On the evening of March 8, everything was in place for the Chicago Opera Theater's annual gala—besides the opera. Soprano Carol Vaness, who was to perform that evening, had to cancel her appearance due to an untimely flu. So while 285 opera supporters sipped cocktails and bid on silent auction items, Canadian mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó was on a flight from Toronto, headed to the Ritz-Carlton Chicago.
"Our general director, Brian Dickie, was brilliant to think of Krisztina," said Marla Krupman, director of development for the Chicago Opera Theater. "He has such great relationships with talent all over the world. He had it all under control."Not all preparations were last-minute. Throughout the gala's eight-month planning process, Krupman said, she and her committee focused on bringing unexpected details to the evening to underscore its "Opera Less Ordinary" theme. Hot-pink candle holders and branches of cascading orchids topped each dinner table—arrangements created by Kehoe Designs to echo the set decoration for A Flowering Tree, the second opera in the theater's 2008 spring season. "The flowers were very much in keeping with our theme," Krupman said. "They were quite whimsical."
Another untraditional element of this year's gala: its weekend occurrence. Typically the event is held on a weeknight, but Krupman thought that this year's Saturday date, an experiment, would help bolster attendance and draw a younger crowd (which it did).
Innovation aside, the focus of the evening was to rake in funds to support the theater's 2008 spring season. At dinner, servers presented plates of slow-roasted Chilean sea bass and saag paneer (an Indian dish made with spinach and cubed cheese) while M.C. Art Norman (of NBC 5) provided a hard-to-ignore voice for the silent auction, making frequent announcements to encourage bidding. “Art brought a lot of energy to the event,” Krupman said. “We more than doubled our profit at the silent auction this year.” Fund-raising efforts continued with two raffles and a live auction led by Michael Hart (of Hart Davis Hart Wine Company). Guests were also asked to pledge donations for the Chicago Opera Theater's education outreach program, Opera for All.
Although she admitted that she “would have liked to attract more corporate support,” Krupman deemed this year’s event a success. "We entertained more guests ... and made more fund-raising dollars,” she said of the $260,000 raised.
"Our general director, Brian Dickie, was brilliant to think of Krisztina," said Marla Krupman, director of development for the Chicago Opera Theater. "He has such great relationships with talent all over the world. He had it all under control."Not all preparations were last-minute. Throughout the gala's eight-month planning process, Krupman said, she and her committee focused on bringing unexpected details to the evening to underscore its "Opera Less Ordinary" theme. Hot-pink candle holders and branches of cascading orchids topped each dinner table—arrangements created by Kehoe Designs to echo the set decoration for A Flowering Tree, the second opera in the theater's 2008 spring season. "The flowers were very much in keeping with our theme," Krupman said. "They were quite whimsical."
Another untraditional element of this year's gala: its weekend occurrence. Typically the event is held on a weeknight, but Krupman thought that this year's Saturday date, an experiment, would help bolster attendance and draw a younger crowd (which it did).
Innovation aside, the focus of the evening was to rake in funds to support the theater's 2008 spring season. At dinner, servers presented plates of slow-roasted Chilean sea bass and saag paneer (an Indian dish made with spinach and cubed cheese) while M.C. Art Norman (of NBC 5) provided a hard-to-ignore voice for the silent auction, making frequent announcements to encourage bidding. “Art brought a lot of energy to the event,” Krupman said. “We more than doubled our profit at the silent auction this year.” Fund-raising efforts continued with two raffles and a live auction led by Michael Hart (of Hart Davis Hart Wine Company). Guests were also asked to pledge donations for the Chicago Opera Theater's education outreach program, Opera for All.
Although she admitted that she “would have liked to attract more corporate support,” Krupman deemed this year’s event a success. "We entertained more guests ... and made more fund-raising dollars,” she said of the $260,000 raised.
Mezzo-soprano Krisztina SzabĂł
Photo: Liz Lauren
After a last-minute flight from Toronto, mezzo-soprano Krisztina SzabĂł landed in Chicago in time for a late-night set of songs from operas including Don Giovanni.
Photo: Liz Lauren
In the ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton, guests had dinner at tables that Kehoe Designs had decorated with flowering branches of cascading orchids.
Photo: Liz Lauren
Wine auctioneer Michael Hart lead the live auction, making guests chuckle by peppering his auction banter with sassy jokes.
Photo: Liz Lauren
The live auction's top-selling item was an all-access pass to the Opera Theater's 2008 spring season. The package went for $11,000.
Photo: Liz Lauren
In a room just off the ballroom, silent-auction tables offered items ranging from a Fendi evening bag to a leash-and-bone-stuffed gift basket from Lincoln Park Dog and Cat Clinic.
Photo: Liz Lauren
