Shelby's Social Diary
Glamour time: Houston Symphony Opening Night brings out black-tie wows
It's official. The fall social season has begun in earnest with the first post-Labor Day black-tie soirée — the Houston Symphony Opening Night Gala.
Albeit familiar to veterans of the social swirl, the vision of women in long gowns and men in tuxedos arriving in their fine wheels at Jones Hall for a night of splendid music remains one of the more glamorous scenes of the season.
Saturday night continued the tradition as more than 300 symphony patrons stepped out in their party finery for the concert and the gala dinner that followed. This year, that late-night repast took place in the Bank of America Center lobby, a few quick steps across Louisiana Street from the doors of Jones Hall.
At the helm of this celebration of the season were chairs Nancy and Bob Peiser who orchestrated their own night of beautiful music with honorees Barbara and Ulyesse LeGrange in mind. That venerable duo is known for their love of music and for their agile ballroom dancing.
All the key players were in attendance from symphony executive director/CEO Mark Hansonand wife Christina to Symphony Society president Bobby Tudor and wife Phoebe to board chair Ed Wulfe and wife Lorraine. Symphony music director Hans Graf,always the lively dinner partner, joined those sitting down to the Viennese-themed dinner from Jackson & Co., a nod to the musical focus of the concert.
Austrian beef goulash, anyone? That course was grandly served in lion's head bowls and accompanied with bread dumplings. And for dessert — sacher torte and linzer torte.
Among the notables were Betty and Jess Tutor, Helen and Jim Shaffer, Viviana and David Denechaud, Beth Madison with Ralph Burch, Tara and David Wuthrich, Judy and Scott Nyquist, Elizabeth and Gary Petersen and Diane Lokey Farb with Ceron.