Renée Fleming Joins Top American A-Listers For Charity Gala

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Renée Fleming joined high-ranking celebrities for a good cause last night in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. The charity event, "SeriousFun Children's Network 2015 New York Gala: An Evening Of SeriousFun Celebrating the Legacy Of Paul Newman," included entertainers David Letterman, George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Danny Devito, Carole King, Tom Hanks, Natalie Cole, and more. Learn more about the charity by clicking here. See more pictures after the jump.

Tamar Iveri Plans Charity Concert For Violence Victims

"A Georgian opera singer plans a charity concert dedicated to gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities. Tamar Iveri’s announcement in Tbilisi on Thursday comes after she was denied to perform by Opera Australia and La Monnaie of Brussels because of her alleged homophobic statements. Speaking at a press conference, Iveri said that the concert is a way to once again apologize to LGBT people for the letter which was posted to her Facebook page after the anti-gay violence on May 17, 2013. The planned concert will take place in Tbilisi on October 11, which is the National Coming Out Day (NCOD). Iveri added that the concert is to be dedicated to the victims of all kinds of violence and called on other Georgian artists to also participate. The money made on the charity concert will be spent on assisting victims of violence." [Source]

Sumi Jo Donates US$10,000 To Unicef After Philippines Recital

"Korean soprano Sumi Jo held music lovers in the palm of her hand during her Manila debut at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura in Taguig City. Voice teachers, classical singers, choral directors, pianists, theater directors, students and voice enthusiasts had earlier filled up the hall, eager to listen to the Korean diva, the pride of Asia. The concert was presented by the Korean Cultural Center, Edsa Shangri-La and Steinway Boutique Manila for the benefit of victims of Typhoon 'Yolanda.' The diva performed a bouquet of operatic arias from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary eras; as well as classical, Korean folk and Broadway songs. She immediately revealed her vocal might with her opening song, Henry Bishop’s 'Lo, Here the Gentle Lark,' for which she got a thunderous applause from the audience. The voice is of world-class quality, unmistakably honed in the bel canto style of singing. 'Beautiful singing,” the literal translation of the style, emphasizes the voice as the most expressive element in singing, especially in opera. Through a rigorous honing of a dynamic technique, singers of the bel canto style effortlessly intone elegant, velvety melodic lines that are well-kept in the same passage. To bring out the innate beauty of the human voice is the chief concern of such a style so necessary to express the dramatic import of the musical piece....Sumi Jo presented a facsimile check of the P450,000 donation to Margaret Sheehan, chief field officer of Unicef. She deserves to be heard again in Manila!" [Source]

Tony Bennett to Storm MET Opera House With Famous Pals

"When Tony Bennett makes his debut at his sold out performance at the Metropolitan Opera House on Sunday, September 18, he will be joined by Aretha Franklin, Sir Elton John and Alejandro Sanz for special duet appearances. Franklin, John and Sanz all recorded with Bennett for his Duets CD projects: Elton John appeared on the first CD, DUETS in 2006; and Aretha Franklin and Alejandro Sanz recorded with the singer for the forthcoming follow up CD, DUETS II, set for release on Tuesday, September 20. The evening at the Metropolitan Opera will also mark the official celebration of Tony's 85th birthday where he will be honored at a post-concert gala hosted by Alec Baldwin. The gala is a benefit for Exploring the Arts, the non-profit organization started by Bennett and his wife Susan, to support arts education in public schools. Over $2.5M has been raised for the evening thus far. Among the celebrated guests expected to attend the concert and gala are: Richard Gere, Bruce Willis, Katie Couric, Aretha Franklin, Matthew Broderick, Martha Stewart, Joy and Regis Philbin, Jane and Mitch Winehouse, among others. Through underwriting from HBO, the SRO seating at the Met Opera will be

The Evening's Host: Alec Baldwin

distributed to students from around area schools, including the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, a NYC public arts high school founded by Tony Bennett. Charity Buzz will close their bidding tomorrow on their auction of a unique "Breakfast At Tiffany with Tony Bennett" in-store event that also includes tickets to Tony's Metropolitan Opera concert and birthday gala, a personalized Tony Bennett giclee art print, as well as a $10,000 Tiffany private shopping experience and tour of the famed store. The "Breakfast at Tiffany" package was donated by Tiffany & Co. in support of Exploring the Arts, and is available exclusively on charity buzz at www.charitybuzz.com/tonybennett." [Source]

Opera Singers Give Relief Concert For New Zealand Victims

From left to right: Taddei, O'Neill, Cole, Makisi
(Photo: Marion Dijk/Nelson Mail)

"Soprano Aivale Cole jokes that she usually travels on the bus, so it was nice to be greeted by a couple of gleaming classic cars when she arrived at Nelson Airport yesterday for Opera in the Park tonight. The opera star was on the same flight from Wellington as tenors Ben Makisi and Simon O'Neill and conductor Marc Taddei. The singers, draped with leis in honour of the Samoan tsunami relief fundraiser, travelled in style to their accommodation in a 1958 Buick Special and a 1961 Studebaker Hawk. The performers said it was bittersweet to be singing in Nelson after the devastating Christchurch earthquake, but all were looking forward to providing some relief through song. 'A poignant evening,' was how O'Neill described tonight's show – and everyone agreed. 'I'm really glad that we've come here,' Cole said. 'A lot of Christchurch people are here just to get away and they're probably still thinking about their homes.'" [Source]