On Wednesday, April 18, the same week the Metropolitan Museum of Art debuted its new Greek and Roman galleries, Bulgari took advantage of its status as the underwriter for the opening to host a private dinner that promoted the relaunch of its Fifth Avenue store. The event reflected the roots of the luxury brand (founded in Rome in 1884) with a nod to the historic items in the museum’s classical collection.For a rustic, Bacchanalian-inspired feast in a gardenlike setting, Bulgari imported elements such as ivy, wine, and even chef Elio Sironi from its resort in Milan. Four long rows of tables topped with loose fruit and candelabras draped with grapes echoed traditional Roman banquets. And caterer Olivier Cheng worked closely with Sironi to present a lavish, multiple-dish Northern Italian meal.
The music, however, was not a reference to Rome but to vice chairman Nicola Bulgari’s favorite music, with the Juilliard Jazz Quartet playing throughout the cocktail hour and a performance from jazz pianist Peter Cincotti during dinner.
For the 200-person affair, Bulgari director of external relations Rory Hermelee collaborated with the museum’s special events team, led by Ashley Potter, and its in-house designer Remco van Vliet, as well as freelance production consultant Gretchen Bylow. Hosted by Nicola Bulgari and C.E.O. Francesco Trapani, social types and fashion heavies such as Margherita Missoni, Fern Mallis, Glenda Bailey, Mario Buatta, and Vanessa Weiner von Bismarck attended.
—Anna Sekula
Posted 04.23.07
Photos: Francine Daveta for BizBash
The music, however, was not a reference to Rome but to vice chairman Nicola Bulgari’s favorite music, with the Juilliard Jazz Quartet playing throughout the cocktail hour and a performance from jazz pianist Peter Cincotti during dinner.
For the 200-person affair, Bulgari director of external relations Rory Hermelee collaborated with the museum’s special events team, led by Ashley Potter, and its in-house designer Remco van Vliet, as well as freelance production consultant Gretchen Bylow. Hosted by Nicola Bulgari and C.E.O. Francesco Trapani, social types and fashion heavies such as Margherita Missoni, Fern Mallis, Glenda Bailey, Mario Buatta, and Vanessa Weiner von Bismarck attended.
—Anna Sekula
Posted 04.23.07
Photos: Francine Daveta for BizBash
Custom wood tables, candelabras covered with grapes and ivy imported from San Remo, and touches of greenery set the scene for gardenlike dinner in the Carroll and Milton Petrie European Sculpture Court.
The event’s organizers waited for the museum to close before loading in and setting up the decor; cocktails started at 7 p.m. and dinner began at 8:30 p.m.
Reminiscent of lavish Roman feasts, Bulgari decorated the tabletops with fruit (including blood oranges, Bosc pears, and plums), hurricane lamps, and simple terra-cotta tiles (in place of traditional chargers).
Inspired by Nicola Bulgari’s garden in Rome, Van Vliet & Trap placed artificial boxwood hedges at each end of the dinner area.
Hedges decorated the cocktail area, creating a clean and simple look that drew attention to the architecture of the Great Hall and enclosed unsightly sections like the gift shop.
During the reception, a quartet from Juilliard played jazz; behind them, the staircase glowed with the light from hundreds of votive candles.
