- Fort Worth Opera Ball 2003
A Gala Evening of Fun
& Celebration
October 11, 2003
A Soft Kiss, a Sip of Fine Wine, All for a Song:
 A
bright party atmosphere inside contrasted with the gloomy skies outside as Fort
Worth Opera Ball 2003 got under way on Saturday evening, October 11.
The impending rain did not, however, deter party goers from arriving on
time and spending an exciting evening at the Ridglea Country Club.
 Pre-party
festivities began with a reception for this year's special guests,
Metropolitan Opera soprano Patrice Munsel, Honorary Chair, and Whitfield J.
Collins, Fort Worth Opera Board member. Early arrivals were surprised by an
unscheduled visit by Fort Worth's most prominent musician, pianist Van
Cliburn, who unexpectedly dropped in to visit with his old friend, Patrice.
 Members
of the Fort Worth Opera Young Artist Program entertained guests in the
social hour before dinner. Mr. Jim Washington performed at the piano between
operatic selections.
 Dinner
began promptly at 8:00 PM. FWO General Director Darren K. Woods thanked
diners for their support of Fort Worth Opera, and Honorary Chair Patrice Munsel congratulated Mr.
Woods on the artistic excellence he has brought
to Fort Worth Opera, as well as his support of young singers through his
involvement with the
Seagle Music Colony in New York. Whitfield Collins
reminded everyone of the many years of artistic excellence that Fort Worth
Opera has provided to the community, and thanked them for their continuing
support.
 A
fine dinner of Petit Filet with Wild Mushroom Ragout and Scampi was
accompanied by special entertainment provided by Gerald Jones and Jan Ryberg
from the Fort Worth Classic Guitar Society. Coffee and a magnificent Key Lime Pie,
especially baked by the Ridglea Country Club, brought the dinner to a
satisfying conclusion.
 After
dinner dance music by CoCo Bann provided everyone with a good excuse to move
out onto the dance floor, while those not interested in dancing had plenty of
time to browse the Silent Auction tables before drifting into the Casino.
 Brice
Evans provided decorations for the party, based on this year's theme,
Wine, Women, and Song.
Brice has done decorations for many Opera Balls in the past, and this year
he made effective use of simple materials: red and white balloons,
feather boas, mirrored centerpieces festooned with grapes and grape leaves,
and Styrofoam cutouts in the shape of wine bottles. "My favorite color is
shiny!" quipped Brice.
 Initial
estimates indicate that this year's Fort Worth Opera Ball was a successful
fundraiser for the opera company, meeting the projected goal of over
$100,000. And party goers should agree that they had a fun evening
celebrating, as their reward for their significant support of Fort Worth
Opera and their contribution to its continuing artistic excellence. |
