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All Hands Were On Deck For The Dallas Opera’s First Night Event Celebrating Its 62nd Season

Nov 20, 2018 11:30 AM by Glenn Hunter

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More than one “first” was celebrated when The Dallas Opera presented its gala First Night event on Friday, October 12, at the Winspear Opera House. Not only was “The Flying Dutchman” presented to kick off the Opera’s 62nd season—the first time the renowned work by Richard Wagner had been staged by The Dallas Opera since 1994. But the performance also marked the debut of Ian Derrer as the Opera’s Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO, following Keith Cerny‘s departure from that post late last year.

Michael and Shelle Sills
Kern and Marnie Wildenthal

Following tradition, First Night began with a “red carpet arrival” and then a reception and dinner in the Sammons Park Tent. Around 215 guests gathered in the tent for the pre-opera festivities, including First Night Chairs Shelle and Michael Sills, Honorary Chairs Marnie and Kern Wildenthal, Advisory Chairs Dianne and Mark LaRoe., and season sponsors Nancy Nasher and David Haemisegger. Kern was resplendent in a red bow tie and matching cummerbund, which he wore for the first time since the Winspear opened back in 2009. (The cummerbund, he reported with a smile, even “had to be taken in.”) Kern’s ensemble matched Marnie’s striking scarlet gown, which also hadn’t been worn in years — and had to be “taken in” as well!

Georgina Hartland
Andy Smith
Roz Colombo
Randall Goss
Mitch Hart
Carlos Gonzalez

Additional guests spotted in the black-tie crowd included Debra Witter and Scott Chase (they’re both members of the Opera’s board of trustees), Andy Smith, Ann and Steve Stodghill (she’s president of the Opera’s Women’s Board), Lee Cullum, Diane and Hal Brierley, Agustin Arteaga, Carlos Gonzalez, Georgina Hartland, Rhonda and Fraser Marcus, Kara and Randall Goss, Rhonda Sargent Chambers, Roz Colombo, Linda and Mitch Hart, Lynn and Allen McBee (she’s the Opera Board chair), Selwyn Rayzor and Rich Moses, Kenny Goss and Joyce Goss. Joyce was fresh off chairing the Opera’s very successful First Sight Fashion Show and Luncheon on September 11 along with Marnie, the honorary co-chair.

Fraser Marcus, Steve Stodghill and Presley Mock
Hal Brierley
Lynn and Allan McBee
Joyce Goss and Kenny Goss
Rich Moses and Selwyn Rayzor
Carole Ann Brown and Linda Spina
Greg and Kim Hext and Ian Derrer

During the Wolfgang Puck-prepared dinner, Michael Sills thanked the assembled for attending, Ian was toasted warmly, and Kern disclosed that season subscription sales for the Opera had increased by 8 percent. Lynn also announced that Ellen Winspear would be next year’s First Sight Luncheon chair, and Kim and Greg Hext had agreed to serve as next year’s First Sight/First Night co-chairs. The meal itself was outstanding, from its amuse (coconut shell tropical fruit) and salad (Dungeness crab fritter) to its entree (44 Farms New York steak with spinach, mushrooms and steamed rice cakes). The wines were from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, and the “dessert” was a clever nod to “The Flying Dutchman” nautical theme: Miniature Life Preserver Donuts.

2018 First Night dinner
Rhonda Sargent Chambers, Ellen Winspear, Kara Goss, Rhonda Marcus and Elizabeth Kimple

Soon enough all hied to the opera house, where they were joined by nearly 1,100 others for the much-anticipated “Dutchman” performance. The production by the Canadian Opera Company did not disappoint. With the Opera’s Music Director Emmanuel Villaume wielding the baton, the mythical, three-act tale of a man who’s condemned to wander the seas—his only, faint hope for salvation the love of a faithful woman—was a spectacle from start to closing curtain. It starred Greer Grimsley as the Dutchman, Anja Kampe as Senta (the woman who could save him), and Jay Hunter Morris as Erik, Senta’s jilted suitor.

To conclude the evening, Downtown Fever performed at an after-party with the cast. On the late-night menu there was yet another item with a nautical theme: Sea Salt Popcorn Shrimp. The Dutchman doubtless approved.

For more photos of the gowns, gals and guys, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.

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Filed Under: A black tie affair, After party, Arts, Events, Opera, Philanthropy, Red carpet Tagged With: Agustín Arteaga, Allan McBee, Andy Smith, Anja Kampe, Ann Stodghill, Carlos Gonzalez, David Haemisegger, Debra Witter, Diane Brierley, Dianne Laroe, Ellen Winspear, Emmanuel Villaume, Fraser Marcus, Georgina Hartland, Greer Grimsley, Greg Hext, Hal Brierley, Ian Derrer, Jay Hunter Morris, Joyce Goss, Kara Goss, Keith Cerny, Kenny Goss, Kern Wildenthal, Kim Hext, Lee Cullum, Linda Hart, Lynn McBee, Mark Laroe, Marnie Wildenthal, Michael Sills, Mitch Hart, Nancy Nasher, Randall Goss, Rhonda Marcus, Rhonda Sargent Chambers, Rich Moses, Roz Colombo, Scott Chase, Selwyn Rayzor, Shelle Sills, Steve Stodghill

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