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Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Opening Night & Opera Ball |
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The Lyric Opera Ball.
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On
Saturday, September 26, 2009, the Lyric
Opera of Chicago celebrated its
55th season with an Opening Night Gala Benefit and Opera Ball. A capacity
audience of over 3,500 guests attended the Opening Night Gala Benefit
performance of Puccini’s Tosca at Chicago’s Civic Opera House.
Over 600 guests attended the elegant Opera Ball at the Hilton Chicago.
The evening, a project of the Women’s Board of Lyric Opera of Chicago,
raised more than $500,000 net.
The Opening Night performance of Giacomo Puccini’s
Tosca starred Deborah Voigt as Tosca, Vladimir Galouzine as Cavaradossi,
and James Morris as Scarpia. The Opening Night Gala Benefit 2009 was
sponsored by Aon Corporation. Puccini’s Tosca Lyric Opera presentation
is generously made possible by the Abbott Fund, Mr. and Mrs. John V.
Crowe, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Nancy W. Knowles.
The black-tie
Opera Ball is considered one of the most glamorous events of Chicago’s
social season. Attendees entered the Hilton and ascended the grand staircase,
greeted by the sound of heralding trumpets and welcomed by the Opening
Night and Opera Ball chairmen, the Women’s Board president, and
hostesses from the Women’s Board. The Opera Ball began with the
Grand March of the Stars and was followed by a delightful meal and guests
dancing the night away to the Stu Hirsh Orchestra. The Opera Ball was
co-sponsored by Illinois Tool Works Inc. and Northern Trust. The Opera
Ball Reception was sponsored by Liz Stiffel.
Mrs. Matthew A. Fisher (Stephanie)
of Lake Forest was Opening Night Chairman. Mrs. James P. Stirling (Ellen)
of Lake Forest was Opera Ball Chairman and Mrs. Richard W. Durkes (Clementina)
of Chicago is Women’s Board President.
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Lyric general director William Mason, Diana Davis and pre-performance reception sponsor Liz Stiffel.
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Susan Kiphart and Lyric President and CEO Richard Kiphart.
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Clementina Durkes, Lyric’s Women’s Board president and Richard Durkes.
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James Stirling and Ellen Stirling, Opera Ball chairman.
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Lester Crown, chairman of Lyric’s executive
committee and former Women's Board president Renee
Crown.
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Elaine Muchin and Allan Muchin, chairman of Lyric’s board of directors.
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Women’s Board member Cathy Osborn and William Osborn, chairman of Northern Trust, Opera Ball co-sponsor.
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Cate Waddell and Rick Waddell, vice chairman of Northern Trust, Opera Ball co-sponsor.
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Soprano Deborah Voigt with production
co-sponsor Nancy Knowles.
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King Harris and Women’s Board member Caryn Harris.
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Matthew Fisher and Stephanie Fisher, Opening Night chairman.
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Mamie Case and Gregory Case, president
& CEO of Aon Corporation, Opening Night Benefit sponsor.
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Don Randel, president of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Carol Randel.
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Bass-baritone James Morris with production cosponsors Peggy Crowe and Jack Crowe.
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Lyric Board member James Farrell and former Women's Board president
Maxine Farrell.
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Joan Johnson and Lyric Board member George Johnson.
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Women’s Board members Elizabeth Cole and Suzette Bulley.
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Women’s Board member Anne Reyes and Lyric Board member Christopher Reyes.
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Tenor Vladimir Galouzine, Kim White and Miles White, chairman & CEO of Abbott, production co-sponsor.
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Francia Harrington of JPMorgan Chase & Co., a co-sponsor of Tosca and Vernon Broders.
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Lyric Board member Julie Baskes and Roger Baskes.
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Women's Board member Christina Gidwitz and Lyric Board member Ron Gidwitz.
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Lyric Board member Mary Pat Hay and William Hay.
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Thomas J. Hansen, vice chairman of Illinois Tool Works Inc., Opera Ball co-sponsor, and Kathy Hansen.
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Lili Gaubin, Women’s Board member.
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Women’s Board member Liz Stiffel, sponsor of private pre-opera reception and Opera Ball reception.
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Lyric Board member James O’Connor and former Women’s Board president Ellen O’Connor.
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John Blackburn and Connie Lindsey, representing Northern Trust, Opera Ball cosponsor.
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| Photos:
Images 1, 10, 22, 24, 27-28 : Cheri Eisenberg/Lyric Opera of Chicago
Images 2-9, 11-22, 23, 25-26 : Dan Rest/Lyric Opera of Chicago |
