An evening where opera, cinema, diplomacy and international society converge beneath the chandeliers of Ca’ Sagredo
VENICE, ITALY — 11 SEPTEMBER 2026
There are cities that provide a backdrop, and there are cities that become part of the performance. Venice belongs unmistakably to the second category. On 11 September, as the international attention of the Venice International Film Festival turns toward the lagoon, award-winning soprano Alina Zamalieva will bring the timeless language of opera to Ca’ Sagredo, transforming one of Venice’s most distinguished historic palaces into a stage for an evening inspired by the spirit of La Dolce Vita. With more than 15 awards to her name, Zamalieva’s career has taken her through European opera and concert stages, from Vienna and Prague to Busseto and Switzerland. A graduate of the Zhiganov State Conservatory in Kazan and former soloist of the Tukai State Philharmonic, she became a laureate of the Covent Garden Opera Competition in collaboration with the London City Philharmonic and received First Prize at the VI International Music Festival in Vienna. Her artistic path was further shaped at the Belcanto Academy under legendary Italian soprano Mirella Freni, whose career encompassed La Scala, Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera.
At Ca’ Sagredo, Zamalieva’s voice will become one of the defining
signatures of an evening designed to move effortlessly between tradition and
contemporary culture. Her repertoire — including Violetta in Verdi’s La
Traviata and the Countess in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro —
brings the grandeur of European opera into a setting where frescoes, Venetian
architecture and the Grand Canal replace the conventional concert hall. 
The
programme will continue with Yuri and Ksenia Wheelman, creators of
Wheelman Duo and Couture Crossover, whose work combines powerful vocals,
cinematic music, movement and visual storytelling. Their artistic partnership
began at the Bolshoi Theatre and has since travelled from Monte-Carlo to
Cannes. Rezeda Kalimullina will introduce another dimension through
soul, jazz and pop, drawing on 25 years of stage experience and mentorship from
multiple Grammy-nominated artist Karen Edwards, who has performed with
Stevie Wonder, Prince and Tony Bennett.
The guest list reflects the same international breadth. Eric Adams, the 110th Mayor of New York City from 2022 to 2025, will join Laurent Anselmi, President of the Monaco Sea Academy, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and later Chief of Staff to H.S.H. Prince Albert II. Egyptian actress Caroline Azmi will bring the perspective of contemporary cinema and television, while Massimiliano Giobergia, General Manager of Cosmetic Tailors, the principal private-label division of BEAUTICON VALLEY, will represent Italy’s international beauty industry. Lidia Weber, Director of Special Projects at Oliver Weber Collection, will present the Austrian jewellery house as Official Jewellery Partner, showcasing its Dolce Vita Collection created with Swarovski crystals. The international circle will also include Alisa Roever, founder of Angels Helpers Foundation, and Al Kash, whose projects span media, publishing, entertainment, talent management and luxury events.
Behind the evening is a philosophy of connection developed by Thomas
Misse and Marek Harmony of Royal Gentlemen Club together with Anna
Stukkert, founder and president of the Congress Awards. Their vision goes
beyond the traditional gala format: rather than separating art from influence, La
Dolce Vita places opera, cinema, diplomacy, entrepreneurship, philanthropy
and luxury culture within the same conversation. 
The Congress Awards
brings an established international legacy to the occasion, with events held in
Munich, Berlin, Monaco, Paris, Cannes and Davos and more than 4,000
participants from 29 countries connected since 2016. Its 20th edition was celebrated
in Cannes in 2026.
For Alina Zamalieva, Venice offers a particularly resonant stage. Here, the heritage of Italian opera meets the glamour of international cinema; centuries of artistic tradition meet a contemporary audience shaped by global culture.
At Ca’ Sagredo, her voice will stand at the centre of an evening where performance becomes encounter and elegance becomes a language of its own. La Dolce Vita is ultimately about more than a celebration of style. It is a celebration of people, artistry and the rare moments when different worlds meet — beneath Venetian chandeliers, beside the Grand Canal, and in the presence of a voice capable of carrying the grandeur of opera into a new era.
ROYAL GENTLEMEN GALA DINNER AND CONGRESS AWARDS
La Dolce Vita | Venice
Friday, 11 September 2026 | 6.30 pm
Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, Venice | Black Tie
https://royalgentlemen.fr/products/untitled-jul27_20-04-57
Royal Gentlemen Club | Thomas Misse and Marek Harmony | Congress Awards founded by Anna Stukkert | Official Jewellery Partner Oliver Weber Collection
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