If Cupid ever took up a baton, he might’ve conducted the 2025 Houston Grand Opera Ball.
With more than 450 guests dressed to the nines and enough florals to make Botticelli blush, the Love is in the Air–themed evening on April 5 transformed the Wortham Theater Center into an opera-fueled ode to romance. Chaired by longtime HGO champion Margaret Alkek Williams, the ball raised more than $2 million, edging out the record she set herself back in 2014.
Love may be timeless, but Williams has a magic touch for the moment.
From the light-blue carpet arrival to the floating bubbles (courtesy of J&D Entertainment) and string quartet spins on familiar pop ballads, every element winked at the theme. Guests passed towering columns and lush blooms inspired by a romantic Roman garden, snapped selfies with 360 Event Photography, and got personalized poems from The Haikuists during cocktail hour.
Call it operatic whimsy — with a high-society twist.
But the moment that truly hushed the crowd came courtesy of beloved mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade. Affectionately known as “Flicka,” the legendary chanteuse surprised with an exquisite rendition of Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns,” accompanied by HGO artistic and music director Patrick Summers. The tribute to honorees Dian and Harlan Stai, philanthropic pillars of HGO, was more than applause-worthy.
Following heartfelt remarks by HGO general director and CEO Khori Dastoor, the white-tie throng were treated to a dinner from City Kitchen Catering: A chilled romanesco soup, a duet of prime beef and pan-seared sea bass, and a decadent chocolate explosion of a finale. Then it was time to hit the dance floor.
And hit it they did.
The Party Feels band lived up to their name, igniting the floor well into the night. Flower girls floated through the crowd with twirl-worthy energy, and Twirl Cotton Candy kept the sugar levels high for the late-night crew. One guest was overheard declaring the dancing “off the charts” — a fitting finale to an evening steeped in glam, good vibes, and operatic joy.
Among those in the crowd were Ann and Karl Stern, Anna Dean, Anna Winter, Anne and Albert Chao, Allyson Pritchett, Aaron and Sarah Stai, Astley Blair, Betty and Jesse Tutor, Bill and Elizabeth Kroger, Brigitte Kalai, Brittany Clark, Charles and Lily Foster, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, David Wuthrich, Denise Reyes, Drs. Rachel and Warren Ellsworth, Fady Armanious and Bill Baldwin, Dr. Franklin and Cindi Rose, Hallie Vanderhider, Hector and Alejandra Torres, Jim and Dancie Ware, Jane and Rusty Beard, José and Teresa Ivo, Jim and Molly Crownover, Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Liz Graves, Marcus and Sarah Watts, Marguerite Swartz, Maria and Omar Alaoui, Marty Dudley, Matthew Healey, Mike and Linda Fox, Nick and Beth Zdeblick, Penny and Paul Loyd, Richard Flowers, Richard and Elizabeth Husseini, Roger Winter, Scott and Geraldina Wise, Shelby Hodge and Shafik Rifaat, Teresa Procter, Theresa and Peter Chang, Tucker and Gina Bridwell, and Yolanda and Bill Knull.
