in the International Wine Masters Grand Wine Tasting weekend at Mohonk Mountain House (May 29-31, 2015).

Called a "Vocal genius" by the New York Sun, Ms. Fontanelli envisioned this international musical program to preserve the great folk and classic songs/arias of the world and to bring ethnic communities together in an annual musical celebration to promote peace and understanding through the universal language of music. Songs will include such Spanish classics as "Granada", French classics such as "La Vie en Rose", classic Italian songs such as "Torna a Sorriento" and "O Sole Mio", German, Japanese, Korean, Yiddish and other languages, plus popular opera arias/duets. The concert will also highlight Mother's Day with the song "Yiddishe Momme".

Listen to Ms. Fontanelli performing the song "Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partiro)" from her annual NYC and West Coast Holiday special "Christmas In Italy®" http://youtu.be/VNqNNqj2JxE . She has sung title roles with the Palm Beach, New Jersey and Cairo Opera companies, with The Boston Pops, the St. Louis Symphony, at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency Hotel and has performed for Jimmy Kimmel's "Feast of San Gennaro" in Hollywood. She is the voice of "Nonna" on PBS Chef Lidia Bastianich's animated Christmas special; and is the "voice" of Domino's Pizza on the national radio commercial. Ms. Fontanelli has performed for the Clinton White House, the President George W. Bush's Inaugural Ball in 2005, and has completed 3 world tours with the Mantovani Orchestra. In November of 2014 Cristina Fontanelli was invited by the Italian Government (Puglia Region) as a world-wide artist of Pugliese descent to sing in Bari and Molfetta, Italy.

About Cristina Fontanelli
Brooklyn-born Cristina Fontanelli was awarded the OSIA Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts (previous recipients include Luciano Pavarotti), has been cited as one of the top alumni of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (along with Robert Redford, Anne Bancroft, Cecil B. Demille, Anne Hathaway et al) and has been named "Woman of the Year" by many Italian organizations throughout the country.

Engelman Recital at the Baruch Performing Arts Center is located at 55 Lexington Avenue at 24th Street, New York, NY and tickets for "The Great International Songbook, plus Wine Reception" are sold through OvationTix at 866-811-4111 and online at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/9986160

Tickets cost $62.50 (Premium admission), $54.50 (general admission) and $47.50 (Seniors – ID checked at door). Ticket price includes the wine/dessert reception.

Student discounts are available. Ms. Fontanelli's website is http://www.cristinafontanelli.com

Directions to the Baruch Performing Arts Center are: by Subway*#6 to 23 St. (north exits to 24th & Park Av. So.);

N, R to 23 St. (at Broadway); F, M, PATH to 23 St. (at 6th Ave.); IRT #1 to 23 St. (at 7th Ave.);

C, E to 23 St. (at 8th Ave.) and by Bus* M23 crosstown bus via 23rd St.; buses via Lexington or 3rd Av. or Madison Av1/2/3, J/Z, A/C to Chambers Street Station.