Sophisticated Hollywood glam mingled perfectly with the rock star life in true Houston fashion, as locals donned lavish, one-of-a-kind gowns to party with 500 of their closest friends — and ’80s star David Lee Roth — at the Houston Grand Opera’s Opera Ball.
Raising over $1.25 million for Opera Ball, co-chairs Dr. Elizabeth Grimm, while wearing a stunning custom-made David Peck gown, and Dr. Jack Roth turned the ballroom at Houston’s newest hotspot new Post Oak at Uptown Park into a glamorous oasis. Old Hollywood glamour awaited guests around every corner. Arriving at the Opera Ball guests stepped out of their cars in Houston onto the red carpet and directly into the HGO Bel Canto Club. HGO Events Director Brooke Rogers and Richard Flowers and The Events Company completely transformed the new Post Oak at Uptown Park into the swankiest Sunset Boulevard supper club. Creating the atmosphere with dramatic palm leaves, white calla lilies, glistening gold 14-foot palm trees that framed the 40-foot custom deco dance floor and a traditional bandstand literally setting the stage for a magical Hollywood style evening.
The Richard Brown Orchestra created that big-band sound as cigarette girls served trays of Champaign Coupes. Groucho Marks and Charlie Chaplain chatted up the glittering crowd and photobombed guests who were busy bidding on trips, vintage wine and jewels.
As one would expect from such a glamorous affair, fashion was on high display with Houston’s most divine dressed in their most glamorous. Beth Meucke slayed in Abyss paired with a handbag from local designer Simran Rihal. Vivian Wise wore Roberto Cavalli like she was born specifically for this dress. Alex Blair was the literal translation of the elegant golden age in Dolce & Gabanna, with her equally dapper husband Astley in a crisp white-jacket tuxedo from Saks. Houston favorite Carmen Marc Valvo’s classic black jumpsuit shone perfectly on Paula Mott draped with a vintage cape from her grandmother, while Hallie Vanderhider took everyone’s breath away in an ombre, tiered tulle Oscar de la Renta.
The Encore After Party, chaired this year by Drs. Ishwaria and Vivek Subbiah, has become as coveted a ticket as the Ball itself. In a performance that was a significant left turn for traditional HGO, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, David Lee Roth rocked the after party with the big band for a mini-set of his biggest hits, including his “California Girls,” “Just a Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody,” and the Van Halen megahit “Jump!”
The more than $1.25 million raised is incredibly important for HGO’s future. Many of Houston’s arts organizations were severely damaged by Hurricane Harvey making this year’s HGO Ball more impactful than ever. Since its inception in 1955, Houston Grand Opera has grown into an internationally renowned opera company. HGO enjoys a reputation for commissioning and producing new works, including fifty-four world premieres and seven American premieres since 1973. Touring extensively internationally, HGO is the only opera company to have won a Tony award, two Grammy awards, and two Emmy awards.
Notables: Opera Ball chairs Dr. Elizabeth Grimm, Dr. Jack Roth, Dr. Katherine Roth and Lincoln Jones; Lynn Wyatt, Margaret Alkek Williams; Joanne King Herring, Sue and Lester Smith, Whitney and Jim Crane, Betsy and Fred Griffin, Bobbie-Vee and Jerry Cooney, Dian and Harlan Stai, Jerry Ann and Victor Costa, Al Lasher, Carol and Mike Linn, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Betty and Jess Tutor, and Fady Armanious.
Hallie Vanderhider in Oscar de la Renta.
