Society: A starry, special evening for San Diego Opera

Matthew Strauss with Ailyn Perez, Iris Strauss and Stephen Costello. (Photo by Margo Schwab)

On a clear February 21 evening, Iris and Matthew Strauss graciously hosted and underwrote San Diego Opera’s “Thank You Party” for Platinum Producers’ Circle donors and 2010 gala patron sponsors – and what could be a better place to host the event than at their uniquely art-filled home appropriately named Rancho del Arte?

“Matthew and I loved having the evening for the opera patrons and Platinum Producers’ Circle members,” said Iris Strauss. “They are a very devoted and generous group of people who keep San Diego Opera alive and well. We try once a year to do something very special for them.”

And they did.

The evening featured an intimate cocktail reception followed quickly by a world class performance by Romeo and Juliet’s opera stars Stephen Costello and Ailyn Perez.  Their chosen program for the evening was to sing “Dein ist mein ganzes Herz” from Das Land des Lächelns by Franz Lehar, “Chi il bel sogno di Doretta” from La rondine by Giacomo Puccini, “Core n’grato” by Salvatore Cadillo, “Nana” by Manuel de Falla, “And This Is My Beloved” from Kismet by Wright/Forrest – a tribute to the Strausses, and another timeless classic, the Balcony Scene (“Tonight”) from West Side Story, by Leonard Bernstein.

Costello and Perez were accompanied by Dr. Nicolas Reveles on piano.  The tremendous performances were followed by tremendous applause.

Among the terrific guests there were Barbara Bloom, the Lead Title Sponsor for the San Diego Opera Gala, Valerie (in L’Wren Scott) and Harry Cooper, Olivia and Peter Farrell, San Diego Opera’s Ann and Ian Campbell, Audrey Geisel with Alex Butterfield, Teresa and Harry Hixson, Teresa and Merle Fischlowitz, Joan and Irwin Jacobs (they hosted this event last year), Jeanne Jones and Don Breitenberg, Gala sponsors Lynda and Richard Kerr, Rusti Bartell, Camila Arnold and David Kleinfeld, Claire Reiss with Lilly Cheng, Ivor and Colette Royston, Erna and Andrew Viterbi, Sheryl and Harvey White and Faye Wilson.

Conversation buzz resonated about the current production of Nabucco to the upcoming productions of Romeo and Juliet and La Traviata.

Dinner by Robert Armstrong’s superb Hyatt Regency La Jolla team included an antipasto salad,  “lemon-y” veal picatta, fettuccine broccolini and tiramisu and spumoni ice cream.

“With huge thanks to Iris and Matt Strauss, our annual Platinum Producers’ Circle ‘Thank You Party’ was a tremendous success,” Ann Campbell said.  “The stars from Romeo and Juliet (Stephen Costello and Ailyn Perez) sang a spectacular program of classic arias to favorite American musical songs, the guests enjoyed a delicious Italian-themed dinner and everyone celebrated the beauty of the Strausses’ contemporary art collection following dessert.  The generosity of everyone attending truly ‘makes music worth seeing’ in our community.  We are beyond grateful to Iris and Matt who ensure that everyone involved in the Opera feels the genuine appreciation of their generous participation.”

“Incredible evening hosted by two very special individuals, Iris and Matthew Strauss,” added Lynda Kerr.  “Richard and I thank them so very much for their tireless support of the Arts in San Diego … They inspire us to do what we can to make our community a better place.”

To learn more about the San Diego Opera, visit www.sdopera.com .

To view more photos and coverage of this event, visit www.thesocialdiary.com

Margo Schwab is the co-owner and editor of TheSocialDiary.com, the society reporter and specialty reporter for San Diego Home & Garden Magazine, and the society writer for San Diego News Network. To notify her about your upcoming event, e-mail mschwab@san.rr.com.

Tags: Ailyn Perez, Alex Butterfield, Andrew Viterbi, Ann Campbell, Audrey Geise, Barbara Bloom, Camila Arnold, Claire Reiss, Colette Royston, David Kleinfeld, Don Breitenberg, Dr. Nicolas Reveles, Erna Viterbi, Faye Wilson, Harry Cooper, Harry Hixson, Harvey White, Hyatt Regency La Jolla, Ian Campbell, Iris Strauss, irwin jacobs, Ivor Royston, Jeanne Jones, Joan Jacobs, la traviata, Lilly Cheng, Lynda Kerr, Matthew Strauss, Merle Fischlowitz, Nambucco, Olivia Farrell, Peter Farrell, Platinum Producers' Circle, Rancho del Arte, Richard Kerr, romeo and juliet, Rusti Bartell, San Diego Opera, SDNN, Sheryl White, Stephen Costello, Teresa Fischlowitz, Teresa Hixson, Valerie Cooper

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