S.F. Opera:
Thousands work together to pull off gala, a momentary respite from world’s trouble
Glam, glitter and great music mark gala weekend. Complete coverage of productions, fashions.
What’s the saying? There’s no “I” in team — and America has proved that in recent weeks, pulling together in times of need. Teamwork, it turns out, is also a major component of a season opening night, and the San Francisco Opera’s 95th Opera Ball was no exception. More than 3,000 people gathered Friday, Sept. 8, for a Champagne promenade, big-ticket dinners, a performance of Puccini’s Chinese-themed “Turandot” and a postshow dance party. More than twice as many had a hand in making it possible — not counting dozens of Opera Guild members; 250 employees (and cast members); and 100 servers and cooks at McCalls Catering and 42 at Ideas, the decor company that erected a lavish “Imperial Palace” dinner tent. “One of the often-overlooked things is the community effort required to maintain an opera of this stature — behind the Opera are nearly 8,000 households that annually come together to support the Opera financially, aside from buying tickets,” Opera Association President Keith Geeslin said as the cocktail hour in the foyer of the War Memorial Opera House got under way. “It definitely takes a village,” said Courtney Labe, who co-chaired the gala with Maryam Mu-
duroglu. (The Bravo dinner for young professionals was chaired by Victoria Weatherford and Alex Petalas.)
But every team has its stars. Among those named in Opera Board Chairman John Gunn’s preperformance remarks from stage were philanthropist Bernard Osher, who became an Opera supporter in 1969, served on the board for 20 years and sponsored 75 productions. (Osher brought a small village to the Opera — 90 guests, to celebrate his 90th birthday, who arrived by motor coach.) Another shoutout went to Dede Wilsey, for her 12th year as sponsor of the opening night production and for being a sponsor of Opera in the Park, as well as for providing flower garlands for the box horseshoe. And most notable among those lauded was Music Director Nicola Luisotti, who — in his ninth and final year on the podium— received the San Francisco Opera Medal, the company’s highest honor, for his musical achievements.
The gala is the Opera’s main fundraiser each year, supporting music education to 60,000 schoolchildren annually, and is the kickoff to a weekend in which General Director Matthew Shilvock said an estimated 20,000 people are provided a chance to “celebrate the human spirit through incredibly transcendent works of art,” both in the concert hall and outdoors.
While other parts of the country dealt with the effects of hurricanes, and neighboring Mexico experienced a major earthquake, was the high-style celebration the right note to hit?
Former Secretary of State George Shultz, attending with wife Charlotte, thought so.
“The people in the danger zones came together, and we sent delegations to help,” said Shultz, in a top hat, white tie and tails. “We don’t put our heads down, locally. We go to the opera and enjoy it.”
Ditto for composer and philanthropist Gordon Getty. “What do I think of music at a time of crisis? That’s when you need it most,” Getty said. “Music and poetry are why the human race is worth saving.”
Luisotti, in accepting his award onstage, encouraged the audience to continue supporting the arts and joked about his black hair turning gray during the past decade — “Perhaps it was the fog?” — but was serious in alluding to global political turmoil when he said, “The world is full of stupid things. Music fills our lives and souls so deeply.”
And so, the community of opera lovers turned aside from the world, for a night, and took in “Turandot,” depicting a prince’s quest for love. Its setting in China was a springboard for the dinner by McCalls, with a crab and green papaya salad, and an entree with beef and ginger flavors. The tent, styled by events man Riccardo Benavides of Ideas, was not done in red (seen onstage) but in saffron hues, with accents of red and sapphire blue, in a nod to the blue eyes of Charlot Malin, a former Opera Guild president who died after a sudden illness in March. Arts patrons Mary Poland and venture capitalist Deepa Pakianathan made their own personal tribute, wearing custom gowns by Malin’s favorite designer, Keyna Aranguren Hoff of Norway.
“She knew we had her back, always, and would support her 110 percent,” Poland said. “The spirit of the American culture is part of the fiber of San Francisco. We’re there for our friends, our family — anybody who needs help. It’s in our DNA.”
As we said, teamwork.
“What do I think of music at a time of crisis? That’s when you need it most. Music and poetry are why the human race is worth saving.” Gordon Getty, composer and philanthropist