Six internationally acclaimed opera artists will come together for the inaugural Christmas Night Opera Gala at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage on December 27. The concert will feature the extraordinary talents of Sondra Radvanovsky (soprano), Thomas Hampson (baritone), Asmik Grigorian (soprano), Nadine Sierra (soprano), Brian Jagde (tenor), and Anita Monserrat (mezzo-soprano), under the direction of Maestro Francesco Lanzillotta conducting the American Symphony Orchestra. The evening promises an exceptional presentation of operatic gems, a beautiful and special musical conclusion to 2025.

This occasion marks the first instance in which these six renowned vocalists, each of whom regularly graces the stages of prestigious opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Wiener Staatsoper, Royal Opera House, Staatsoper Berlin, Opéra National de Paris, and many more, will perform all together in the United States. The gala offers a singular opportunity to experience their collective artistry, celebrating their individual vocal excellence as well as the sublime intimacy and thrilling drama of opera during the festive season.

The vision behind the Christmas Night Opera Gala is deeply connected to the personal journey of producer Eugene Wintour-Irverstag. In 2022, at the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Wintour-Irverstag publicly denounced Russia’s invasion, a stance that resulted in his arrest and subsequent departure from the country. Following his release, he re-established his career across Europe, fostering projects that integrate music, theatre, and dance on an international scale. This Carnegie Hall gala is his first United States production, driven by a commitment to the unifying force of music in times of uncertainty. Underwritten by Winstag Production OÜ, the event aspires to an enduring legacy as an annual concert in a distinguished setting in which to experience the emotional resonance of opera during the Christmas season.

“This concert was created as a new winter tradition for New York — one that brings together both residents and guests from around the world. At the end of the year, we especially value what gives us hope, warmth, and a reminder of the simple human things that matter. Music does this better than anything else: it connects those on stage with those in the audience and creates a shared space where, for a moment, we all feel closer to one another,” stated Wintour-Irverstag. 

The performance will begin with overtures from Rossini’s Guillaume Tell and Ambroise Thomas’s Mignon. A series of solo arias and duets will follow:

• Asmik Grigorian, esteemed for her interpretation of Salome at the Salzburg Festival, will sing Dvorák’s “Song to the Moon” from Rusalka and join Thomas Hampson for the dramatic duet from Verdi’sIl trovatore.
• Thomas Hampson will offer two beloved arias: Verdi’s “Pietà, rispetto, amore” from Verdi’s  Macbeth and  “O du, mein holder Abendstern” from Wagner’s Tannhäuser.
• Sondra Radvanovsky, acclaimed for her portrayals of Verdi heroines, will perform the bolero “Mercé, dilette amiche” from Verdi’s I vespri siciliani and pair with Nadine Sierra for the celebrated “Flower Duet” from Delibes’s Lakmé.
• Nadine Sierra will sing  “Caro nome” from Verdi’s Rigoletto and “Glitter and Be Gay” from Bernstein’s Candide, and will later join Hampson in “Madamigella Valery” from Verdi’s La traviata.
• Anita Monserrat, a rising mezzo-soprano, will lead the evening toward its glorious finale with “Nacqui all’affanno… Non più mesta” from Rossini’s La Cenerentola.
• The gala will conclude with a performance by Radvanovsky and Brian Jagde of “Vicino a te,” the poignant final scene from Umberto Giordano’s Andrea Chénier.

Maestro Francesco Lanzillotta will conduct the performance. Renowned for his collaborations with preeminent European opera houses, Maestro Lanzillotta offers a sophisticated musical approach inspired by both symphonic and operatic traditions. His leadership with distinguished artists has secured his position among outstanding conductors today.

Don’t miss this unique event!

The Christmas Night Opera Gala at Carnegie Hall will take place on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at 8 p.m. Info & tickets 

The Producer and the Featured Artists

Eugene Wintour-Irverstag

Eugene Wintour-Irverstag is an esteemed theatre and music producer whose professional path uniquely connects classical excellence and the contemporary performing arts. At twenty-two, he was appointed as the youngest general producer of a federal theatre in Russia, guiding the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre in Moscow. His international collaborations encompass projects with John Neumeier, Nacho Duato, and Jirí Kylián, as well as tours by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Teatro di San Carlo Orchestra. As an independent producer, Mr. Wintour-Irverstag has partnered with a distinguished roster of artists and organizations, including Jessye Norman, Joyce DiDonato, Anne Sofie von Otter, Kristine Opolais, Asmik Grigorian, Lea Desandre, Jakub Józef Orlinski, Martha Argerich, Gidon Kremer, Mikhail Pletnev, Yefim Bronfman, Jan Lisiecki, and Alexander Malofeev, as well as the Akram Khan Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, and directors such as Robert Wilson and Berlin’s Schaubühne under Thomas Ostermeier. His opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 precipitated his arrest and emigration; he now oversees major international initiatives uniting music, theatre, and dance, with ongoing projects across the Baltic States and Central Europe. The Christmas Night Opera Gala at Carnegie Hall signifies his first production in the United States.

