A night at the opera
The Opera Company of Philadelphia opened its 35th anniversary season Friday with a nearly sold-out performance of Verdi's Otello at the Academy of Music. The opera, starring tenor Clifton Forbis, soprano Norah Amsellem, and baritone Mark Delavan, was a company premiere. Before the performance, 130 guests enjoyed a cocktail reception in the Academy of Music lobby, and in the ballroom, a dinner of chicken breasts and pan-seared salmon with potato goat cheese gratin and sautéed spinach. A post-performance party was held at the restaurant Sotto Varalli, where guests were joined by the Otello cast and creative team.
Philadelphia sound
Violinist Joshua Bell was the featured soloist at the opening of the Philadelphia Orchestra's 111th season, held Sept. 23 at the Kimmel Center. The black-tie evening, cochaired by Nancy Ronning and Hilarie Morgan, began with a benefactor reception at the Kimmel's Perelman Theater. The concert, led by Philadelphia Orchestra chief conductor Charles Dutoit, featured works by Berlioz and Respighi. Former orchestra executive director Frank Slattery and his wife, Mollie, received the Philadelphia Orchestra Award from board chairman Richard Worley. Following the concert, the Kimmel's new caterer, Wolfgang Puck Catering, served its first dinner there of roasted filet mignon and sweet corn puree with fondant potato and black truffle emulsion for 730 guests.
Field of dreams
Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels and his wife, Heidi, hosted "Diamonds and Denim," a Sept. 23 benefit to help inner-city public schools, at Union Trust Steakhouse. The evening featured a performance by pop singer LeAnn Rimes and a live auction, which included spending a day with Cole Hamels that went for $4,500; a golf outing with Hamels at the Merion Golf Club ($7,000); and a three-day spring training trip to Clearwater, Fla., that includes dinner with Hamels ($5,000). Among the 400 guests were singer Tony Orlando; Phillies Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Kyle Kendrick; former Survivor cast members; and Playboy Playmates. The evening grossed $360,000 for the Hamels Foundation, which has awarded grants to more than 10 Philadelphia public schools.
Hip happening
The Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe drew a sellout crowd of more than 500 to its first fund-raiser, Feastival, held Sept. 15 at the festival's warehouse in Northern Liberties. Guests sampled food prepared by chefs from nearly 60 local restaurants and enjoyed avant-garde dance performances by members of Brian Sanders' JUNK. Gov. Rendell auctioned off a five-course, farm-to-table dinner for eight prepared at a private home by chefs Terence Feury, Georges Perrier, Michael Schulson, Michael Solomonov, and Marc Vetri, which went for $20,000. The evening grossed $235,000 for the presenting arts organization.