Palm Beach Opera Toasts to Upcoming Season at New York City’s Lotos Club

As part of celebrations for its upcoming season, Palm Beach Opera held a private dinner at The Lotos Club in New York City, featuring special guests and an intimate performance, hosted by Palm Beach Opera board member Florence Kaufman on Oct. 17.

Attended by 50 Palm Beach Opera supporters, the evening began with a cocktail reception and passed hors d’oeuvres, followed by an exclusive recital featuring Benenson Young Artist Emily Blair and Bailey Apprentice Artist SarahAnn Duffy, accompanied by principal coach Timothy Cheung.

Following the performance, guests enjoyed a gourmet, seated dinner in the library. Throughout the evening, General Director David Walker acknowledged the evening’s hostess and celebrated all in attendance, while also sharing with attendees the company’s excellent financial and artistic position. Walker also recognized artistic guest of honor Denyce Graves, who recently performed in “a night of…Rising Stars & Classic Melodies” at Palm Beach Opera, and sang the role of Maria in the Metropolitan Opera performance of “Porgy and Bess” on Oct. 16.

The Lotos Club evening was the highlight of a series of events that took place during Palm Beach Opera’s three-day stay in New York City, from Oct. 15-17. Other events included performances of “Madama Butterfly” and “Porgy and Bess” at The Metropolitan Opera, along with a private backstage tour, as well as pre-performance dinners at The Grand Tier Restaurant, and a board of director’s meeting held at The Lotos Club.

“Our annual New York trip provides a unique opportunity for our supporters to deepen their own friendships, experience opera, and gain insight into the art form with behind-the-scenes access,” said General Director David Walker. “The culminating, final event at The Lotus Club serves as a celebration of our major supporters and board members, and a toast to our exciting 19-20 season.”

Among those in attendance were Palm Beach Opera General Director David Walker, Board Chairman Dennis Williams and his wife, Roseanne, Lee Ann and Jeffrey Alderton, Meg and Robert Biscup, Andrea Brodlieb, Rebecca and Randell Doane, Sue and Paul Efron, Ann and Robert Fromer, Denyce Graves, Peter Hoffman, Florence Kaufman, Judy and Jerry Kaufman, Roberta and Paul Kozloff, Monica and Scott Laurans, Claude and Roger Lourie, Elaine and Peter McCombs, Marc Solomon and Cindy Levine, Anka Palitz, and Jennifer and Jim Takats.

For the upcoming 19-20 season, Palm Beach Opera will present “Hansel and Gretel” at Delray Beach’s Crest Theatre, featuring the company’s artists in training, as well as Puccini’s “Turandot,” Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” and Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” at West Palm Beach’s Kravis Center. For more information, visit pbopera.org or call the box office at 561-833-7888.

Palm Beach Opera is dedicated to producing live opera at an international standard of excellence, to enriching the life of the communities it serves with a diverse offering of educational programs, and to training the next generation of opera stars. Founded in 1961, the fully professional Palm Beach Opera presents main stage performances at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach and is a proud member of OPERA America and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.