Oct 2, 2007

Grammy winner toast of symphony opening

By Janet Duca Norton / Society Columnist

Interesting music, beautiful decorations, fabulous food and glamorous gowns were hallmarks of the gala opening of the San Francisco Symphony's 96th season. More than 2,600 people attended the sold-out Sept. 19 concert at Davies Symphony Hall. Proceeds benefited the symphony's award-winning education and community programs throughout the Bay Area.

Symphony President John Goldman and his wife Marcia personally welcomed more than 750 patrons to the cocktail reception. The Goldmans were enthusiastic about the program and the sell-out success of the orchestra's three-week tour of major European music festivals. In his program notes, Goldman emphasized conductor Michael Tilson Thomas' central message that music is an "all-embracing art for everyone."

Celebrating his 13th year with the orchestra, conductor and artistic director Thomas decided to perform music that was well received at the festivals. He opened the concert with a trio of 20th century pieces: Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," Ruth Crawford Seeger's "Andante for Strings" and John Adams' "Short Ride in a Fast Machine."

Thomas told the audience Gounod's "Jewel Song" from "Faust" was a popular encore with European audiences, so he performed it on opening night and received a standing ovation. The orchestra also received a standing ovation for "Scenes from Romeo and Juliet" by Sergei Prokofiev.

The night belonged to two-time Grammy Award-winning soprano Renee Fleming, who performed for the third time with Thomas and the orchestra. Her magical interpretations of Maurice Ravel's "Sheherazade" and Giacomo Puccini's "Vissi d'arte" from "Tosca" and "O mio babbino caro" from "Gianni Schicchi" received rave reviews.

The gala evening featured spirit, style and traditions, including a cocktail reception at Davies Hall, a patrons' dinner in the tent pavilion, the Symphony Supper and Symphonix dinners at City Hall, a pre-performance promenade at Davies Hall and several post-concert parties.

Margaret Liu Collins reprised her role as gala chairwoman for a second year and achieved her goal for triple-"wow" venue decorations. Designer Robert Fontaine used the sophisticated gala invitation - a black-and-white tapestry design accented with hot pink - for all three celebratory dinners. Large crystal chandeliers accented the ceiling of the patrons' tent, which was draped with fabric. Centerpieces were hats wrapped with hot pink feather boas. Even the exterior of City Hall sported hot pink spotlights.

Collins also found a silver-ruffled dress, which she ordered from a picture in Architectural Digest magazine. She was a leader of the popular non-black-dress trend.

The Peninsula was well represented, with patrons George and Charlotte Shultz, Tad and Dianne Taube, Stuart and Debbie Rosenberg, Larry and Barbara Sonsini with their daughter Alison, Mark and Nicole Patton, Rosie and Bill Garlock, RJ Daly and Gary and Nanci Fredkin in attendance.

Los Altos Hills friends Courtenay Corrigan and Karen Jung reprised their roles as Patrons' Dinner co-chairwomen, and Corrigan brought her family to the dinner, including in-laws Erik and Stephanie Corrigan.

Symphony League members from the Silicon Valley and Mid-Peninsula leagues shared tables at the Symphony Supper, including Carol and Alan Kaganov, Bob and Sue Larson, Ruth and Roy Rodgers, Joel and Eileen Birnbaum, Charlene Archibeque, Michelle and Michael Kwatinette, Connie West, and Penny and Neil Oronsky.

Post-concert party chairwomen Sharon Litsky and Catherine Hall made sure there was a little something for everyone. Guests at the party stayed late sipping Blue Ice vodka and sampling truffles from See's Candy. And following tradition, the tent pavilion was transformed into a cabaret, featuring the music of the Sidepocket Band with Pamela Rose and Glenn Walters. Pride & Joy entertained the younger crowd at City Hall, including Jessica Goldman and first-time gala attendee Alejandro Foung.


"MOVING STILLNESS" STIRS ART PATRONS

Fine art photographer Larry Hatlett's newest exhibition, "The Moving Stillness," opened with a special champagne reception at the Atherton Fine Art Gallery in Menlo Park. The Sept. 20 show, featuring 15 limited-edition color prints, attracted a record-setting 150 collectors and friends.

Guests at the reception took turns viewing the luminous images, speaking with the artist and meeting gallery owner Mark Gallagher, then each would move outside to sip their champagne and allow the new arrivals space to enjoy the show.

A second-generation Palo Altan, Hatlett told the crowd, "My photographs are about state of mind." He said his work requires a meditative state of mind. He plans and waits patiently for the moment when the light is just right, and exerts frenetic energy to capture the desired landscape. He uses a large format Linhof camera, which requires 10 to 15 minutes of set-up time to execute each shot.

Hatlett graciously said that the art exhibit photographs were a three-way collaboration between himself, Gallagher ("a total framing genius who made the photos come to life") and DavidC and Paul Fortis of Art Press Publishing in Los Gatos. The trio creates photographic paintings that feature fabulous color and a gorgeous style of printing called giclee, which gives the striking appearance of a watercolor.

Seen applauding Hatlett's presentation were Susan Breyer, Carolyn and Larry Zaroff, Roxy Rapp, Robert Krohn and Jai Monroe, John Northway, Dick Hansen and David Eckert, Mary Ann Cusenza and Ian Vospers, Barbara and Audry Proulx, Ginny Boyd, Bess and Bob Roberts, Bob Ritter and Hal Lynne Micali, Lucia Miracchi, Lily Anne Hillis, Karl and Angela Duffy, Kathleen Gallagher and Hatlett's wife Hisae Chiba, who performed hostess duties.

"I know a lot of people, but I was surprised by the large number of prints that sold," Hatlett said, as a number of prints were whisked off the walls and out of the drawers that evening.

The exhibition continues until Oct. 20 at the Atherton Gallery located at 700 El Camino Real, Suite #165 in Menlo Park.


E-mail Janet Duca Norton at society@paloaltodailynews.com.