Palm Beach Opera Celebrates Opening MADAMA BUTTERFLY

On Friday, January 22, 2017, Palm Beach Opera Board of Directors, Board of Governors, as well as dedicated supporters and friends gathered at The Kravis Center for Performing Arts in West Palm Beach for the Opening Night Dinner and opera performance of Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini. The evening ended with a lively post-performance cast party and dessert buffet.

Guests were welcomed by Palm Beach Opera's Chairman of the Board, Dennis Williams, and General Director, Daniel Biaggi. Maestro David Stern, Palm Beach Opera Chief Conductor, and Sam Helfrich, Stage Director for Madama Butterfly, joined attendees at the opening night festivities.

The nearly sold-out run of Madama Butterfly opened to rave audience reviews as Palm Beach Opera continues its 56th season with extraordinary, world-class productions.

Madama Butterfly was generously underwritten by the following members of Palm Beach Opera's Co-Producer Society: Mrs. Ronnie Isenberg, in loving memory of Eugene Isenberg, Executive Producer; Mrs. Ari Rifkin, Producer, Chief Conductor Sponsor; Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lester, Northern Trust Bank of Florida N.A., and Mr. and Mrs. Dennis K. Williams, Double Co-Producers; Drs. Henry and Marsha Laufer, Single Co-Producer; Dr. ElizaBeth Bowden, Mr. and Mrs. John Domenico, and Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Hardwick, Associate Co-Producers; Merrill and Charles Gottesman, Season Concertmaster Sponsor, Associate Co-Producer; Mr. Michael McCafferty and Mr. Joseph Horton, Mr. and Mrs. Ellis J. Parker, and Mrs. Sieglinde Wikstrom, Assistant Co-Producers; and Palm Beach Opera Guild, Supertitles Sponsor.

There were close to 130 people in attendance for the opening night dinner including General Director, Daniel Biaggi, Board Chairman Dennis Williams and his wife, Roseanne, Gladys Benenson, Dr. Claire Boasi, Dr. ElizaBeth Bowden, George and Patsy Conrades, John and Susan Domenico, Robert and Esta Epstein, Paul and Sandra Goldner, Arlette Gordon, Charles and Merrill Gottesman, Chuck and Sheilagh Hardwick, Amin and Julie Khoury, Drs. Henry and Marsha Laufer, Roger and Claude Lourie, Michael McCafferty and Joseph Horton, Anka Palitz, Jay and Nancy Parker, Jack and Linda Purdy, Mayor Samuel and Tina Raia, Ari Rifkin, Michael and Olive Schaeffer, Martin and Toni Sosnoff, Dr. John and Karin Strasswimmer, Ed and Lynn Streim, David and Rita Sullivan, and David Walker, Palm Beach Opera Managing Director.

Palm Beach Opera is dedicated to producing live opera at an international standard of excellence and to enriching the life of the communities it serves with a diverse offering of educational programs. Founded in 1961, the fully professional Palm Beach Opera presents mainstage performances at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach and is a proud member of OPERA America and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.

(Photo Credit: Palm Beach Opera)