OPENING ACT
After much champagne, caviar and chatter, the doors opened to reveal a ballroom lavishly decorated by florist Solomon Bloemen, who paid homage to the evening’s theme with a spectacular array of orchids arranged around globes of golden chrysanthemums contrasting with smoky mercury vases. Solomon’s inspiration came “from the pure whiteness of the Phalaenopsis orchid, which has the most perfect, shimmering tone that shines from within.” As guests took their seats at the tables they were treated to an opening ballet piece, entitled Torn, choreographed by the critically acclaimed Allen Lam and performed by Hong Kong Ballet alumni Eriko Ochiai and Mike Wang.