Glittering & Majestic Opera Ball Transports Guests To Argentina

Photo Credit: Andrew Caulfield for Drew Altizer Photography

Friday night the creme de la creme of San Francisco society was taken on a whirlwind romantic journey to Argentina at Opera Ball 2018: ¡Viva La Noche! The experience was courtesy of the San Francisco Opera, the Opera Guild (led by the president Jane Mudge), event stylist J. Riccardo Benavides, and ball chairs Shannon Cronan and Kathy Huber. While guests didn’t board a plane to Buenos Aires, the lavish opening night ball metaphorically transported 700 elegantly-dressed attendees to the sultry streets of South America.

Shannon Cronan, Jane Mudge and Kathy Huber

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

The festive evening began at 5 p.m. with a parade of ball gowns and tuxedos entering the War Memorial Opera House—construction on Van Ness forced revelers to enter on Grove Street. Although the side lobby isn’t as grand as the entry foyer, it made for excellent people watching as guests passed through the narrow doorways into the beautiful building.

A meeting of mayors! London Breed and Willie Brown

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

After an hour-long cocktail reception, the lively group made their way from the opera hall to a massive tent set up next door. Classic accordion tango played over a loudspeaker as guests walked the long red carpet into the tent. Inside was a stunning spectacle—a feast for the senses. As socialite Lisa Zabelle said, “Wow, Riccardo, you’ve really outdone yourself!”

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Statues dotted the entryway, and a 12-foot tall fountain with gilded lion heads bubbled invitingly. Oversized urns were filled with a dizzying array of flowers and branches. Pretty pink and peach dahlias and roses were arranged with beautiful greens and berry-colored fillers. Images of a Spanish-style courtyard with palm trees and Andalusian architecture were projected life-size on to the walls of the tent.

Debby Sagues and Yuka Uehara enjoy dinner

Photo Credit: Susana Bates for Drew Altizer Photography

The tables were perfectly set with pink tablecloths, decorative clear glass plates and chargers, and printed menus. The three-course feast, which was catered by McCalls, consisted of a light crab and prawn salad, a delicious gaucho-style beef fillet with corn pudding and chimichurri, and a decadent chocolate and berry parfait. Roederer Anderson Valley Brut sparkling wine flowed as did the Chalk Hill Estate Sonoma Coast Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

A scene from Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" with Ekaterina Semenchuk as Santuzza — A scene from Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” with Ekaterina Semenchuk as Santuzza

Photo Credit: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera

Next, the 700 party goers paraded back to the War Memorial Opera House for the performance, Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci (or Cav/Pag). Although both operas are traditionally set in Italy, the SF Opera’s version was set in La Boca, Argentina. Daniele Callegari conducted the captivating show. The Cavalleria Rusticana cast featured Ekaterina Semenchuk as Santuzza, Roberto Aronica as Turiddu and Dimitri Platanis in his United States debut as Alfio. Pagliacci stared Lianna Haroutounian as Nedda, Marco Berti as Canio, Platanias as Tonio and David Pershall as Silvio.

Photo Credit: Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography

After the performance, the entire opera house went back to the tent for more festivities—an after-party with live band Pop Rocks and a tango lounge. Notables in attendance included Nancy and Paul Pelosi, Mayor London Breed, opera singer Carmen Giannattasio, Haute Living’s publishers, Olivia Hsu Decker and Seth Semilof. Who was the best dressed? Chrisa Pappas wore a seductive Alexander McQueen number, Farah Makras looked gorgeous in Carolina Herrera, Lisa Zabelle was playful and pretty in custom Monique Lhuillier, and Sonya Molodetskaya in a Zac Posen cape. The Met Gala inspired lady in red Mary Beth Shimmon‘s outfit. Michael Purdy was the most adventurous gentleman with a David Bowie-esque makeup look.