TWO DAZZLING STARS OF THE OPERA WORLD - mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack & tenor Alek Shrader were the guests of honor at an elegant fundraising dinner for the ARIZONA OPERA, held at the gorgeous Santa Fe home of Debbie and Jim Quirk - residents of both Santa Fe and Tucson.
The Arizona Opera League in Tuscon has been doing these Opera Feasts for the past several years - always themed and presented 2-3 weeks prior to the operas performed each season. But last year they brought their fundraising FEAST to Santa Fe along with a wonderful group of Arizona opera enthusiasts who took in several Santa Fe operas and attended the dinner. It was a hit, so the AZO decided to do it again!
When the guests arrived the tables were set...drinks and hors'doeuvres were served on the back patio...and there was a lot of opera chat...
T H E S T A G E W A S S E T
When the guests arrived the tables were set...drinks and hors'doeuvres were served on the back patio...and there was a lot of opera chat...
Before dinner, guests were treated to a private performance by the beautiful Daniela Mack - who starred in the SFO's new production of CARMEN - and husband Alex Shrader who played Ernesto in Donezetti's Don Pasquale. Last year Bel Canto tenor Lawrence Brownlee, who played Umberto in Rossini's LA DONNA DEL LAGO at the Santa Fe Opera, was the honored guest.
AZO General Director Ryan Taylor welcomed everyone to the special benefit evening and graciously introduced the guests of honor.
T H E D I N N E R
Our chef for the evening - Jean Cooper - is the past president of the Arizona Opera League and has been creating these amazing fundraising dinners for the past several years. To say that she is organized is an understatement. Everything for the dinner was ferried from Tuscon to Santa Fe - ingredients, dinnerware, glasses - and Jean took over the Quirk's kitchen preparing the five-course feast.
A wonderful AZO volunteer!
T H E G U E S T S
Many, many happy faces.
