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