The VIPs

Chair Heather Flint (clad in a dramatic ruffled red gown), Honorary Chair Jane S. Willson, Honorary Vice Consul of the Kingdom of Spain Ignacio Taboada and his wife Maria Diego, and Chairman of the Board William E. Tucker

The Venue

Tony Brewer and Co. transformed the St. Regis Astor Ball Room into a Spanish vision in red and black, with gorgeous florals, flickering candlelight, and flirtatious black fans at every plate.

 

The  Party Highlights

Black-tie opera patrons and guests, dressed mostly in fiery red or black, enjoyed a cocktail reception, a luxury live auction with ski trips to Colorado and wine tastings in Napa as two of the auction lots, stunning flamenco and Atlanta Opera performances, and after-dinner dancing to The Platinum Band. Guests feasted on Autumnal greens, duo of porcini-crusted beef tenderloin and seared sea bass, and a Spanish dessert buffet loaded with treats like chinnamon churros in chocolate shooter glasses and crème catalana tartlets.  A special tribute was made to long-time Opera donor and honorary chair Jane. S. Willson. The enterprising lady not only climbed Mount Kilimanjaro at age 59, but she also carts van-loads of friends from her native Albany, Georgia, to Atlanta to see Atlanta Opera performances.

The Scene-Makers

Among the crowd of art appreciators:  Joanne and Alex Gross, Chris Casey and Douglas Weiss, Dana and Bill Tucker, Tom and Jada Loveless, Larry Pritchard, Chris and Merry Carlos, Marian Goldberg, Nick Gold, Lisa Fuller, Anne and Tim Sheehan,.

The Sponsors

Diamond: Jane S. Willson. Platinum: St. Regis. Gold: Tony Brewer & Co. and Flight Options. Silver: Atlantic Trust, Cartier, Robert S. Devins, Heather and Eli Flint, Rebecca Frazer and Jon Buttrey, Georgia Dermatology Center, KPMG, and Dr. Raymond Schinazi

The Cause

Proceeds from The Atlanta Opera Ball support the exceptional artistic quality of the company. The Atlanta Opera season opens with performances of  Bizet’s classic Carmen Nov. 10, 13, 16 and 18. For more tickets and info visit: www.atlantaopera.org

SEE SLIDESHOW OF ALL THE OPERA BALL PHOTOS BELOW