What must casual passersby have thought was happening at the Wortham Theater Center, its plaza invaded by retro-futuristic sculptural shapes that formed a corridor-like red carpet, welcoming guests in gleaming frocks to a refined evening affair on Saturday, April 13.
Inside, the Houston Grand Opera Mirror Ball disguised the reds and peaches of the expansive lobby in favor of platinum sparkle from floor to ceiling, accented by a giant disco ball, motion-activated balls dangling from up above, and bold hot pink and purple florals. Those petals also found their way into the entry cocktail — a whimsical gin and tonic. For those who regularly attend performances in the Eugene Aubry-designed space, one would certainly not recognize it, courtesy of the creativity of Richard Flowers, HGO staff, and Isabel and Ignacio Torras. He lights up when you call him “Nacho,” his preferred nickname.
It was Lynn Wyatt who first enticed the Torras to support HGO, then becoming more stalwart donors by contributing to shows that elevated Spanish and Latin culture, including the zarzuela Suite Española with HGO artistic advisor Ana María Martínez and the company’s second mariachi opera, El Milagro del Recuerdo. Personally, though Nacho had his own, shall we say, short-lived career as a crooner, studying singing for a year so the former commodities trader could serenade guests at his daughter's wedding in Barcelona.
Then again, the evening was dedicated to young people, as general director and CEO Khori Dastoor said. The fundraiser was earmarked for the Community and Learning Program, which reaches two-thirds of the nonprofit’s audience with initiatives such as Opera To-Go. As for the mirror leitmotif? A reference to HGO’s spirit of reflecting what’s relevant to locals.
Celebrating 40 years with HGO, chorus director Richard Bado summoned party-goers to warm up their voices and participate in a charming performance of “So Long, Farewell” from The Sound of Music featuring the Von Trapp family children. The young artists, who were selected from among hundreds of hopefuls who auditioned for the roles, are set to perform the Rodgers and Hammerstein show from April 26 to May 12.
In between courses by chef Luis Roger of BCN and MAD Houston, mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard and the chorus enchanted with the famous “L'amour est un oiseau rebelle” from Bizet's Carmen. The aria, known more colloquially as the “Habanera,” was quite apropos as a nod Nacho's Spanish heritage. When it came to sweets, toi toi toi goes to Rocambolesc, located in Uptown Park, as the gelato concept from Spain was a fab addition to the menu. As the owners of BCN, MAD and Rocambolesc, the Torras indeed had imparted a unique flavor in this fundraiser.
The circular, reflective dance floor burst to life with nostalgic '80s and '90s beats, courtesy of entertainment by Universal Crush from Nashville. Adding to the excitement, dancers sporting disco ball headpieces distributed feather boas and other quirky accessories while sweet mocktails served in disco-themed steins magically appeared. All the dazzling hoopla led to $1.3 million raised for HGO.
Among the crowd of 450 were artistic and music director Patrick Summers, board chair Claire Liu and Joe Greenberg, Janet Gurwitch and Ron Franklin, Carey Kirkpatrick, Ann and Jonathan Ayre, Chau Nguyen and Jay Sears, Lily Jang and Julien Nolan, Megan and Jason Ryan, Dancie and Jim Ware, Jack Bell, Tom Ajamie, Janet and John Carrig, Beth Madison, Sushila and Durga Agrawal, Anne and Albert Chao, Marianne and Joe Geagea, Teresa and José Ivo, Margaret Alkek Williams, Rachelle and Jeff Ball, Penny and Paul Lloyd, Lori and David LePori, Elizabeth and Ilyas Colombowala, Isabel and Danny David, Allyson Pritchet and Brian Dunham, Dian and Harlan Stai, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, and C.C. and Duke Ensell.
