BizBash
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
Topics
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
  • Industry Buzz
  • BizBash Lists
Resources
  • On-Demand
  • White Papers & E-Books
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • Events
  • Awards
  • Subscribe
User Tools
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Get Featured
  • Press Releases
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Subscribe to Magazine
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
  • On-Demand
  • White Papers & E-Books
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • Events
  • Awards
  • Subscribe
  1. Catering & Design
  2. Florals

Viva Italia

For its opening-night gala, the Los Angeles Opera transformed the Music Center Plaza into a setting evocative of an Italian town square.

Irene Lacher
September 9, 2008

With Los Angeles Opera's opening weekend celebration to kick off its 2008-2009 season, general director Plácido Domingo's collaborations with Hollywood directors reached a crescendo. The weekend featured classic and new works performed back to back, directed by three film industry giants: William Friedkin, David Cronenberg, and Woody Allen, in his maiden voyage on the opera stage.

Longtime board of directors gala chairwoman Mary Hayley designed the weekend of parties, and Jill Michnick, assistant director of development for special events, executed it with the help of Special Occasions Inc., which constructed the Italianate town square-style setting for Saturday's opening-night gala.

In a subtle nod to the film directors' usual milieu, the red carpet for the first event was edged with six-foot-high topiary letters spelling out the title of that evening's opera, "Il Trittico" by Puccini. The topiary touch was inspired by Vanity Fair's ficus formations in the shape of the magazine's name at its legendary Oscar party. "Il Trittico" (the triptych) is a collection of three one-act works, directed by Friedkin and Allen. The gala dinner that followed took its cue from Puccini's native Italy, where the operas take place.

The party took to the Music Center Plaza, which was enclosed by hedgerows. The entrance was flanked by Mark's Garden's majestic 10-foot-high arrangements of sunflowers and yellow and white roses. The cheery hue lit up the party interior as well, with smaller flower arrangements and gold-rimmed crystal and china topping butter-colored raw-silk cloths.

Tables for 530 guests surrounded a square formed by Romanesque arches uplit with soft, amber illumination; along the upper curves, the operas names appeared in lights, actually white neon letters created by Images by Lighting. Stretching out from each arch was a dance floor, for a total of four. Inside the arches, a four-piece band rotated slowly on a platform as it played standards designed to get the black-tie crowd on its feet.

Michnick said the point of the central design was to make each guest, who'd paid at least $1,500 for a seat, feel as though he or she had a good table. Along those lines, board chairman Marc Stern made remarks at one end of the party and then tossed the microphone to Domingo on the opposite side of the arches, where he introduced the evening's cast. “I want everyone to feel part of the party,” Michnick said.

Guests dined on a supper worthy of an Italian tenor, with an antipasti plate, pumpkin raviolini, filet of beef and a quartet of sweets, including a passion fruit panna cotta.

Sunday afternoon featured the U.S. premiere of Howard Shore's "The Fly," directed by Cronenberg and based on his 1987 science-fiction film. The new opera has a dark, gritty feel that wouldn't necessarily inspire a gala garden-party lunch such as the one for 170 that preceded the performance on the enclosed plaza.

Organizers instead connected the two events only loosely, using a “masculine” palette, as Michnick described it. Twilight hues of cobalt blue and purple visually tied the tablecloths with lush flower arrangements of roses, hydrangeas, and hyacinths. Market umbrellas shielded guests from the midday sun as they sipped Laetitia Vineyard wines and grazed on farmers market summer bean salad, rosemary foccaccia tarts, an Ahi tuna salade nicoise, and jumbo pasta shells with handmade ricotta.

