A
rousing Star Spangled Banner heralded The Chicago Symphony Orchestra
(CSO) Gala Opening Night that was held on Saturday, October 3, 2009 with
soprano, Renee Fleming. Paavo Jarvi, music director of the Cincinnati
Symphony and a Grammy Award-winner, conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
The Orchestra’s selections were Divertimento for Orchestra by Bernstein,
and Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks by Strauss. Ms. Fleming sang
Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and selected songs by
Strauss.
A pre-concert cocktail celebration at Symphony Center for all
ticket holders began at 5:30 pm. followed by the concert at 7:00 pm.
There was a post concert black tie celebration at the Chicago Hilton
and Towers, Chicago, for Gala ticket holders that included cocktails,
dinner and dancing to the music of the Entourage.
The stage of Symphony
Center held two large bouquets of fall foliages and flesh tone roses.
The décor at the Hilton Ballroom was again awash in fall tones
and foliage. The tables were covered in terra cotta cloths with centerpieces
of camellia and roses. The dinner menu consisted of a salad with goat
cheese accompanied by butternut squash soup, a filet and halibut entrée
and a caramelized apple tarte for dessert.
Chairing the Gala Evening
Celebration were Jane and Kenneth Pigott of Chicago. Mayor and Mrs. Richard
Daley were Honorary Chairmen. Members of the Dinner Committee include
Katherine Abelson and Robert Cornell, Helen Zell, Penny and John Van
Horn, Karen and William Goodyear, Jr. and Madeleine and Joseph Glossberg
of Chicago. From the north shore were Dora and John Aalbregtse, Cathy
and Bill Osborn and Alexandra and John Nichols of Winnetka; Linda and
Lydon Neumann of Lake Bluff and Anne and William Goldstein of Evanston.
Corporate sponsors included Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Northern Trust,,
Sidley Austin LL.P.
