Champagne toasts flowed in the Rohatyn Room of Carnegie Hall Thursday night when Houston Symphony patrons celebrated the orchestra's New York presentation of The Planets — An HD Odyssey.

As many as 100 symphony fans were clearly on a cultural high as they ascended the curving staircase to the private room for the post-concert dessert party. The night crowned several days of partying for a number of Houstonians, who found the concert the perfect reason to play in NYC.

With a handful of Houston's creme-de-la-creme looking on Thursday night, Houston Symphony Society president Bobby Tudor and symphony music director Hans Graf heaped praise and thanks on the various entities responsible for the stellar concert evening. (See the New York Times review.)

Former symphony executive director Matthew VanBesien was recognized for his vision of marrying NASA technology with classical music, inspiration that resulted in the concert program. (VanBesien now departs for Australia to take up his post as head of the Melbourne symphony.)

The Methodist Hospital and the hospital's Center for Performing Arts Medicine was applauded for its partnership that funded the New York presentation of The Planets. That contingent included Methodist Hospital president and CEO Ron Girotto, center founder Dr. Richard Stasney and center director Todd Frazier.

Linn Energy was thanked in equal measure for its participation – funding of the Duncan Copp film of planet images. Carol and Michael Linn, Linn Energy founder, headed the oil company contingent that included Julia and Mark Ellis, Kolja Rockov, Charlene Ripley, Clay Jeansonne and Paula Beasley.

Savoring the Big Apple hospitality in spite of the bitterly cold weather were Margaret Alkek Williams (the Alkek Foundation underwrote the party), Elizabeth and Peter Wareing, Betty and Jesse Tutor, Diane Lokey Farb, Dancie and Jim Ware, Gib Walton, Nicholas Phillips, Sharon Adams and one-time Houstonian, retired CBS news anchor Dan Rather. Houston Endowment president Larry Faulkner, former University of Texas president, and wife Mary Ann were among the notables.

More parties

The schedule was packed for those traveling in the Methodist contingent. Thursday afternoon, all were invited to tour the newly-renovated Juilliard School of Music with alumni Todd Frazier as personal guide. Juilliard president Joseph Polisi welcomed the Houstonians, who visited studios and classrooms and rubbed elbows with the parents of students auditioning for the coveted drama spots.

Early evening, before the concert, Ginger and Jack Blanton hosted an intimate cocktail reception, in the building where they have a Manhattan pied-a-terre, for the Methodist group and symphony supporters. Weill Cornell Medical College dean Dr. Tony Gotto, a prominent figure at Baylor College of Medicine for two decades, was among the New Yorkers on hand.

Across town at NOBU Fifty Seven, Carol and Mike Linn hosted a six-course dinner for corporate friends. The feast began at 5:30 so that guests could make the concert in time.

On another note

The Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau took advantage of the concert to promote the Bayou City. With GHCVB CEO Greg Ortale at the helm, the Houston team entertained 100 New York decision-makers at a swank pre-concert cocktail party at the St. Regis Hotel. Wooed by bounteous servings of American caviar, foie gras and Kobe beef sliders, top-level meeting planners and non-profit execs were also offered tickets to the Carnegie Hall concert.