San Francisco Opera Guild Presents Opera Ball 2016: La Révolution et L'Amour, September 9, 2016

San Francisco Opera Guild in collaboration with San Francisco Opera announced details of the upcoming Opera Ball 2016: La Révolution et L'Amour, celebrating San Francisco Opera's 94th season and the opening night performance of Umberto Giordano's French Revolution opera Andrea Chénier. Led by Co-chairs Sandra Farris and Patricia Sprincin, Opera Ball 2016: La Révolution et L'Amour continues the tradition of opening the opera season with a gala event to benefit the Company's education and outreach programs. Both Opera Ball 2016 and the annual BRAVO! Club Opening Night Gala will take place on the grounds of the Beaux Arts-designed War Memorial Opera House on the evening of Friday, September 9.

Inspired by the splendor of France's Ancien Régime which is the setting of the first act of Andrea Chénier, this year's Opera Ball will be a resplendent evening of French elegance and sophistication. Celebrated designer J. Riccardo Benavides returns to create for the haute courtier guests a festive atmosphere of Parisian élan inside a magnificent tented pavilion located between the War Memorial Opera House and Veterans Building. Following a chic cocktail reception on the Opera House south porte-cochère, guests will proceed to the dazzling tented creation of Benavides and enjoy a dinner by executive chef Josip Martinovicof McCalls Catering and Events. Opera Ball guests will adjourn to the Opera House for the performance at 8.00 p.m., and return to the nearby tent before 11.00 p.m. for a post-performance celebration with dancing and a tempting buffet of sweets and savories.

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. Proceeds from this signature fundraising event benefit the San Francisco Opera Association and Opera Guild's education and community programs reaching more than 60,000 students annually throughout Northern California.

Opera Ball 2016 is made possible through the generous support of Opening Weekend Grand Sponsor Diane B. Wilsey; Dinner Sponsor Neiman Marcus Union Square; Cocktail Reception Sponsor Therma Corporation; Arrivals Sponsor Harrah's and Harveys Lake Tahoe; Corporate Sponsor Abbot Downing; Education Sponsor Wells Fargo Foundation; Official Airline United Airlines; Benefactor Party Sponsor Ann & Gordon Getty; Patron Party Sponsor Olivia Hsu Decker, Decker Bullock Sotheby's International Realty; Event Design J. Riccardo Benavides Event Styling; Catering McCalls Catering & Events; Sparkling Wine Sponsor Roederer Estate; White Wine Sponsor Ram's Gate Winery; Red Wine Sponsor J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines; Vodka Sponsor Blue Angel Vodka; and Media Sponsors Nob Hill Gazette and Town & Country. Other Corporate Table Sponsors include TriplePoint Capital, Accenture, Bank of America, Hermès, Meyer Sound, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Francisco Giants, Union Bank and Wells Fargo.

San Francisco Opera Guild President Charlot Malin commented: "This year's Opera Ball is more special than ever because it launches Matthew Shilvock's first season as San Francisco Opera's General Director. Matthew's youthful spirit, high energy and inclusiveness have served to connect the Opera more closely with the broader community. Thus far, he has been a wonderful partner to the Opera Guild. We continue to be blessed with so many wonderful colleagues and friends in the Bay Area who give so much to Opera Guild events. This enduring friendship is so meaningful as we continue each year to maintain our outstanding education programs."

The Annual BRAVO! Club Opening Night Gala, led by co-chairs Lauren Groff and Kari Lincks, begins with a pre-performance reception on the Opera House Loggia. Following the performance of Andrea Chénier, guests will dance the night away in the Green Room at the Veterans Building and enjoy an open bar and hors d'oeuvres.

Giordano's Andrea Chénier features three international debuting and critically acclaimed singers, including South Korean tenorYongHoon Lee in the title role, Italian soprano Anna Pirozzi as Maddalena and Georgian baritone George Gagnidze as Carlo Gérard. Nicola Luisotti, distinguished Italian conductor and Company music director since 2009, will lead the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus in this vivid new 18th century period production by renownEd Scottish director David McVicar. Opening Friday, September 9, six performances are scheduled through September 30.

OPERA BALL 2016: LA RÉVOLUTION ET L'AMOUR / TICKETS AND INFORMATION

Opera Ball 2016 tickets are priced at $1,500; $2,500; $5,000 and $10,000 and are available at sfopera.com/opera-guild/social-events/opera-ball-2016/. Tickets for BRAVO! Club's Opening Night Gala are available at sfopera.com/bravogala. Tickets forAndrea Chénier are priced from $31-$397 and are available at sfopera.com or through the San Francisco Opera Box Office at 301 Van Ness Avenue 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.

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