Two art forms collide to create A Celebration of Two Worlds: Music and Dance
The unique event featured performers from American Ballet Theatre and the Metropolitan Opera on Jan. 8.
By
Niki Kottmann
| 4:01 p.m. January 9, 2017
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Servers with shiny silver trays full of freshly poured champagne awaited attendees Jan. 8 as they climbed off the bus and made their way to the lobby outside The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota ballroom. The guests came from the Sarasota Opera House, where they were treated to a performance unlike any they had seen before.
A Celebration of Two Worlds: Music and Dance was a fusion of dance and opera — a whirlwind of performance art that included mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, composer and pianist Jake Heggie, principals of American Ballet Theatre Marcelo Gomes, Gillian Murphy and Daniil Simkin and several Sarasota Ballet dancers performing Graziano's “In a State of Weightlessness.”
Several attendees enjoyed the performances so much that they continued to discuss them well into the pre-dinner champagne reception.
After the reception, guests were seated for salad, but it wasn’t long before they were surprised with two more performances — one by mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and another by baritone Jaremiah Smith, who sang a special serenade to attendee Shanon Roher-Phillips.
Robert Goldfarb and Beth Uffner
Nancy Gold and Bruce Lehman
The ballroom was full for the event at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota on Jan. 8.
Dorsey and Tim Dumas
Cara and Sean Keenan
Composer and pianist Lake Heggie accompanies Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano.
Rick Bertoni and Edward Barnes
Gudrun and Jorgen Graugaard with Peggy Allen and Steven Dixon
Servers with trays full of champagne awaited attendees Jan. 8 at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.
Javier and Ana Suarez
Laura Shukovsky and Kim Cornetet
The ballroom was adorned in white Jan. 8 at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.
Mercedes O’Connor and Nancy Chiswick
Nancy Detert and Julie Harris
The ballroom was adorned in white Jan. 8 at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.
Sona Degann, Genevieve Geyser, David Degann and Lew Geyser
Jenni and Mario Messina
Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano, performs for attendees at dinner.
Ernest Kretzmer and Dorathea Sandland
Tina and Rick Lieberman with Sandy Rau
Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano, poses after performing for attendees at dinner.
Sally Schule, Kate Honea and Deb Coleman
Joy Norwood, Patricia Caswell, Gerri Aaron and Marvin Albert
Sarasota Orchestra members Margot Zarzyka, Shawna Trost, Jeanie Phelan and Nadine Trudell perform during the champagne reception.
Prominent members of both the Sarasota and the American performing arts community at large were seated at the head table.
Val Gill and Lyn Kayser
Baritone Jeremiah Smith performs for attendees during dinner.
Co-Chairwomen Audrey Robbins and Lynda Doery
Stephanie Sundine and Don Friedman
Baritone Jeremiah Smith serenades Shanon Roher-Phillips.
Maureen Steiner, Karol Foss and Hillary Steele
Mica Olson and Tony Natale
Bill Chapman, Mark Pritchett, Gina Taylor and Judy Cahn
Sarasota Ballet Chair Hillary Steele and Sarasota Ballet Director Iain Webb
Pat Kenny, Monique and Shane Chalke, Anne Kenny and Friends of the Sarasota Ballet President Janice Kunkel
