Duchess of York gets the royal treatment during Houston visit.
It’s not every day that royalty touches down in the Lone Star State. Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, was in town for Virtuosi of Houston’s gala concert and dinner, so Bayou City socials planned accordingly.
The duchess’ jam-packed schedule began with a dinner hosted by Sallymoon Benz and Dr. Alan Bentz. Donae Cangelosi Chramosta and her daughter, Bella Chramosta, hosted high tea at Tony’s the following afternoon for 50 Virtuosi of Houston supporters, including Alicia Maguire Smith, Deborah Duncan, Mandy
Kao and Duyen Nguyen. “The best thing that happened the entire day was when the Duchess, who was seated behind this long head table, crawled underneath the table, just so that she could greet everyone,” Donae says. “She was wearing this amazing scarf from one of her charities (Key to Freedom). That’s what surprised me about her the most — how warm she was.”
The Duchess, or “Fergie” to her friends, got her second taste of Tony’s on Friday evening. Brian Teichman and Andrew Cordes opened their residence to a private audience in honor of renowned interiors and perfume authority Clive Christian and his daughter, Victoria Christian, who are fellow Brits and longtime friends of the Duchess. Lynn Wyatt, Carolyn Farb, Bobby and Wezy Dees, Tony Bradfield and Kevin Black
and Sylvia Forsythe were included on the intimate list of invitees.
A thank-you note from the Duchess following the meal read, “I’ve never eaten such a cheese soufflé, ever.”
The small, festive gathering included Teichman’s signature flaming baked Alaska, a surprise performance by a Houston Symphony keyboardist and a Richard Flowers’ (Events Company) tablescape inspired by the duchess’ family crest.
On Saturday night, the main event, Virtuosi of Houston pulled out all the stops at the Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston.
Mini fish and chips, Welsh rarebit and Scottish salmon (this was a “Celebrating the United Kingdom”-themed soiree, after all) circulated inside the sold-out space. For the program, chairs Donna Vallone and Staci and Dr.
Quang Henderson took turns introducing honorees
Margaret Alkek Williams, Monzer Hourani, Andrew Derry, Crispin Ward, the Christians and the Duchess.
“This is like the Oscars, right? I only have 30 seconds to speak? Well, too bad. I’m a redhead, and I do what I want,” she joked good-naturedly.
In between prawns, Beef Wellington and a chocolate crown, more than eight musical selections were performed by Virtuosi of Houston’s young chamber orchestra instrumentalists.
After the final piece, “A Beatles Symphony,” Zarine
Boyce proudly announced the organization’s record-breaking funds raised: $400,000.
Wyatt hosted a farewell brunch for the Duchess and the Christians on Mother’s Day at her River Oaks home. Guests reportedly sipped champagne and chilled asparagus soup before rounds of smoked salmon and apple tarts with crème fraîche.
Who else but our own steel magnolia could orchestrate such a royal send-off ?