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Palm Beach Opera celebrated the company’s upcoming gala and honored 2023 Gala Chairs Merrill and Charles Gottesman with an intimate performance by resident artists at Lee Ann and Jeffrey Alderton’s Palm Beach home on January 5th.

Palm Beach Opera’s largest annual fundraising event, the gala showcases an internationally-recognized opera star over an elegant dinner at an opulent venue. This season, the 2023 Gala will feature an exclusive performance by Piotr Beczała at The Breakers Palm Beach on Feb. 6.

Attendees included invited guests and the company’s Gala Council and Gala Host Committee Members. The reception featured a lovely buffet, cocktails, and passed hors d’oeuvres. Jeffrey Alderton welcomed guests, expressed gratitude for the gala supporters in attendance, and acknowledged the efforts of Gala Chairs Merrill and Charles. Along with his wife Lee, Alderton also shared his admiration for the company’s growing board of directors and dedicated administrative staff.

General & Artistic Director David Walker recognized the Gala Host Committee, Gala Council, and Gala Chairs for their support, and shared insights into the company’s continued impact. Each season, more than 1,000 singers from across the country and abroad apply for PBO’s nationally-recognized resident artist training programs. The singers train with esteemed guest faculty, appear on the mainstage in supporting roles, add strength to the chorus, and gain valuable performance and technical experience over a five-month residency. In addition to their efforts in artist training, Palm Beach Opera also provides diverse education and community engagement programs across Palm Beach County at no cost. This season, the company plans to reach over 20,000 individuals.

“Thanks to the passion of our Gala Chairs, Gala Host Committee, and Gala Council, we are presenting another world-renowned opera star at this year’s gala. Against the backdrop of The Breakers’ iconic venue, the intimate performance by sought-after tenor Piotr Beczała is sure to make for an unforgettable evening,” said Walker. “Matched with the continued impact of our rigorous artist training programs and meaningful arts education, Palm Beach Opera is poised for another successful season of community engagement, growth, and incredible artistry.”

PBO Bailey Apprentice Artists Maria Vasilevskaya, Bergsvein Toverud, and Edward Bland performed a selection of opera and musical arias accompanied by PBO pianist and vocal coach Ksenia Leletkina. More than 75 guests attended the intimate event.

Palm Beach Opera’s Gala Host Committee Reception was attended by Jeffrey and Lee Ann Alderton, Stefano and Carole Acunto, John Archer and Kip O’Brien, Anne Bazik, Robert and Meg Biscup, Stanley and Roberta Bogen, David Brodsky, Anne Carmichael, Julie and Robert Desnick, David and Joan Genser, Charles and Merrill Gottesman, Frederic Friedman and Cathy Demain Mann, Arlette Gordon, Allan and Mickey Greenblatt, Judy and Jerry Kaufman, Paulette Koch, Ingrid Kosowsky, Paul Kozloff, Martin and Susan McGuinn, Stephen Mottola, Anka Palitz, Donna K. Raggio and John Raggio, James and Jennifer Takats, Sanford Baklor and Maxine Marks, and Palm Beach Opera’s General & Artistic Director David Walker among others.

For information on Palm Beach Opera’s 2023 Gala, please contact Director of Development Barbara Tucker at btucker@pbopera.org.

Palm Beach Opera presented “beautiful voices” and elegant receptions at its inaugural Resident Artist Showcase on Dec. 10 at The Cornelia T. Bailey Opera Center, marking the first public event at PBO’s recently-purchased space.

The inaugural Resident Artist Showcase featured a curated evening of opera scenes performed by PBO’s Benenson Young Artists and Bailey Apprentice Artists inside The Cornelia T. Bailey Opera Center. The recently-purchased 18,000 sq. ft. building—which coincided with a groundbreaking six-million-dollar donation—serves as a company hub for rehearsals, training, wardrobe and wig design, production management, and more. The 2023 Season resident artists are the first to train and perform inside.

Upon arrival, guests enjoyed food and beverage stations under the bistro lights at The Cornelia T. Bailey Opera Center’s outdoor space. After the strolling supper, the showcase began inside The Cornelia T. Bailey Opera Center’s intimate Rehearsal Hall and featured excerpts from “The Tales of Hoffman,” “Eugene Onegin,” “Pagliacci,” “Lucia di Lammermoor,” “Don Giovanni,” and more, all accompanied by piano.

Part of the company’s Discovery Series initiative, which aims to present lesser-known works at smaller South Florida venues, the Resident Artist Showcase allows PBO to expand its artistic offerings and foster artistic growth at the same time. The showcase provided an opportunity for artists in the programs to perform tailored scenes selected specifically for their voice and career track.

“The Discovery Series serves as a space where Palm Beach Opera can present operatic work outside of the standard repertoire and create a valuable opportunity for singers to grow as artists at the same time,” said General & Artistic Director David Walker. “We are thrilled to bring this cultural experience to our community, mark our first event at the new building with a first-ever showcase, and provide a unique performance opportunity to another season of emerging artists.”

Prior to each scene, acclaimed stage director Paul Curran shared insights into the opera, adding a unique element to the performance. After the showcase, guests enjoyed a special meet-the-cast reception featuring passed desserts and coffee.

The one-night-only showcase was celebrated by the Palm Beach Daily News for the “divine” and “commanding” performances, and for the “perfect chemistry” and “beautiful voices” seen on stage.

“Each season, thousands of singers from across the country and abroad apply for PBO’s competitive artist training programs, and we are incredibly proud that PBO is attracting increasingly talented artists,” said Walker. “This international recognition is a testament to the importance and impact of our sought-after programs.”

Carole H. Acunto, Lee Ann and Jeffrey Alderton, Sanford Baklor and Maxine Marks, Anne Bazik, Seton Bitterly, William and Solange Brown, Robert and Julie Desnick, Sanford Fisher, Fred Friedman with Cathy Demain Mann, Robert and Ann Fromer, David and Joan Genser, Susan and Ross Hechinger, Robert Krauss with Anne Hummel, Amin Khoury, Henry and Marsha Laufer, Ada Du Maurier, Peter and Elaine McCombs, Diana Olney, Donna K. and John Raggio, Philip and Jane Rylands, Dennis and Roseanne Williams, Ann Michele Worrall, and General & Artistic Director David Walker were all in attendance among others. The Resident Artist Showcase performance was sponsored by Judy and Jerry Kaufman.

Palm Beach Opera’s 2023 Season continues with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” On Jan. 20-22, Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte” on Feb. 24-26, and Verdi’s “Falstaff” on March 24-26 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, visit pbopera.org.