A ‘Fantasy’ party fit for royalty
By Elizabeth Hamel elizabeth@suntimes.com February 14, 2012 5:58PM
Marilyn and Chuck Arbetter of Evanston with Brian and Lorraine Arbetter of Chicago. Brian is checking silent auction bids on guild board member Lorraine's phone | Photo courtesy of Dan Rest/Lyric Opera of Chicago
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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:19AM
The Lyric Opera’s Guild Board presented a decadent, Russian-themed fete fit for a czar at the Fantasy of the Opera Ball on Friday night at the Civic Opera House.
Gentlemen sported tuxedos and ladies donned their finest gowns adorned with fur stoles and sparkling jewels to party like royalty at the 28th annual soiree.
In addition to more than 400 Guild guests, who tend to skew a tad older, the party welcomed Lyric’s young professionals chapter — led by Aleksandra Efimova — to join the festivities. With tickets priced at just $150, about 75 young partygoers came out to celebrate with their Guild Board cohorts and enjoy champagne, delicious eats and a special cabaret performance from Lyric Opera singers.
Anthony Freud, the opera’s new general director, made his “Fantasy” debut and acted as emcee for the program that featured Lyric’s singers show tunes. Numbers included “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” sung by Ashley Brown and “Ol’ Man River” performed by Morris Robinson from “Show Boat,” which will open Feb. 12 at the Civic Opera House.
Nancy Temple chaired the event, which netted about $470,000 for Lyric, while Courtney Rosen, Julie Anne Benson and Allison Alexander acted as co-chairs, heading up raffle and silent auction duties.
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