San Diego Opera’s 2012 gala honoring Audrey Geisel will be held on Saturday, January 28, in conjunction with the opening of the company’s 47th season with Strauss’ taut drama Salome. The black-tie event will begin at 5:30pm with an elegant pre-opera cocktail reception at The US Grant followed by a performance of Salome at 7pm at the San Diego Civic Theatre. Immediately following the opera, supporters will make their way back to The US Grant where they will find themselves transported to the ancient Middle East for dinner and dancing with the cast of Salome. In keeping with the theme of the evening, dinner will be Middle Eastern cuisine. Chairing this event are the 2011-2012 Dow Divas. The cost to attend the gala begins at $1,250 per person and includes the pre-opera reception, the post-opera dinner and party, acknowledgement in the gala program, and a specially designed patron gift by Naeem Khan. Also available are $2,500 packages that include everything above as well as an invitation to an exclusive patron party hosted by Conrad Prebys
and Debbie Turner. Opera tickets are not included in either package. To learn about additional ticket packages or to purchase tickets to the gala, please call Jan Kaplan. (619/232-7636, www.sdopera.com)
