“An Evening Where No One Sleeps” Gala Benefiting Young Patronesses of the Opera at Four Seasons Hotel Miami
Miami, FL – November 2, 2019 – Over 240 philanthropists and music lovers gathered at the Four Seasons Hotel Miami for Young Patronesses of the Opera (YPO)‘s 64th annual benefit to raise funds for music education. “An Evening Where No One Sleeps” drew inspiration from one of the most beloved arias in all of opera – the soul-stirring ‘Nessun Dorma’ from Turandot by Giacomo Puccini. YPO President Marianne Kircher, and Gala Co-Chairs Marta Alfonso, Magita Rojas and Lurenda Turner thanked benefactor Swanee DiMare for her 30 years support of YPO. Trish and Dan Bell were also honored for their generous contributions to YPO over the years. The elegant affair was sponsored by Fidelity Investments, Bunny Bastian, Morris & Anita Broad Philanthropic Fund, Marianne and Peter Kircher, Marta Alfonso and Annie Esformes. Ancient China, the setting of Turandot, Puccini’s final opera, was the theme of the elegant evening as guests moved through the silent auction along ‘The Silk Road’ and into the ‘Zen Garden’ filled with plum blossoms for cocktails, and finally into ‘The Imperial Palace’ for dinner and dancing. The highlight of the night was when tenors Graham Fandrei, Chad Johnson and Kuyna Rowley performed such a powerful rendition of ‘Nessun Dorma’ that the audience leapt to their feet in a standing ovation.