The stage of the Ardis Krainik Theatre, Civic Opera House, set for dinner and live auction.
Three
years of meticulous organizing, hard work, and unstinting dedication
to grand opera – plus a splash of cautious optimism – paid
off handsomely on Friday, March 6, 2009 when Lyric Opera of Chicago's
Wine Auction 2009 raised an unprecedented $1.2 million in
net proceeds.
The planning process was championed by the outstanding leadership
of Wine Auction 2009 co-chairs Cathy Osborn and Nancy Searle, and
Women's Board president Clement Durkes. The evening's honored
guest was Pierre-Henry Gagey, president, Maison Louis Jadot of Beaune,
Burgundy.
The evening began with silent-auction bidding in the Daniel F. and
Ada L. Rice Grand Foyer and culminated with spirited live-auction
bidding on the mainstage of the Ardis Krainik Theatre in the historic
Civic Opera House. Approximately 400 guests attended the elegant
fundraiser, a project of the Women's Board of Lyric Opera of
Chicago.
Wine Auction 2009 featured an extraordinary array
of fine wines (1,067 bottles). Several highly desirable wine-themed
travel packages, fine-dining experiences, and luxury items were also
auctioned. The top winning bid of the evening was $55,000 for Lot
40, “Beaune Voyage,” a trip for four as the personal
guest of Pierre-Henry Gagey and Maison Louis Jadot at the Hospices
de Beaune wine auction and surrounding festivities; travel included
(est. value $38,000).
The Live Auction began at 9:15 p.m., conducted by lead
auctioneer Michael Davis (vice-chairman, Hart Davis Hart Wine Co.),
and auctioneer Leslie Hindman (president, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers),
featuring exceptional wines and superb travel and dining experiences.
Wine Auction 2009 committee chairmen were Paula
Hannaway Crown, Mrs. A. Campbell (Alison) de Frise, Ms. Lili Gaubin,
Mrs. Ronald J. (Christina) Gidwitz, Mrs. William B. (Catherine) Graham,
Mrs. King (Caryn) Harris, Mrs. Julian W. (Catherine) Harvey, Mrs.
Edgar D. Jannotta (Debby), Mrs. John W. (Gretchen) Jordan II, Mrs.
Andrew McNally V (Alison), Mrs. Todd D. (Mimi) Mitchell, Mrs. Robert
S. Morrison(Susan), Mrs. James J. O'Connor (Ellen), Mrs. Paul
W. Oliver, Jr. (Susan), Mrs. Jerry K. Pearlman (Barbara), Mrs. James
C. Pritchard (Bonnie), Mrs. Patrick G. Ryan (Shirley), Marilynn Thoma,
and Mrs. Robert G. (Florette)Weiss.
Stage décor for dinner and silent auction, Ardis Krainik Theatre of the Civic Opera House.
Photos:
Images 1, 4-12, 15, 16, 18, 19: Robert Kusel/Lyric Opera of Chicago
Image 13, 20: Cheri Eisenberg/Lyric Opera of Chicago
Image 2, 3, 14, 17: Dan Rest/Lyric Opera of Chicago
