Chicago Opera Theater's 2010 Gala Raises Over $235,000

Chicago Opera Theater (COT) raised over $235,000 at their Gala "Opera Among the Stars" held on March 13, 2009 at The Mid-America Club in Chicago. This year's Gala was held in honor of The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust for their continued support of Chicago Opera Theater. Over 340 guests attended an unforgettable evening high up on the 80th floor of the Aon Building. Henry Fogel, COT Board Trustee and Dean of the Chicago College of Performing Arts, was the Master of Ceremonies and soprano Danielle De Niese was the evening's featured performer.

The event began with a cocktail hour and silent auction which featured over 100 packages which guests bid on exclusively online. Moreover, guests who could not attend the Gala were able to bid on packages before the Gala! The evening continued to the Burnham Ballroom, with its stunning panoramic view of the Chicago skyline. COT General Director Brian Dickie welcomed the guests and introduced the evening's Master of Ceremonies Henry Fogel, who honored The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust for their support not only of COT but of numerous organizations in Chicago. He then presented trustees of The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, James Alexander and Anita Tyson of JPMorgan Chase with an engraved memento from Tiffany & Co.

Seeking to cultivate the spirit of philanthropy, Opera Underground-COT's young professionals club-invited young professionals ages 21-45 to attend the Gala at a reduced rate that included Danielle De Niese's performance as well as the cocktail and dancing portions of the evening. Approximately 60 young professional guests took advantage of this exciting opportunity!

Auctioneer Steven J. Zick, Vice President and Head of Office of Christie's Fine Art Auctioneers in Chicago, led the live auction which featured a fully loaded travel package to Spring Creek Ranch Mountain Villas, 18K gold bracelet featuring a rainbow of 38 straight baguette cut colored gemstones from M.J. Miller & Co., a catered cocktail party at the home of a COT Board Member including a private performance by the award-winning International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), an all-access pass to COT's 2010 Spring Festival Season, and the first dance with Danielle De Niese!

Soprano Danielle De Niese was the featured performer of the evening. Her dazzling performance delighted the crowd and included selections from Cole Porter, Georges Bizet and Frans Lehar. Ms. de Niese made her debut in Chicago in 2004 with Chicago Opera Theater in the title role of L'incoronazione di Poppea and is currently performing the role of Susanna in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Guests finished off the evening dancing to live music from the Matt Lewis Band.

The evening's sponsors included: RGBLights, William Hill Estate Winery, and New Amsterdam Gin - the sponsor of COT's signature drink the "Operatini."

CHICAGO OPERA THEATER
Founded in 1974 by Alan Stone, Chicago Opera Theater has carved a significant place for itself in the operatic life of Chicago and has reached an audience of hundreds of thousands through its main stage performances, outreach, education and young artist programs.

Since Brian Dickie's appointment as General Director in 1999, COT has evolved as an opera company that is young, fresh, and colorful - an image well suited to its surroundings at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.

The 2010 Annual Gala was presented in anticipation and support of Chicago Opera Theater's 2010 Spring Festival Season. The season opens with Rossini's Moses in Egypt (April 17-25), followed by the Chicago Premiere of Cavalli's Jason (Giasone) (April 24-May 2), and closes with Jake Heggie's Three Decembers featuring acclaimed mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade in her final Chicago opera performances before her retirement (May 8-16). On May 10th, COT will also present "An Evening with Frederica von Stade and Jake Heggie."

For more information on the 2010 Spring Festival Season, visit ChicagoOperaTheater.org or call 312.704.8414.

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