Photos from “A Perfect Pairing” Gala

On Saturday Seattle Opera supporters enjoyed a magnificent Gala, “A Perfect Pairing,” celebrating Valentine’s Day, the immortal love of Orpheus and Eurydice, and our exceptional education and community engagement programs and Young Artists program. Here are some memories of a delightful evening:

The Gala took place in Woodinville, at the historic Chateau Ste. Michelle winery on the banks of the lovely Sammamish River. (Alan Alabastro, photo)

The evening began with a reception in the Barrel Room. Here Michael Souter, Karen Souter, Rosemary Willman, Seattle Opera trustee Ken Willman, and Patricia Caves enjoy a tasting of Chateau Ste. Michelle reserve wines. (Scott Squire, photo)

In addition to the exclusive wine-tasting, Gala attendees enjoyed a special tour of the winery and superb wine pairings with dinner: Chateau Ste. Michelle’s 2010 Cold Creek Riesling and 2010 Chardonnay from Columbia Valley, and 2006 Late Harvest Chenin Blanc from Horse Heaven Hills. (Alan Alabastro, photo)

The dinner included butter lettuce with apples, white cheddar and toasted hazelnuts tossed with a creamy apple cider dressing, followed by slow-roasted New York strip loin with bourguignon sauce, white truffle mashed potatoes, and seasonal vegetables; dessert was a caramel cake with milk chocolate mousse and hazelnut florentine. (Alan Alabastro, photo)

Tenor William Burden, who returns to Seattle Opera’s stage next week as Orphée in Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice, sang Lensky’s aria from Eugene Onegin for the guests. (Alan Alabastro, photo)

Baritone Joseph Lattanzi, a member of Seattle Opera’s Young Artists Program, then joined Burden for the beautiful duet “Au fond du temple saint” from Bizet’s Pearl Fishers. Young Artist Christopher Lade accompanied the singers, who were enthusiastically cheered by the audience. (Alan Alabastro, photo)

Attendees (including Trustee Ron Hosogi, Dean Tweeddale, Jiawen Shi, Board President William T. Weyerhaeuser, and David Jones, pictured here) supported Seattle Opera at the Gala. Net proceeds, which will help Seattle Opera bring the joy of song, dance, and visual art to students, teachers, and adults throughout our community as we cultivate the next generation of professional opera singers, amounted to nearly $170,000. (Alan Alabastro, photo)

JJ McKay and Sandra Dunn enjoy dancing to the music of the Dudley Manlove Quartet, which concluded the Gala. (Scott Squire, photo)