MTT’s final opening night gala as music director set the stage for a festive and remarkable season. Subsequently, San Francisco Symphony opened its 108th season with four sold-out and simultaneous gala dinners, a concert for the ages, and a dance-worthy afterparty, all on September 4, 2019.
Honorary Co-Chairs Michael Tilson Thomas and Joshua Robison attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
MTT leads San Francisco Symphony Orchestra on Opening Night, September 4, 2019 at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco
Former US Ambassador James Hormel and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
MTT’s Opening Night Gala Committee: Todd Hoyles, Holly Cuggino, Sako Fisher, Allison Speer, Elizabeth Folger, Sandra Cheung, Shannon Getty, Lauren, Rachael Bowman, Brianna Haag, Lisa Goldman, Navid Armstrong, Emilie Lync, Nicole Lacob, Prisca Geeslin, Catherine Geeslin, Joshua Robison, Natasha Dolby, Christina Hanson and Mark Hanson at Davies Symphony Hall
Setting the Stage for MTT’s Opening Night Gala
Firstly, Gala Co-Chairs Rachael Bowman and Nicole Lacob designated Michael Tilson Thomas and his partner Joshua Robison as honorary chairmen. Bowman, Lacob and MTT also set the style scene. Secondly, Dinner Chairs Elizabeth Allin, Annie Buckman, Annie Dreshfield, Emilie Lynch, and Ann Paras set the menus. Importantly, After-Party Chairs Lauren Erickson and Brianna Haag kept the celebratory vibe alive all night long. At capacity, some 2,700 supporters filled Davies Symphony Hall, City Hall, and the Patrons Tent for the memorable night.
Joe Lacob and Nicole Curran Lacob attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala at Davies Symphony Hall
Natasha Dolby, Dagmar Dolby and Gretchen De Baubigny attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
Lisa Pritzker and Sam Pritzker
Governor Gavin Newsom, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
John Newman and Ellen Newman attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
Charlotte Shultz attends San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
Dede Wilsey and Xiaojun Lee attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
Monica Savini and Lisa Goldman attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
Aditya Agarwal, in a gown by Valentino, with Ruchi Sanghvi
Rebecca Lin and Carson Eltoukhy attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
Pia Cohler attends San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
Blueprint Studios created the décor for all cocktail receptions, dinners, and the after-party, therefore the settings exceeded expectations. Combined with McCalls Catering and Events catering for all four dinners, the recipe worked beautifully. Moreover, Conjunto Karabali, Salsamania, and DJL! rocked the after-parties. As a result, each guest experienced a night made for delight. VIP proceeds from the Opening Night Gala benefited the San Francisco Symphony’s artistic, education, and community programs.
SF Symphony Opening Night Guest Artist Underwriters Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem
Barbara Brown, Ken McNeely and Angelique Mackley attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
Interior of the tent created by Blueprint Studios for Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
Sabrina Buell and Yves Béhar attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
Simone Derayeh and Alex Nazari attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
Blueprint Studios set the scene at City Hall for San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
Symphony Supper Co-Chairs Elizabeth Allin and Emilie Lynch
Nick Tan, Meredith Tan, Whitney Hudak and Michael Del Grosso attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
Jimmy Mitchell with Symphonix Dinner Chair Annie Buckman
Party ready on Grove Street outside of Davies Symphony Hall on Opening Night
Nioufar Talebi and Joshua Robison attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
Jared Silver and Adam Swig attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
Kaitlyn Krieger and Mike Krieger attend San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala 2019
MTT’s Opening Night Gala
Concert Program:
Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor
Susanna Phillips, soprano
Jennifer Johnson, Canomezzo-soprano
Jonathan Tetelman, tenor
Ryan McKinny, bass-baritone
Luke Kritzeck, lighting design
San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bohlin, director
San Francisco Symphony
GLINKA: Overture toRuslan and Ludmila
COPLAND: “The Dodger” from Old American Songs
Gordon GETTY: Shenandoah
COPLAND: “Golden Willow Tree” from Old American Songs
BRITTEN: Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
BEETHOVEN: IV. Finale: Ode, “To Joy” from Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Opus 125