The opera's Italianate gala
The opera's Italianate gala
Photo: Alen Lin for BizBash
The opening-night gala got a look reminiscent of an Italian town square.
The opening-night gala got a look reminiscent of an Italian town square.
Photo: Alen Lin for BizBash
Hedgerows enclosed the Music Center Plaza for the gala.
Hedgerows enclosed the Music Center Plaza for the gala.
Photo: Alen Lin for BizBash
Flower arrangements and gold-rimmed crystal and china topped buttery raw-silk tablecloths.
Flower arrangements and gold-rimmed crystal and china topped buttery raw-silk tablecloths.
Photo: Alen Lin for BizBash
Soft, amber illumination shone on Romanesque arches.
Soft, amber illumination shone on Romanesque arches.
Photo: Alen Lin for BizBash
Latest in Florals
Inside the New York Botanical Garden’s 2025 Orchid Dinner
Florals
See Inside New York Botanical Garden’s 2025 Orchid Dinner—Celebrating Mexican Modernism
Robertson’s Flowers & Events scored the second-highest amount of points in the Floral category with its exhibit, 'Tending Our Roots.' The design takes inspiration from the proverb, 'One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade.” The 'tree of life' figure in the center is drawn from a real-world park in Singapore focused on sustainability and is meant to symbolize the efforts of the current generation in planting seeds for a future filled with environmental benefits. Beneath the canopy is a cityscape 'where our roots connect us through a common weave under the promise of a shared sunrise,' the Robertson's team shared on social media.
Florals
11 Futuristic Floral Designs From the 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show
Speaking of Coachella, at the festival's annual Neon Carnival, sponsor Tequila Don Julio grabbed attention with an oversize, succulent-filled version of its logo, produced by NVE Experience Agency. See more: Coachella 2022: Peek Inside the Festival's Buzziest Parties & Brand Activations
Florals
12 Stunning Floral Installations That Are Sure to Spark Event Design Inspiration
IllExotics
Florals
10 Inspiring Floral Designs From the Philadelphia Flower Show—Just in Time for Spring
Related Stories
Glenn Stiskal
Florals
BAM Sets the Stage With Fleurs Bella
Jennifer Zimmerman
Florals
National Ballet of Canada Trusts Terrain Flowers
Procter & Gamble's fashion-focused launch
Florals
Wash and Wear
The Washington Area Concierge Association white garden gala
Florals
White Hot
More in Florals
Florals
See Inside New York Botanical Garden’s 2025 Orchid Dinner—Celebrating Mexican Modernism
The Plaza’s Grand Ballroom was in full bloom for the event, which supports global plant research, conservation, and education.
Inside the New York Botanical Garden’s 2025 Orchid Dinner
Florals
11 Futuristic Floral Designs From the 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show
The nation’s largest horticultural event returned with the theme "Gardens of Tomorrow."
Robertson’s Flowers & Events scored the second-highest amount of points in the Floral category with its exhibit, 'Tending Our Roots.' The design takes inspiration from the proverb, 'One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade.” The 'tree of life' figure in the center is drawn from a real-world park in Singapore focused on sustainability and is meant to symbolize the efforts of the current generation in planting seeds for a future filled with environmental benefits. Beneath the canopy is a cityscape 'where our roots connect us through a common weave under the promise of a shared sunrise,' the Robertson's team shared on social media.
Florals
12 Stunning Floral Installations That Are Sure to Spark Event Design Inspiration
Talk about flower power. These gorgeous displays of bright blooms and sultry succulents can help unleash your creativity for your next event.
Speaking of Coachella, at the festival's annual Neon Carnival, sponsor Tequila Don Julio grabbed attention with an oversize, succulent-filled version of its logo, produced by NVE Experience Agency. See more: Coachella 2022: Peek Inside the Festival's Buzziest Parties & Brand Activations
Florals
10 Inspiring Floral Designs From the Philadelphia Flower Show—Just in Time for Spring
The nation’s largest horticultural event returned this year—back indoors—with an electric theme.
IllExotics
Florals
See These Inventive Centerpieces from the New York Botanical Garden's Orchid Dinner
The fundraiser celebrated the annual Orchid Show with opulent tablescapes that showcased the elegant flower.
FlowerSchool NY & LA
