Albina Shagimuratova wows HGO crowd with magical mini concert in diamond-filled Bulgari salon

As gala kickoff parties go, the Houston Grand Opera evening at Bulgari was one for the books. Sure, the bubbly, the fancy hors d'oeuvres from Jackson & Co. and the high-fashion crowd are standards at these events.

But when soprano Albina Shagimuratova arrived to sing for HGO patrons, the event vaulted to the top.

 She performed for almost 45 minutes — a priceless experience that none will soon forget.  

The international singing star has received rave reviews for her performance in La Traviata at Wortham Center. So to have this intimate mini-concert in the Bulgari salon was pure magic. Particularly when the setting truly dazzled with the collection of one-of-a-kind high-end jewelry designs that managing director Karen Turner-Smith had flown in just for the evening.

Midway through the party for 100, HGO artistic and music director Patrick Summers introduced Shagimuratova and pianist Grant Loehnig to the stunned gathering. She performed for almost 45 minutes — a priceless experience that none will soon forget. 

HGO ball chair Cynthia Petrello was among those dreamy-eyed over the performance. The whole evening was inspired by the theme of her ball — "Viva Italia Fantasy" Opera Ball. Bulgari, one of the white-tie-and-tails gala major sponsors, celebrated its Italian heritage by hosting this evening.

As a special treat for the ladies, Turner-Smith arranged for several of them to model the to-die-for diamonds, rubies and emeralds. Valentine's gifts, anyone?

Counted among the lucky guests were HGO managing director Perryn Leech, Italian Consul General Fabrizio Nava, HGO board chair Beth Madison, Margaret Williams and Jim Daniel, Isabel and Danny David,  Ralph Burch, Valerie Palmquist Dieterich and Tracy Dieterich and Meredith Riddle.