Two big nights of music — two completely different audiences and venues. But that is Houston, something for everyone.
Let's begin with the high-brow, infinitely enjoyable Concert of Arias singers competition, sponsored each year by Houston Grand Opera. That black-tie evening began at Wortham Theater Center with pourings of bubbly courtesy of Pommery Champagne and proceeded to Cullen Theater where nine competitors sang their hearts out. But the beautiful music didn't begin until kudos were given to the evening's honorees, Janice and Tom Barrow, and the benefit chairs, Anne and Albert Chao.
Of the nine talented competitors, harvested from a field of 800 applicants, three went home with honors. Counter-tenor Anthony Roth Costanzo won both first place and the audience choice award for his selections by Handel. He's been singing since he was 11, has performed at Carnegie Hall and has a date to debut at the Metropolitan Opera. For the record, second place went to Devon Guthrie and third to Boris Dyakov.
More than 500 HGO supporters then adjourned to Wortham Center's Grand Foyer for a late-night supper from City Kitchen, the ice cream parfait the hit of the menu.
In addition to major underwriters Marianne and David Duthu and Jennifer and Doug Bosch, the music lovers included Bobbie-Vee and Jerry Cooney, Beth Madison and Dick Kuriger, Andrew Schirrmeister, Dian and Harlan Stai, Donna and Robert Bruni, Gracie and Bob Cavnar and HGO gala chairs Denise and Philip Bahr.
On stage at the Junior League
It was talent of a completely different sort that light-heartedly entertained for three consecutive nights at the Junior League of Houston Charity Ball. League members and a handful of men sang and danced their way through "Abracadabra: An Evening of Magic." By the time the final curtain dropped on the performance and the dinner/dance that followed, more than 1,000 troopers had witnessed the variety show and had raised $850,000 for Junior League projects.
Applause, applause for Charity Ball show chair Sara Litton and her team that included Kay Edwards, Bonnie Inaba, Allison McClanahan, musical director Bill Bartlett and professional choreographer Mistie Porter.
In the audience were Jeannie and Rich Chandler, Mary Eliza and Parker Shaper, Cynthia and Mickey Mills, Kathy and George Britton, Melissa Garlington, Perry and John Reed and Farley and Steve Erickson.
Albert Chao, left, Anne Chao and Anthony Roth Costanzo at Concert of Arias.