Francesco Lanzillotta

Maestro Francesco Lanzillotta is regarded as one of the foremost conductors of his generation, celebrated for his nuanced symphonic insight and comprehensive command of Italian, German, and contemporary operatic repertoire. His appointments include Principal Conductor of the Toscanini Symphony Orchestra and Musical Director of the Macerata Opera Festival, with performances at esteemed venues such as Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Rossini Opera Festival, and Teatro Regio Torino. Maestro Lanzillotta’s international engagements span the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Wiener Staatsoper, Bayerische Staatsoper, Teatro di San Carlo, Opéra National de Lyon, La Monnaie, Semperoper Dresden, and the Bolshoi Theatre. His repertoire encompasses both established works and contemporary premieres. In 2025, he will make his debut at Carnegie Hall, leading the American Symphony Orchestra for this gala event.

Asmik Grigorian

Soprano Asmik Grigorian is internationally recognized as one of the preeminent artists of the operatic stage. Her career commenced with a notable performance in Madama Butterfly at the Royal Swedish Opera, followed by major roles at the Salzburg Festival, Wiener Staatsoper, Teatro Real Madrid, Bayerische Staatsoper, and Teatro alla Scala. Her portrayal of Salome at Salzburg has attained status as a defining interpretation of the role. Ms. Grigorian’s repertoire spans productions of Elektra, Il trittico, Macbeth, Wozzeck, The Gambler, and Turandot. She performs regularly with leading orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestra di Santa Cecilia, and the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, and tours internationally with pianist Lukas Geniušas.

Thomas Hampson

American baritone Thomas Hampson is acknowledged as one of the most distinguished vocalists of his era, having performed more than 80 operatic roles and recorded over 170 albums, earning accolades including a Grammy Award, Edison Award, and Grand Prix du Disque. Renowned for his advocacy of American song, Mr. Hampson has appeared with the world’s foremost opera companies, including the Metropolitan Opera, Paris Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, and La Monnaie. His engagements for the 2025/26 season include the title role in Nixon in China at the Paris Opera, collaborations with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and a European tour of Winterreise. Recent performances include the National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and the Aspen Music Festival.

Brian Jagde

American tenor Brian Jagde is recognized as one of today’s foremost dramatic voices, admired for his resonant tone and commanding stage presence. Recent roles include Samson in Samson et Dalila at Teatro di San Carlo and Staatsoper Berlin, Canio in Pagliacci at Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, and Don Carlo at the Royal Opera House. He has also appeared as Cavaradossi at Opéra national de Paris and Radamés in Verdi’s Aida at the Metropolitan Opera and Bayerische Staatsoper. Mr. Jagde’s concert performances encompass the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, his New York Philharmonic debut, and recitals throughout the United States. His recordings include Das Lied von der Erde with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and roles in Il tabarro and Cavalleria rusticana (Pentatone).

Sondra Radvanovsky

Soprano Sondra Radvanovsky is acclaimed for her interpretations of Verdi’s principal heroines, including Aida, Norma, Lady Macbeth, Amelia, Leonora, Elisabetta in Don Carlo, Elvira in Ernani, and the eponymous figures in Donizetti’s “Three Queens.” Her career encompasses performances at the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Royal Opera House, Opéra national de Paris, Opernhaus Zürich, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Ms. Radvanovsky’s discography comprises recordings for Delos and Warner Classics, as well as numerous appearances in The Met: Live in HD broadcasts. She has appeared in recital at Carnegie Hall, Barcelona’s Liceu, Aix-en-Provence, and leading venues across Europe and North America.

Anita Monserrat

British mezzo-soprano Anita Monserrat is currently a member of the Wiener Staatsoper Opernstudio and recipient of the 2024/25 Hildegard Zadek Scholarship. Her accolades include First Prize at the SWR Junge Opernstars competition, the Orchesterpreis der Deutschen Radio Philharmonie, Second Prize at the Neue Stimmen competition, and recognition as a semifinalist at the 2024 Operalia competition. Ms. Monserrat has participated in the Salzburg Festival’s Young Singers Project and the International Meistersinger Akademie, and has performed with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, and London Handel Festival, as well as in Bach’s St John Passion at the Barbican Centre. She completed her studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and is represented by Askonas Holt.

Nadine Sierra

Highly praised for her remarkable vocal timbre and luminous stage presence, soprano Nadine Sierra has earned international distinction following notable debuts at the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Paris Opera, and Staatsoper Berlin. She is the recipient of the Richard Tucker Award and the Beverly Sills Artist Award, and records exclusively for Deutsche Grammophon/Universal. Ms. Sierra’s concerts include collaborations with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. Her recital appearances span Carnegie Hall, Teatro Real Madrid, Teatro di San Carlo, and venues throughout Europe, in addition to touring with Andrea Bocelli.

Photo Credits:
Eugene Wintour-Irverstag – Photo by ElenaKononova
Francesco Lanzillotta – Photo courtesy of Francesco Lanzillotta
Asmik Grigorian – Photo by Algirdas Bakas
Thomas Hampson – Photo by Marshall Light Studio
Brian Jagde – Photo by Chris Singer
Anita Montserrat – Photo by Liliya Namisnyk
Sondra Radvanovsky – Photo by Michael Cooper
Nadine Sierra –  Photo courtesy of Nadine Sierra

Top Shutterstock photo by Jeremy Liebman