Chart-Topping Singers to Perform Benefit Christmas Concert
Thanksgiving Weekend
A concert of Christmas music sung by award-winning Italian tenor, Micheal
Castaldo, and chart-topping UK Soprano Rebecca Newman, will kick-off
the holiday season in Staten Island, Sunday, Nov. 30. Tickets are on sale
for $25 for general admission and $75 for VIP seating and reception
athttp://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/884432 .
October 16, 2014 (Staten Island, NY) — “From Bethlehem to Belvedere,” a
traditional Christmas concert featuring award-winning Italian tenor Micheal
Castaldo and benefitting Casa Belvedere, will kick-off the Staten Island
holiday season on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 2 p.m. at Notre Dame Academy, 78134 Howard Ave. Castaldo will perform classic Christmas carols from his
best-selling album, "Extravergine: Christmas in the Mediterranean,"
accompanied by the Richmond County Orchestra Strings and by the Notre
Dame Academy Choir. A special guest, chart-topping UK Soprano
Rebecca Newman, is flying across the Atlantic to sing Christmas carols in
English at this event. Tickets are available for $25 for general seating and
$75 for VIP seating and reception including Italian Christmas-themed food,
treats and Pozone Vodka holiday cocktails,
at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/884432, or by calling Brown
Paper Tickets’ 24/7 event concierges at 800-838-3006.
"This concert will capture your heart and imagination with the spirit of the
holidays and the Old World charm of a traditional Italian Christmas," said
Gina Biancardi, founder of Casa Belvedere, which has preserved Old
World traditions for years of families who have celebrated there since the
Italian Cultural Foundation was founded in 2009. "Even those who don't
speak Italian will be moved by the setting, the songs, and by Micheal's
powerful and melodic voice."
Live performance of songs from Castaldo’s chart-topping CD will include
"Oh Santa Notte" (Oh Holy Night), "E Nato Il Bambino Gesu" (What Child
Is This?), "Batte Nel Cuore, Suona Natale" (Little Drummer Boy), "Gioia
Nel Mondo" (Joy To The World), "Puoi Sentire Quel' Che Sent Io?" (Do
You Hear What I Hear?), and "Astro Del Ciel" (Silent Night). Castaldo
translated the well-known Polish carol, "Jezus Malusuenki" now entitled,
"Piccolo Jesu," which will also be featured along with "Gloria in Excelsis
Deo," "Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle," "VA PENSIERO," and "Adeste Fideles."
Soprano Rebecca Newman will perform traditional Christmas songs, sung
in English, at “From Bethlehem to Belvedere.” Newman’s new album,
“Dare to Dream,” reached the #1 position on the UK’s Official Charts
ranking of Classical Artist Albums for the week of Sept. 27, 2014.
Investors Bank and Brown Paper Tickets are partnering with Micheal
Castaldo and Casa Belvedere to help promote the Italian culture and
heritage at this Italian Christmas concert. This program is also supported,
in part, by public funds from the NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs in
partnership with the City Council.
Tickets are also available in-person through the following ticketing
partners: the Coccia Foundation, UNICO, Sempre Avanti, St. Brigids Italian
Club, St. Rocco's, OSIA, Italian American Museum, Italian Board of
Guardians, Italian American Labor Council, The Gables Historic Inn and
Restaurant, St. John's University, Coqui Designs, WHY, and Woodpecker
Press.
Refreshments during intermission for all attendees will be donated by The
Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere. For more information, go
to www.michealCASTALDO.com, contact Majestic Castle Music at 877642-7271 or at majesticcastlemusic@yahoo.com
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Telephone interviews and in-studio performances
with Micheal Castaldo, and copies of his CD are available, as well as
high resolutions photos upon request, by calling Charlotte Jayne
at cjayne@optonline.net, 631-256-6515.
About Micheal Castaldo: Over the past 10 years, Michéal Castaldo has
entertained more than 500,000 people across the USA, Canada, and
Europe with creative and rousing renditions of classic Italian songs.
“Castaldo’s performances are enchanting, heartfelt, and authentic. He
treats the audience to stories in between songs that share moments from
his Italian upbringing, tidbits about his musical journey, and insight that
went into his song choices. In 2013, Michéal's 1st annual Italian Christmas
concert helped raise $3,100 for St. Lucy's Church in Newark, NJ.
Richmond County Orchestra Strings is Staten Island's premiere
professional home-grown symphony orchestra (65-85 members strong).
The Richmond County Orchestra has served greater SI for over 7 years
with 10-20 performances per season! This includes its annual great
performance series, the Maestro Speaks series and Classic's for Kids'
series, all open to the public at modest admission and FREE for Children.
Under Maestro Alan Aurelia the orchestra has gained national attention
and has been able to attract world class musicians, soloists, celebrities,
and combine them with local musicians, singers, composers, visual artists,
poets, and dancers creating diverse, dynamic multi-media concert events.
About Rebecca Newman: Affectionately named 'The People's Soprano'
by fans, colleagues and the media, singer-songwriter Rebecca Newman
was ranked number one on the Official UK Classical Albums Chart with her
debut chart release in September 2014, outselling new releases by a
number of major international stars. Demand for her new album was so
great that on day one of release Amazon completely sold out following a
live studio interview on BBC One Yorkshire and during the week HMV,
stores up and down the country also sold out. For more
infowww.rebeccanewman.co.uk/
The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere is a unique 2.75 acre
Arts and Cultural campus on Staten Island’s Grymes Hill. The site boasts
spectacular views of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and the New York City
Harbor. The foundation is a registered 501(c3) nonprofit organization that
seeks to preserve, promote, and celebrate the rich heritage of Italy by
encouraging an appreciation of the Italian language, arts, cuisine,
literature, history, fashion, and commerce through various educational
programs, exhibits, and events. Proceeds from all facets of this fundraiser
will benefit the “Preserving the Past, Enriching the Future” Capital
Campaign as well as the Foundation’s numerous arts, culture and
educational programs. For more Info: www.casa-belvedere.org
The NDA Choir is a middle school choir (approximately 25 girls in grades
6, 7, and 8). They will be singing a few Christmas carols, one of them
accompanied by the bell choir. The sacred mission of Notre
Dame Academy is the education of girls and young women from Pre-K to
Grade 12. They believe that their commitment to a tradition of liberating
education creates the space where each student has every opportunity to
maximize her potential, investigate and express her gifts, and where each
teacher cultivates the best in each girl. They celebrate the uniqueness that
each person brings to their campus. For more
info: www.notredameacademy.org/
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donates 5 percent of profits to charity with every ticket sold, supports a
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