N.O.W.: A gala celebration of New Operatic Work by Opera Philadelphia

    By
  • The Circuit a blog by Caroline Stewart
    • February 17, 2013
  • N.O.W. Co-Chairs R. Anderson Pew (left) and his wife Daria, with Opera Philadelphia Chairman Daniel K. Meyer and General Director David B. Devan (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

    N.O.W. Co-Chairs R. Anderson Pew (left) and his wife Daria, with Opera Philadelphia Chairman Daniel K. Meyer and General Director David B. Devan (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

  • Board member and N.O.W. Gala Committee member Ellen Berman Lee (left) with David A. Dubbeldam, and Independence Foundation President and CEO Susan Sherman (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

    Board member and N.O.W. Gala Committee member Ellen Berman Lee (left) with David A. Dubbeldam, and Independence Foundation President and CEO Susan Sherman (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

  • Nancy Harper (left) with N.O.W. Premier Sponsors Rita and Philip Harper, Marian and David Moskowitz, and Hakon and Maria Hakonarson (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

    Nancy Harper (left) with N.O.W. Premier Sponsors Rita and Philip Harper, Marian and David Moskowitz, and Hakon and Maria Hakonarson (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

  • Abelardo Lechter (left) and his wife Lynne, Heidi Kolberg, and Opera Philadelphia board member Carol Lawrence with her husband Raymond (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

    Abelardo Lechter (left) and his wife Lynne, Heidi Kolberg, and Opera Philadelphia board member Carol Lawrence with her husband Raymond (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

  • Baritone Gabriel Preisser, who sings the role of the Scottish Lieutenant Gordon in Silent Night, and Georgette Ciukuresku (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

    Baritone Gabriel Preisser, who sings the role of the Scottish Lieutenant Gordon in Silent Night, and Georgette Ciukuresku (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

  • Baritone Nathan Gunn, Director of Opera Philadelphia’s American Repertoire Council (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

    Baritone Nathan Gunn, Director of Opera Philadelphia’s American Repertoire Council (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

  • Tenor William Burden and soprano Kelly Kaduce, stars of Silent Night as the German opera singer Nikolaus Sprink and Anna Sorenson, Sprink's love interest (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

    Tenor William Burden and soprano Kelly Kaduce, stars of Silent Night as the German opera singer Nikolaus Sprink and Anna Sorenson, Sprink's love interest (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

  • Opera Philadelphia General Director David B. Devan (left) and Silent Night librettist Mark Campbell with Barbara A. Teichert, Production Underwriter for Silent Night, Opera Company Chairman Daniel K. Meyer, and Silent Night composer Kevin Puts (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

    Opera Philadelphia General Director David B. Devan (left) and Silent Night librettist Mark Campbell with Barbara A. Teichert, Production Underwriter for Silent Night, Opera Company Chairman Daniel K. Meyer, and Silent Night composer Kevin Puts (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

  • Cold Mountain composer Jennifer Higdon (center) with (from left) Curtis Institute of Music students soprano Rachel Sterrenberg, tenor Roy Hage, baritone Jarrett Ott, and baritone Jonathan McCullough (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

    Cold Mountain composer Jennifer Higdon (center) with (from left) Curtis Institute of Music students soprano Rachel Sterrenberg, tenor Roy Hage, baritone Jarrett Ott, and baritone Jonathan McCullough (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

  • Board member Peter Leone (left) and his wife Judy Leone with tenor William Burden (center), whose role of the German opera singer Nikolaus Sprink in Silent Night was underwritten by the Leones (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

    Board member Peter Leone (left) and his wife Judy Leone with tenor William Burden (center), whose role of the German opera singer Nikolaus Sprink in Silent Night was underwritten by the Leones (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

  • Dr. Andrew Wechsler (left) and his wife, board member and gala committee member Donna Wechsler, with actor David Hyde Pierce, member of Opera Philadelphia’s American Repertoire Council (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

    Dr. Andrew Wechsler (left) and his wife, board member and gala committee member Donna Wechsler, with actor David Hyde Pierce, member of Opera Philadelphia’s American Repertoire Council (Photo courtesy of Sofia Negron Photography)

Brought to you by Freemans Auctioneers, The Circuit, with Caroline Stewart, takes you to the Loews Philadelphia Hotel for Opera Philadelphia’s annual black tie benefit. Become a regular of our new blog to keep up with the most beneficial philanthropic events.

It was a glittering evening for opera lovers who attended Opera Philadelphia’s annual black tie benefit Feb. 2 at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. The gala’s 250 guests mingled with internationally renown baritone Nathan Gunn, director of Opera Philadelphia’s American Repertoire Council, and actor David Hyde Pierce, a council member, as well as performers from the company’s critically acclaimed production of Silent Night, including Silent Night stars tenor William Burden and soprano Kelly Kaduce.

The evening celebrated Opera Philadelphia’s American Repertoire Program, which is committed to producing an American work every year for 10 seasons. Silent Night, the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera by composer Kevin Puts and librettist Mark Campbell, marks the second opera in the series and ends Sunday at the Academy of Music. The opera is based on a true story during World War I when Scottish, French, and German soldiers, fighting in the trenches on the Western Front, laid down weapons and called for a truce on Christmas Eve.

Guests enjoyed cocktails, dinner, silent and live auctions, and musical performances from Silent Night, as well as Theodore Morrison and John Cox’s Oscar, premiering at the Academy of Music 2015, and Jennifer Higdon and Gene Scheer’s Cold Mountain, opening 2016. N.O.W: A Gala Celebration of New Operatic Work, co-chaired by Daria and Anderson Pew, raised more than $150,000 for Opera Philadelphia.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

You may also like

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal

Donate
Learn about WHYY Member benefits
Ways to Donate