By all means, speak up if you disagree, but in my humble opinion, Opera Colorado’s season opening gala felt a whole lot like the Opera Colorado of years past: warm, welcoming and a joy to be a part of.
Time marches on and all that, but for those who dearly missed how friendly and fun the Opera Colorado scene was when the late Nat Merrill was at the helm, well, the Sept. 26 gala chaired by Judy Black and Susan Noble was the proverbial breath of fresh air.
The whole thing brought back to life those halcyon days some figured were gone for good.
The days before a now-departed administration told the Opera Colorado Guild to take a hike (OK, so fundraising wasn’t its strongest suit, but the members did serve as the face of the opera, a group that brought the company to life for the community at large); and the days when Merrill and his then-wife, the late Louise Sherman, would sweep grandly into the opening night after-party, he in crimson- lined cape and she in an elaborate gown chosen as carefully as the tenors and sopranos who’d sung on the Boettcher Concert Hall stage just moments before.
Those parties made opera more user-friendly, if you will. Sometimes they’d be held in LoDo, at the former Cafe Giovanni or Stuart- Buchanan Antiques, and the stars always attended, often having just as much fun as the patrons. Nat and Louise would have their son, Christopher, in tow and the youngster would struggle to stay awake. About a half-hour into the festivities he’d put his little head on the table and fall asleep. (A grown-up Christopher now has a yoga studio in New York.)
Opening Night 2008, with a crowd that mixed young and old, began with cocktails and substantial hors d’oeuvres on the third floor of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Following a delightful concert in the main auditorium by the legendary Frederica von Stade, everyone, including the mezzo soprano and accompanist Jake Heggie, repaired to a beautifully decorated (in fall colors and Neiman Marcus butterflies by Rassman Design) Kevin Taylor’s at the Opera House for a late-night supper.
Dessert and dancing on the Ellie stage rounded out the night.
Opera Colorado board member Michael Marks, whose friendship with von Stade spans the decades, sponsored her appearance and she sat at his table for the three-course dinner. Merrill’s widow, Pamela Meyers Merrill, was at the table next to them with a group of friends that included Gary and Jacqueline Greer, Margaret Cunningham, Helen Santilli and Dr. Lyn Barber; and Jill Crow.
General director Greg Carpenter and board chairwoman Sheila Bisenius moved through the room, thanking and welcoming such supporters as title sponsors Susan and Jeremy Shamos; Ellie Caulkins; Bob and Liane Clasen; Marlis and Shirley Smith; Bob and Kalleen Malone; Dick and Jean Watt; Louis and Ruth York; Sandy Vinnik; Leonard and Alice Perlmutter; Marvin and Judi Wolf; Norm and Sunny Brownstein; Sherrye Berger; Jerry and Debi Tepper; Merrill Shields and Ray Thomasson; Neal Groff; Hugh Grant and Merle Chambers; Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld; Dick and Marcia Robinson; Karen Brody; Chris and Joy Dinsdale; Tanya Mathews; Dr. Constantine and Electra Falliers; and Bob and Betsy Swift.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also,
