San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
S.F. OPERA SINGS THE PRAISES OF GUNNS
Cynthia Fry
John Gunn
Gunn.
“It is with great joy that the three of us pay tribute to a couple whose generosity, passion and belief in this company have quite literally catapulted S.F. Opera into world-class excellence,” toasted Gockley.
This sixth An Evening on the Stage honored the Gunns’ philanthropic generosity and cultural leadership with a Crescendo Award. It was hosted by newly elected San Francisco Opera Guild President Mary Poland, with event chairs Kim Dempster and Linle Froeb.
Black-tie guests dined on a delectable McCalls dinner set upon the opera stage transformed into a twinkly winter wonderland thanks to designer J. Riccardo Benavides, who expertly riffed off scenery already in place for “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a new opera by composer Jake Heggie.
“The Gunns are amazing and truly love opera: The company stands on that pillar of excellence because of their generosity,” said Heggie, who’s new work benefited from the couple’s beneficence.
A live auction raised funds for the guild’s free musiceducation programs. And soprano Golda Schultz wowed the crowd with a Puccini aria and a song from her native South Africa.
Gunn, an EssEff native who joined the Opera board in 2002, traces his love of the art form to high school where he met Ronald Adler. The two teens attended dress rehearsals under the leadership of Ronald’s dad, former Opera General Director Kurt Herbert Adler.
In 2008 the Gunns, who met at Stanford University, committed a historic $40 million gift — the largest ever given by individual donors to an American opera company.
They’ve also underwritten numerous productions — a sort of S.F. Opera greatest hits, including “Porgy and Bess,” “Dream of the Red Chamber,” “The Ring Cycle” and next year’s premiere of “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.”
“Amy Tan’s ‘Bonesetter’s Daughter’ was the first time we had people outside scalping tickets,” recalled John Gunn, with a laugh.
After numerous tributes, it was no surprise as the Opera Chorus took the stage belting out Handel’s “Zadok the Priest.” Better known as the rousing British anthem, it contains that famous line, tweaked to honor the Gunns: “God Save the King ... and Queen.”
Not surprisingly, this duo were the first up on their feet to applaud.
Second act: It was a really big show for American Conservatory Theater as supporters officially welcomed ACT’s new Artistic Director Pam MacKinnon and new executive director Jennifer Bielstein during the Fall Celebration at ACT trustee Ken Fulk’s St. Joseph’s Arts Society.
The evening featured a seated Paula LeDuc dinner and lively Sheila E. concert that raised $900K for ACT’s training, education and community programs. But first, ACT’s new leaders received verbal standing O’s from such luminaries as actors Ellen Burstyn and Judd Hirsch, both grateful recipients of MacKinnon’s direction.
“Pam embodies my four favorite qualities of a director,” Burstyn said. “She’s wildly talented; she’s a real leader; she knows how to work with people and brings out the best in them.”
Berkeley Rep Managing Director Susie Medak hailed Bielstein’s great listening skills and collaborative spirit: “She’s a powerhouse, and you’re going to love Jennifer!”
With both MacKinnon and Bielstein sailing this ship, actor BD Wong is certain ACT now has the potential to showcase tremendous magic.
And actor Hirsch reminded MacKinnon that he hopes she hires him for a future production.
Rock on: Standing barefoot in the swanky penthouse of the Fairmont Hotel, musician and his wife, jewelry designer welcomed VIPs prior to their third Rocker’s Ball.
Two hundred guests at this dinner-concert (organized by Kelley O’Brien) and auction (led by lively Liam Mayclem) raised $589K for Franti’s Do it For the Love Foundation, a nonprofit the couple founded to grant musical wishes to people in advanced stages of life-threatening illness.
Five years ago, Franti and his wife received a Twitter message at a concert from a fan who shared that her husband had advanced stages of ALS but that before he died, he hoped to attend one of Franti’s shows.
“They were on the side of the stage at our Bottle Rocket show when he whispered to his wife he wanted to dance,” recalls Franti. “She picks him up from his wheelchair and they had a beautiful slow dance as the audience cheered them on. He told me that moment allowed him to become ‘Steve’ again.”
Since then the Frantis have fulfilled 2,000 wishes at concerts all over the U.S. They also work with hospitals, hospices, related organizations and other musicians.
Levi Strauss once again partnered with the foundation, providing signature Rocker Ball jean jackets to VIP guests. And since the ball occurred during the devastating Butte County fires, the foundation also donated $5K to assist fire victims.
I’ve long admired Franti — a passionate advocate of social justice causes and a Bay Area music scene OG, who jokes he was born “back east” in Oakland and “migrated” to San Francisco in 1984.
But I’ve never understood his “no shoes” stance and figured this was my chance. Apparently, I’m not the only one.
“Everybody asks that,” he said with a laugh. “I stopped wearing shoes on my birthday in 2000. I was traveling in a lot of countries where people couldn’t afford shoes. I came back to San Francisco and tried it for three days to see what it’s like. And in solidarity with those people I met, I haven’t worn shoes since.”
Catherine Bigelow is The San Francisco Chronicle’s society correspondent. Email: missbigelow@sfgate.com Instagram: @missbigelow S.F. Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock (left) with honorees Cynthia Fry Gunn and her husband, Opera Board chairman John Gunn. New S.F. Opera Guild President Mary Poland and her husband, Bill Poland, at An Evening on the Stage, which honored the Gunns. S.F. Opera Guild member Farah Makras and her husband, S.F. Port Commissioner Victor Makras (left), with previous Crescendo honoree Charlotte Shultz. American Conservatory Theater Artistic Director Pam MacKinnon (left) and ACT Executive Director Jennifer Bielstein at ACT’s Fall Celebration. Actors Ellen Burstyn and Judd Hirsch at ACT’s Fall Celebration welcoming its two new directors.