MARIA CALLAS TRIBUTE PRIZE NEW YORK INAUGURAL AWARDS

To celebrate the birth and legacy of Opera legend Maria Callas, Melos International’s CEO
Dante Mariti presents an operatic concert and awards ceremony, bestowing the prestigious
“Callas Tribute Prize NY” upon women who prominently stand out for their achievements in
realms of art, theatre, fashion, social involvement and of course music. Global dignitaries,
prize recipients and renowned performers will gather for the exclusive event at Columbia
University’s historic Italian Academy in New York on the 25th of November at 6 P.M. This date
was specifically selected, as it pays homage to Callas and award winners on the “International
Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women”. A nostalgic fashion exhibition of
Maria Callas costumes will complement the musical extravaganza. The entire production
will be filmed for a TV special to be broadcast on World-vision.
A Press Conference will be held earlier that day, November 25 at 11 A.M. on Manhattan’s Upper
East Side at Terence Cardinal Cook Hospital (where Callas was born). Melos International will
launch the Awards Tribute Gala Night while commemorating the December 2, 1923 birth of
Maria Callas, with participation from hospital officials, local authorities, international celebrities
and sponsors.
Emcees for the Awards Program focus the spotlight on actress and model Eleonora Pieroni
and actor Vincenzo Bocciarelli. Award recipients include the following luminaries:
 The famous Italian soprano singer Katia Ricciarelli
 The great international soprano singer Sumi Jo
 Hollywood actress Siena Rose Miller
 Founder of Sergio Franchi Music Foundation and producer of memorial concerts in his
honor Eva Franchi
 Executive Director of the National Council Auditions of the NY MET Melissa Wegner
 The young soprano singer main guest of the Metropolitan Opera Jessica Faselt
 Miss World actress Valeria Altobelli
 Mezzosoprano Alicja Wegorzewska, Warsaw’s Chamber Opera director
 Vocalist/actress Chinese Canadian Lu Ye
 The young soprano singer Diana Gouglina
 International Opera manager Claudio Ferri
 The Mithos Opera Festival from Sicily’s Region in memory of Franco Zeffirelli, managed
by M° Gianfranco Pappalardo Fiumara and director Nino Strano
 Association for social development #IoCosì ’s CEO Sara Manfuso
 Rome Teatro dell’Opera’s counselor and cultural promoter Francesca Chialà
 Journalist Silvia Bizio
 Italian Chef Paola Aranci
The concert features some of the Prize Winners in performance, as well as many other artists
on stage:
 pianist Gianfranco Pappalardo Fiumara
 tenor Roberto Cresca
 tenor James Valenti
 pianist Sabrina Trojse
 saxophonist Mimmo Malandra
 Pop singer Dan
 Actress Vanessa Innocenti
Promoters and Sponsors (as of press time) who have made the event possible are: Ravello’s
Municipality, who will deliver the prestigious recognition “Wagner Award for the Lyrical
Contest”, Mithos Foundation linked to Sicily’s Region, Evergreen Jade Entertainment
Inc., Alessandro Condurro (Antica Pizzeria da Michele), Angelo Terzo (Passione di Sofi),
Francesco Marra (Marra Forni) the Moscow fashion house, ANNA LY that will dedicate some
of her creations to Maria Callas..
Dante Mariti, the creative force who spearheads Melos International Productions as Founder,
CEO and Executive Producer, conceived the “Callas Tribute Prize NY”. The 2019 inaugural
event is produced in collaboration with author Tommaso Cennamo, Luigi Gallo, journalist
Luigi Liberti of Patrimonio Italiano TV, cinematographer Gianluca Fiore, International
Cultural Ambassador Lexye Aversa (LEX Travel), and Public Relations team Christina Petrakis
and Ekaterina Shevlyakova.
Special gratitude to Eva Franchi, for her support through the Sergio Franchi Foundation
presenting scholarships to young lyrical singers. Partial proceeds from the evening will be
donated to support those efforts.
Appreciation is extended for the design of the award, an original work of art portraying Maria
Callas, created by the artist Francesco Forte, “Il Forte dell’Arte” studio.