News & Press Releases

December 2011 - Soprano Annamaria Stefanelli Releases Christmas CD in hometown of Roseland, NJ

For Immediate Release - Roseland, N.J. On Sunday, December 11, 2011, from 2-4pm, Roseland resident Annamaria Stefanelli, operatic soprano, will release her new Christmas CD at the Roseland Library in Roseland, NJ. Ms. Stefanelli chose this location based on the fact that she lives in Roseland and wanted to share this event with her community. As part of the event, Stefanelli will offer a mini concert to attendees free of charge. Refreshments will also be served and CDs will be available for purchase. Stefanelli will sing selections from the CD, The Gifts of a Classical Christmas, along with guest artists who are also on the CD. She will be accompanied by Andrew Macirowski, pianist and accompanist, who will also play the Prelude in C by J.S. Bach as part of the concert. Joining Stefanelli will also be Rory Angelicola, tenor, and Sarah Filson, contralto.

According to Stefanclli, “I wanted to provide something for the community as well as give people an opportunity to meet me and the other artists. With this event, I’m hoping that people will take away something more than just attending a CD release event; they will take home an experience they can share with their friends and family and enhance their holidays. Roseland is where I live, I’ve been here for over ten years and I think it is a beautiful community. The Roseland Library provides so much and I wanted to give back.”

Mr. Christopher Lee, director of the Roseland Library, said, “When Annamaria came to me with the idea of releasing her CD in her hometown library I was thrilled. She has performed here before and we always enjoy having her with us. As a matter of fact, Ms. Stefanelli will be performing on February 12th here at the library for Valentine’s Day. We offered this last year and it was a great success.”

A strong advocate of the value of opera and the contribution Italian Americans bring to our society, Ms. Stefanelli included three Italian pieces on the CD: Mille Cherubini in Coro, Gesu Bambino and Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle. She has also dedicated her CD to her parents. “As an opera singer tradition is very important, and Christmas is a time of tradition. I included the Italian songs as a tribute to my heritage and as a way of emphasizing the importance of keeping ties to the past.” Stefanelli said.

Ms. Stefanelli’s active career has included principal operatic roles, concerts, lecture-performances, fundraising events, and festivals, She has performed at Carnegie Hall, the 92nd Street Y, St. Peter’s Church, and the Central Park Concert series in New York City. She has been a featured performing artist for the New Jersey State Opera Guild and the Mercer County (NJ) Italian American Festival, and has appeared with Ira Siff at La Belle Epoch in New York City. She also maintains a voice studio in Roseland, NJ.

Ms. Stefanelli’s CD, The Gifts of a Classical Christmas will be available online after December 11 from cdbaby, the online music store, at cdbaby.com or through Amazon.com. You can also visit Ms. Stefanelli at http://www.annamariastefanelli.com. The website also provides more information about future performances, her opera programs for children, lecture-performances, her voice studio in Roseland, and more. The CD can also be ordered from her website.