Florals
The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad Celebrated Its Floral Partnership with a Rosy Affair
FLOWERBX, the new exclusive floral partner of The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, celebrated their partnership with a floral-themed, intimate evening.
The Ritz-Carlton New York's Intimate Dinner Celebration
Most Popular
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Cannes Lions 2025: 90+ Bold Builds and Big Ideas From the French Festival of Creativity
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
50 Cool Event Ideas You May Have Missed From Liquid I.V., Martha Stewart, Foot Locker, and More
Sports
Fanatics Fest 2025: This Mega Celebration of Sports Fandom Returned For a Bigger, Bolder Second Year
Industry Insiders
Inside the Build: How Bellagio Fountain Club Delivers F1® Weekend’s Most Luxurious Hospitality Experience
Brands & Event Pros
Industry Innovators 2025: 10 Brands That Took Experiential Marketing to a Whole New Level
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Gov Ball 2025: 25+ Eye-Catching Brand Activations From the NYC Music Festival
Florals
How the Philadelphia Flower Show Bloomed Bigger and Better in 2022
This year’s event celebrated the restorative and healing power of nature and plants with more offerings and activities.
This year's show featured the work of landscape architects, garden designers, and florists, with an emphasis on diversity both in the demographics of exhibitors, including more female exhibitors than ever before, and in their unique designs.
Florals
7 Ways Event Planners Can Navigate the Current Flower Shortage
Struggling farms, supply chain slowdowns and an influx of rescheduled events have created a ‘perfect storm’ in the floral industry. Here’s what event planners should consider as they vet floral vendors right now.
“The floral industry is in a really unique space right now,” explain Danielle Flores-Gary and Katie Hartman, co-owners of Floral Crush, a Los Angeles-based floral design studio that has worked on high-profile events for clients like Event Eleven, Gina Wade Creative and NBCUniversal. (Pictured: a Floral Crush-designed display at Rosé Day L.A. in 2019.)
Florals
See This Summer's Floral Trends—From Anthuriums to Zinnias
Here’s what floral designers are working with this season.
“Dried flowers are coming back this year after a long hiatus. They will be popular for design due to their longevity, deep rich colors and added visual texture. Among the many popular dried flowers making a comeback are mini pampas grass, star grass, avena and helichrysum, which will be a popular species that designers are leaning towards integrating into arrangements with live flowers.” —Seth Pearsoll, director of design, shows and events for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (Pictured: The Samantha from East Olivia's spring collection)
Florals
Event Design Inspiration: 10 Over-the-Top Floral Installations
Steal some ideas for your spring and summer soirees from these larger-than-life floral arrangements seen at past events.
In 2018, Luxe Linen asked local designers and florists to create a tablescape around a swatch of fabric from its colorful new line of linens. Held for the first time at the Petersen Automotive Museum’s rooftop, the product launch drew more than 400 high-end event planners, designers, florists, members of the media and more. Designed around Luxe’s bright new Riley linen, this vibrant, summery table was a team-up between Jennifer Naylor Catering & Special Events and Mark’s Garden. See more: Get Inspired by 15 Colorful Twists on a Tropical Theme
Sponsored
Event Planners Are Thinking Micro To Bring Back Live Events
Coastal Cool - One of many hyper-curated tablescapes from Hestia Harlow, the newly launched event platform that's creating a revolution in our industry.
Florals
How These Industry Pros Are Keeping the Flower Business Blooming
From DIY kits to pop-up markets, find out how some event designers and florists are pivoting during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Visitors to the pop-ups actually thank us for being there, and you can see on their faces just how happy it makes them to see these gardens appear in their neighborhoods,” says Tom Kehoe about Kehoe Designs' Green Market Gardens.
Page 1 of 49
Next Page
BizBash
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  1. Privacy Policy
  2. CCPA: Do Not Sell My Personal Info
  3. Contact Us
  4. Site Map
© 2025 Connect Biz, LLC. All rights reserved.