San Francisco Opera Ball 2015: Moonlight & Music

San Francisco Opera Guild in collaboration with San Francisco Opera Association today announced plans for Opera Ball 2015: Moonlight & Music, a gala benefit on Friday, the 11th of September celebrating San Francisco Opera's 93rd season and opening-night performance of Giuseppe Verdi's Luisa Miller.

Produced by San Francisco Opera Guild and led by co-chairmen Karen Kubin and Jane Mudge, Opera Ball 2015 will be celebrated in a new venue this year with the creation of a tented Opera Ball Pavilion on Civic Center's Grove Street between the War Memorial Opera House and Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall.

Acclaimed designer J. Riccardo Benavides will create an evocative eighteenth century Tyrolean setting for the 850 Opera Ball patrons beginning at 5 p.m. with a festive cocktail reception in the resplendent Beaux Arts-designed War Memorial Opera House foyer. At 6 p.m., guests will make the short promenade through the Opera House south porte-cochère to the Grove Street Opera Ball Pavilion for an elegant dinner designed by Executive Chef Lucas Schoemaker of McCalls Catering and Events. Following dinner, patrons will return to the Opera House in time for the magnificent gold grand drape to rise for the 8 p.m. season-opening performance of Verdi's romantic drama.

At the conclusion of the performance, Opera Ball 2015 guests will be welcomed back to the Opera Ball Pavilion for cocktails, savories, sweets and dancing to the incomparable New York City-based high society band, The Bob Hardwick Sound.

San Francisco Opera Ball, one of the premiere philanthropic evenings on the West Coast, brings together local and national corporate, political, civic and charitable leaders all committed to the enduring first-tier quality work produced by San Francisco Opera. Opera Ball 2015 is made possible through the generous support of Opening Weekend Grand Sponsor Diane B. Wilsey and corporate sponsors TriplePoint Capital, Neiman Marcus Union Square, Wells Fargo, Morrison & Foerster LLP, Baird and United Airlines. Proceeds from this signature fundraising event benefit the Opera Association and Opera Guild's bold and innovative education and community programs reaching more than 60,000 students annually throughout Northern California.

San Francisco Opera Guild President Charlot Malin commented: "This year's Opera Ball is more special than ever because it launches David Gockley's final season as San Francisco Opera's General Director. David's innovative spirit, energy and inclusiveness have served to connect the Opera more closely with the broader community. He has been a wonderful partner to the Opera Guild, and we salute his many accomplishments."

Adding to that sentiment, Opera Ball 2015 co-chairman Karen Kubin said: "It is a special honor to be co-chairing Opera Ball 2015 in celebration of David Gockley's final season. No doubt in recognition of David and the huge impact he has had, the early response to Opera Ball has been overwhelming and we expect to sell out quickly. We are so grateful to all our generous supporters and we promise an evening that will always be remembered."

Opera Ball 2015 co-chairman Jane Mudge added: "We are especially delighted to collaborate on the Ball's event design with our good friend and creative genius J. Riccardo Benavides. Our goal with this partnership is to bring the splendor of the eighteenth century and our theme-Moonlight & Music-to life by creating a beautiful event that celebrates the magic of San Francisco and its greatest treasure, San Francisco Opera."

Giuseppe Verdi's Luisa Miller features three fast-rising, young international stars including soprano Leah Crocetto in the title role, tenor Michael Fabiano as Rodolfo and in his Company debut Ukrainian baritone Vitaliy Bilyy as Miller. Nicola Luisotti, distinguished Italian conductor and Company music director since 2009, will lead the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus in this vivid Francesca Zambello production. Opening Friday, September 11, six performances are scheduled through September 27.

Tickets for Opera Ball 2015: Music & Moonlight are priced at $1,500; $2,500; $5,000 and $10,000 and are available at sfopera.com/operaball2015 or by calling (415) 565-3204. Tickets for the performance of Verdi's Luisa Miller are priced separately.

Single (non-subscription) tickets for Luisa Miller, priced from $31-$381, are available beginning June 29 at sfopera.com or through the San Francisco Opera Box Office [301 Van Ness Avenue (at Grove Street), or by phone at (415) 864-3330]. Standing Room tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on the day of each performance; tickets are $10 each, cash only. Casting, programs, schedules and ticket prices are subject to change.

To post a comment, you must register and login.