With Houston Grand Opera's raucous presentation of The Barber of Seville for the launch of its 57th season, the stage was set for a lively post-performance dinner celebration. Indeed, the atmosphere in the festive party tent on Fish Plaza at Wortham Theater Center was exuberant.

Cheers and more cheers erupted as HGO artistic and music director Patrick Summers introduced the production's cast and crew. Fresh from the stage, the talents joined the black-tie dinner crowd that had awarded them with standing ovations and more cheers at the close of the performance.

Such was the enthusiasm of this sophisticated gathering that tables weren't seated until well past most of the patrons' bedtimes, the herald trumpets had strong competition from the happy chatter and the party didn't end until well past the midnight bewitching hour. Applause, applause for opening night dinner chairs and HGO patrons John Turner and Jerry Fischer.

The program included a welcome by HGO managing director Perryn Leech and comments from HGO board chair Beth Madison, who introduced the evening's honoree, Glen Rosenbaum. He was praised for the strides that HGO had made under his recent two-year stewardship as board chair.

Always welcome with open arms on opening night, David Gockley, HGO general director from 1972 to 2005, received special recognition at the dinner. Gockley has been general director of the San Francisco Opera since 2006.

Sitting down to the Italian-themed dinner catered by Tony's were a heady group including Margaret Williams and Jim Daniel, Lynn Wyatt, Ralph Burch, Denise Bush Bahr and Philip Bahr, Donna and Bob Bruni, Michelle and Frank Hevrdjes, Lora and Dr. John Clemmons, Isabel and Danny David, Bobbie Vee and Gerald Cooney, Brigitt Van Wijk, Anne and Dr. John Mendelsohn, Eileen and George Hricik and Karen and Murry Penner.

There were several tables of HGO Opening Night for Young Professionals members that added a youthful note to the festivities. Among those were Heather Pray, Divya and Chris Brown, Lauren Randle, Valerie and Tracy Dieteriech and Audrey and Brandon Cochran.