San Francisco Opening of Symphony and Opera

Last Wednesday was the 100th season of the Symphony and it's opening night gala. Then on Friday was the 89th opening night of the Opera. This is like the red carpet of the Oscar's for San Francisco. Both gala's bring out the city's biggest socialites, former and current mayors, politicians and anybody else who is part of the exclusive socialite world of San Francisco.


There is the Symphony celebrating its 100th Anniversary. The celebration was held in a Stanlee Gatti designed tent and ended in the morning with dancing and cocktails. To make this celebration special the Symphony invited two soloists to join the performance: Itzhak Perlman and piano genius, Lang Lang.

So many beautiful gowns made it difficult to narrow down my favorites!

Sallie Hunting 

Gretchen Kimball 

Former Mayor Willie Brown and Sonya Molodetskaya

Jennifer Siebel Newsom

Charlotte Schultz

Karen Caldwell

Ye - Hui Lu

Then there is the Opera's opening night gala, An Evening in the Forbidden City, came to life in the Opera House where 1,200 Opera Ball patrons and Bravo! members mingled in classy top hats and lavish gowns. Of course there was an opera too. It was Turandot which gave the red carpet its luxurious theme with traditional Chinese drummers, royal red fabric and glowing lanterns.

 Karen Caldwell

 Marissa Mayer

 Mary Poland and Linda Kemper 

 Paula Carano

 Sonya Molodetskaya

Susan Tamagni

I'm lucky to have a front row seat of what the ladies will be wearing because the designer I work for dresses many of the Chair's or former chairs for the opera and symphony. It's an exciting feeling to know that I saw their gowns start from a sketch and then see it go onto the red carpet. I get an inside peak into a world that not everybody knows about  ;)

Till the next gala!


All photos from drewaltizer and moanalanijeffrey.