What: Dallas Symphony Orchestra Gala
Where: The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center
The 411: The 2022 DSO Gala, on October 1, was a merry mega-event.
First, Dallas' most ardent symphony patrons donned their designer gowns and tuxes for an exclusive dinner in the Meyerson lobby. Black and White Ball was the theme, dreamed up by event chairs Donna and Herb Weitzman, and designed and executed by Todd Fiscus' Todd Events. Attendees feasted on short rib and salmon over a mushroom risotto prepared by in-house caterer Culinaire International.
A much larger crowd then arrived and filled the concert hall for an evening of operetta performance. After an on-stage welcome from the Weitzmans, DSO president Kim Noltemy, and board chair CeCe Smith, DSO music director Fabio Luisi led the orchestra and special gala artists, mezzo-soprano Susan Graham and baritone Thomas Hampson, in selections from Lehár’s The Merry Widow.
DSO board member Quincy Roberts narrated, which helped those not familiar with the opera follow along. Singers from SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts performed alongside the stars on one of the numbers, and members of the Dallas Black Dance Theatre's DBDT II, under artistic director Nycole Ray, performed as can-can dancers.
After the performance, the lobby was transformed into a nightclub for an after-party. The beats of a DJ reverberated across the cathedral-like acoustics, from one end to the other. Projected moving images on the walls added to the "clubby" vibe. Patrons could grab a drink at the bar, or fuel up with a cup of coffee and a few sweet petit-fours. While some lingered at tables, others danced to the DJ's tunes.
The stars of the earlier performance, Graham and Hampson, mingled and took photos with fans.
Proceeds from the gala benefit the DSO’s education and community programs. While an exact fundraising figure was not reported, the revenue goals for the evening were met, they say.
Who: Cristina Duran Morris, Nick Adamson, Jeff Netzer, Lynn McBee, Andy Smith, Paul von Wupperfeld, Trisha Cunningham, Greg Cunningham, Mary Cook, Grace Cook, Kevin Finamore, Stuart Stephenson, Tammy Cancela, Sandra Moon, Yon Jorden, Greg Hext, Kim Hext, Lisa Cooley, Clay Cooley, Zenetta Drew, Tom Mayer, Holly Mayer, Sonja McGill, Jennifer Stimpson, Andrea Herberstein, and Yulia Levin.
Photo courtesy of DSO
Stage narrator Quincy Roberts
Natalie Boerder, Kaleta Blaffer-Johnson, Meredith Connally, Jennifer Cifuentes, Nathalie Barrera, Hayden Hrncir.Photo by Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio
A quartet played Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes during dinner. Photo by Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio 