Segerstrom Center for the Arts Holds 46th Candlelight Concert

Casey Reitz, President Segerstrom Center For The Arts and Elizabeth Segerstrom

A beautiful winter’s spell seemed to have been cast over Segerstrom Center for the Arts, creating a magical setting for its 46th Candlelight Concert. More than 400 guests gathered on Friday, December 6, contributing more than $2.79 million to support the Center’s array of stellar entertainment, artistic, education and community engagement programs including American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School and the School of Dance and Music for Children with Disabilities. Mother and daughter, Marta Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage chaired. It was also the first time for many long-time donors and supporters to meet the Center’s new president Casey Reitz and his wife Naomi. They arrived in Orange County just a few days before from their home in New York, where Reitz had been president and CEO of Second Stage Theater.

 Steve Martin

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers provided the eponymous concert and The Revolution, Prince’s former band, pounded out songs that kept the dance floor filled through the final hour. And, as guests left Segerstrom Hall and the 46th annual Candlelight Concert, they were treated to afterhours In-N-Out burgers and soft drinks.

Other noted guests included Marta Bhathal’s husband Raj and Lisa’s husband Richard Merage, Elizabeth Segerstrom, Jennifer and Anton Segerstrom, Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, Sally Segerstrom and Toby Andrews, Susan and Steve Perry, Jane Fujishige Yada and son Grayson, Julianne Argyros and daughters Lisa and Stephanie, Jaynine and David Warner, Wendy and Mark Hales, Nancy and Rick Muth with daughters Veronica Vlasik and Stephanie Watts and their husbands, Deborah and Larry Bridges, Valaree Wahler, Sally and Randy Crocket, Angela and Jim Has, Elizabeth An, Sara King and Kamran Pahlavi, Susan and Tim Strader and their family, Dee and Larry Higby, Betty and S.L. Huang, Maureen and Bill Callahan, Courtney and Jason Howard, Rett, Lindsay and Chad Coluccio, and Ling Zhang.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is an acclaimed arts institution as well as a beautiful multi-disciplinary cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence, offering unsurpassed experiences and to engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance and a diverse array of inspiring arts-based education and community engagement programs.

Photos courtesy of PR

Musical Sensation The Athenians Perform at Birthday Celebration

Alice Kandell

 The Athenians captivated over 60 guests at Alice Kandell’s Upper East Side penthouse with a performance in celebration of her birthday. From her Steinway grand piano Athenian’s director Dr. Michael Fennelly, led 19 soloists (including the soprano and co-director of the Athenians,  Megan Watson) in renditions of great opera arias.  Superb singing came as a surprise from every entrance to the large living room with the singers mixing freely among the delighted guests.  Addressing her guests she said, " Thank you for celebrating not only my birthday but also Cody Austin's, Michael Fennelly's, and Maestro Peter Mark's, who are all here with us today. I can't imagine a better birthday present than this music." Alice, a longtime patron of The Athenians, reminded friends of their concert she helped arrange at The White House, in addition to many other remarkable performances in the USA and abroad. Guests included Stephen Fang, Silvia Frieser (director of the NY Viennese Opera Ball), Fred Karger, Kathy Roeder, Dame Jillian Sackler, and Charles Sullivan.

Cody Austin, Alice Kandell, Michael Fennelly

 

The Athenians are an ensemble of exceptional professional soloists from the Metropolitan Opera and other leading opera companies and orchestras who specialize in uniquely engaging opera gala concerts, tours, and staged opera productions. Upcoming shows in 2020 include a special choral concert at Lincoln Center “You Are My Rhapsody in Blue” as well as a summer series in historic homes in the New York area.

 

 

 

Photos courtesy of PR

Free Beauty Events December Giveaway

FreeBeautyEvents.com is back this month with another amazing giveaway!  For anyone not familiar with FBE, the site is a great tool for all beauty addicts.  It helps you stay up to date on the latest beauty happenings in your area and serves as an awesome way to snag killer free samples. Each month the site gives away a bundle chalk full of the industry's best must haves, and this month's is worth a whopping $135.00!  Let's check them out! 

 

 

This month's basket includes industry favorites from Maybelline, CoverGirl, Aveeno, Neutrogena, Garnier and more!  The contest runs from now through 12/31/19, winners will be chosen on 1/10/2020 and notified by 1/15/2020.  Entering is simple!  Visit FreeBeautyEvents on Facebook (don't forget to like them!) or enter directly on their website.

Besides the monthly giveaways, the site also offers great beauty advice and product reviews on their blog.  Like any of the products you read about?  Keep your eyes open for your chance to stock up!  Easy as 1-2-3, just enter your zip code into the site's search bar to find out which locations in your area might be handing out samples.  It's a helpful way to keep up to date with the beauty events happening in your town.  

  

Get more FBE info here

Have you attended an event listed on the site? 

Holiday Gift Ideas and Review: W7 Makeup

The holidays are right around the corner, but it's never too late to snag some awesome gifts for the beauty lover on your list this year!  W7 Makeup is a UK brand that recently become available in the US, and offers everything from killer eye shadow palettes and foundation, to lash curlers and make up bags.  They offer great quality at surprisingly affordable prices.  Scroll down to check them out!

 

 Retail: $12.95

The GOLDIBOX is a functional palette that is great for everyday use.  It has 12 shades, including shimmers and mattes, and range from "pinky nudes and nude coppers to brown, natural shades" as described by the company.  I've worn this palette just about everywhere including work, evening cocktails, and to run errands on a Sunday.  The wear time and quality are pretty good, and the colors make it easy to turn a natural day look and into a smoky going out look.      

 

Retail: $

Dusk Till Dawn contains 14 shades of "popping ultra violet tones", designed to "bring the essence of Aladdin's cave to your make up as described by the company.  This is a fun palette that will get you out of your comfort zone.  There are 7 mattes (top row), complimented by 7 shimmers (bottom row).  The pigment is really beautiful, and should be commended considering the low price point.  Each color pops, including the shimmers, and blend well together.  This packaging is a magnetic cardboard box, with a mirror, which is always handy. 

 

Retail: $9.95 "On the Cusp"

I am OBSESSED with W7's Starry Eyes Metallic Jelly Eye shadows , especially the shade "What's Your Sign?".  I get compliments ever time I wear it.  The color is a pinky/nude that gives a natural, fresh faced appearance, and looks pretty when coupled with the right nudes.  I apply two coats with a brush, although you could probably get away with one.  These have awesome staying power, and are easy to remove.  They're lightweight and don't flake off like, or have that papery feeling like other metallics.

 

Their Ready Set Glow Rose Gold Setting Spray is by far one of my favorite setting sprays out there.  I started using it over the summer and it did a great job of keeping my makeup from sweating off.  There's a few things I like about this one, aside from it's effectiveness.  It dispenses as a refreshing mist, so I feel like it hits my face evenly and gets me better coverage, then the ones that dispense more like a spray with sort of spotty coverage.  I also love that it has delicate gold  shimmers that add a subtle glow without becoming clumpy, or disturbing my make up.  Lastly, the scent.  OMG the scent!  It's so delicious.  I can't quite pin point it, but to me it smells like a combination of caramel, and sweet florals.  It's currently sold out on the company's website, so I recommend jumping on it once it's available!     

Shop W7 Makeup here

What do you think?  Are you interested in gifting any of the above items for the holidays?

Friends of the Budapest Festival Orchestra Kick Off Celebration

Last month, Victoria Wyman opened her contemporary art filled Park Avenue apartment for the Friends of the Budapest Festival Orchestra with guests of honor Governor and Mrs. George Pataki, Ambassador and Mrs. Donald Blinken, Susan Gutfreund, Kati Marton, and Adrienne Vittadini. The party kicked off the campaign for the season's upcoming gala on Saturday February 23^rd at David Geffen hall at Lincoln Center.

Amid candlelight Wyman, the elegant Hungarian born, French raised, hostess offered, "New York is a world stage of excellence and the Orchestra is among the best. Please join me and raise your glass for them and for the orchestra."  Stephen Benko, chairman of the organization, followed, "The Budapest Festival Orchestra is one of the great wonders of Hungary and of the world. The upcoming concert in  New York features and remarkable all-Dvořák program, with a gala dinner following. A very special concert will be held that morning for people on the autism spectrum. This is a niche that our Maestro Iván Fischer has created. The Orchestra has also been invited to return to Mostly Mozart in August with an utterly incredible Falstaff. Please join us!" 

Guests included FBFO Board members Andrew Komaromi, Sylvia Hemingway, Susan Bender, Aaron Feinstein, Heidi Lee-Komaromi, Stephanie Stokes, David Tobey, and chairman emeritus Daisy Soros, as well as Steven M.L. Aronson, Murat Beyazit, Janna Bullock, Karen Burke, Lady Liliana Cavendish, Joanna Fisher (just back from three months in Europe and wearing an antique gold tiara), Michèle Gerber Klein, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Peter Hay Halpert, Sharon King Hoge, are advisors Beverly Jacoby with her daughter Elizabeth Jacoby, Alicia Lubowski, Alice Lutz, Mary McFadden, Roxanne Motamedi, Reni Rotshchild, Jean Shafiroff, Barbara Tober, Sandra and Stanford Warshawsky, and Saundra Whitney. 

 

The Friends of the Budapest Festival Orchestra was formed to support the Orchestra’s work in the USA and across the world. Supporters of the Foundation raise public awareness and financial support for the BFO and have the opportunity to build a closer relationship with the Orchestra both in the States and at home in Budapest.

 

 

Photo courtesy of John Sanderson/AnnieWatt.com

Kick Off Celebration For The 65th Viennese Opera Ball

Actor and VOB Emcee Nathan Lee Graham, VOB Artistic Director Daniel Serafin, VOB President and Executive Director Silvia Frieser

The Viennese Opera Ball announced their upcoming gala at the Upper East Side residence of Sabine Riglos, a board member. “The Viennese Opera Ball is one of the highlights of the annual charity season for Austrian Americans, with performances by extraordinary opera singers and musicans” explained artistic director Daniel Serafin as he introduced mezzo soprano Nicole Piccolomini,  who sing  “L'amour est un oiseau rebelle”  from  Carmen. " Juilliard violinist Anastasiia Mazurok also performed a solo by Bach. All providing a taste of what's to come at the 65th Viennese Opera Ball.  Silvia Frieser, president and executive director said, "With it's long-standing tradition of 65 consecutive years, the Viennese Opera Ball demonstrates  that the ballroom and the dance floor is the best platform for cultural exchange between distinguished guests and nations." 

Each year, the Ball supports charitable projects connected to New York and Vienna. This year proceeds will benefit the musical therapy program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center through Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. Their CEO, Jen Raniri, and Associate Director of Development, Michele Keene, also shared a few words about the importance of the program.

Among the guests were Nathan Lee Graham, who will emcee the upcoming Ball, Chair Jean Shafiroff (who will be joined at the Ball by Chairs Denise Rich and Elisabeth Muhr), Host Committee members Janna Bullock, Joanna Fisher, Ana Saucedo, and Marisa Rose van Bokhorst, Junior Chairs Colgate Rumbough and Emily Mohr, and Board Member Stefan Oehner as well as Audra Asencio, Leszek Barwinski-Brown (CEO, Lang Lang International Music Foundation), Maestro Alvise Casellati, Adrian Danchig-Waring (principal dancer, NYC Ballet),  Michael Friedl, Franz Gerhardter, Eric Huebscher, and Catherine Leung.

The 65th Viennese Opera Ball will take place on February 7, 2020.  There is nothing like this in America with traditions that could only come from the oldest Royal houses in Austria and Europe. Just like in Europe, the celebration with both music and dance, with a Midnight Quadrille that enlivens the dance floor until 4am. The Viennese Opera Ball is inspired by the famous Vienna Opera Ball in Austria, but it is an American 501 (c)(3) not for profit association.

Photos courtesy of John Sanderson/Annie Watt Agency