The San Francisco Symphony Gala
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Classical music lovers and philanthropists from the tech, finance and creative business worlds were out in force last week for the San Francisco Symphony’s 2017-2018 season opening night gala, proving once again how much the city adores music director Michael Tilson Thomas, now in his third decade at the podium.
Major longtime patrons at Davies Symphony Hall included Ann and Gordon Getty, Marcia and John Goldman, Nion McEvoy, Dede Wilsey, Barbro and Bernard Osher, John and Cynthia Gunn, and the Fisher family, who all gathered for cocktails before dinner in four glamorous venues. Priscilla B. Geeslin chaired the event, with Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem serving as honorary chairs.
“We meticulously planned our after-party disco outdoors along Grove Street, so we are very happy with the weather,” said symphony president Sakurako Fisher.
“We all love the symphony, and it’s wonderful to see our friends who’ve been away all summer,” said Allison Speer, who hosted a table (sponsored by Chanel, one of the evening’s many generous patrons) that included Zach Bogue and Marissa Mayer, Vanessa Getty, and Anne-Sophie Deneve.
The gala spurred many guests to wear couture and display significant jewels, including Stephanie Marver in a Calvin Klein Couture tulle skirted gown by Raf Simons and a Chanel feather tiara. Marissa Mayer wore a sequined fantasy gown with gold sunbursts on the shoulders by Gucci’s Alessandro Michele. Carolyn Chang chose an ostrich-feather-embellished black-and-white ensemble by Andrew Gn, while Dede Wilsey ornamented her Dolce & Gabbana black gown with a Bulgari pin to accentuate her Harry Winston diamond earrings.
This year’s gala concert opened with Leonard Bernstein’s rollicking “Overture to Candide,” commencing a season-long celebration of the composer’s centenary.
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed two exquisite pieces, Saint-Saëns’ “Cello Concerto No. 1” and Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme,” which received a thunderous 10-minute standing ovation.
Guests who gathered later for the after-parties included Yurie Pascarella, Maria Quiros, Navid Armstrong, Beth Townsend, Rose Fisher, and Matt and Pia Cohler.
By: Diane Dorrans Saeks
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