The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra celebrated the Opening Night of its 2007-08 Carnegie Hall season.

The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children held its Annual Gala Dinner last Monday night at the Pierre. This year they honored Joan Ganz Cooney and Merck & Co., Inc “for their extraordinary efforts on behalf of children." This annual fundraising dinner directly benefits New York City’s "at-risk" children and families by providing mental health, legal and educational services.

Mike Lovecchio, Elizabeth Lovecchio, Patti Engert, Nina Henderson, and Craig Henderson

Deborah Norville was emcee. The dancing mood was provided by the music of Alex Donner. Co-Chairs: Juju Chang and Neal Shapiro, Susan and Richard H. Lenny, and Sherrie and David Westin.

Annette Johnson and Eleanor Tuomey

Deborah Norville, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lis Waterman

Alexandra Pappas and Tatyana Miron

Elizabeth Lovecchio, Patti Engert, and Nina Henderson

John Farr and Kitty Gerry

Deborah Norville, Dr. Jeffrey Sturchio, and Mary Pulido

Deborah Norville, Sherrie Westin, and Karl Wellner

Lis Waterman, Jamee Gregory, and Kitty Gerry

Alex Donner

Marc Biron, Caroline Rowley, and William Heath

David Stack, Sherrie Westin, Mary Pulido, and David Westin

Joan Ganz Cooney, David Stack, Karl Wellner, and Deborah Norville

Bert and Diana Alfonso

Susan Lenny, Alicia Saluti, and Linda Baldwin

Sherrie Westin and Gary Knell

Dr. Jeffrey Sturchio, John Farr, Karl Wellner, and Deborah Norville

Mary Pulido, David Stack, Electra Toub, and Sarah Stack

Mary Pulido, Betsy Bartlett, and Karl Wellner

Panos Katsambas and Tatiana Papanicolaou

Tuesday night, October 23rd, The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra celebrated the Opening Night of its 2007-08 Carnegie Hall season. The festive evening began with cocktails and a dinner in The Rohatyn Room at Carnegie Hall. This was followed by a concert with guest artist Yefim Bronfman. The program the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra presented included two virtuosic and lively works of Brahms—Hungarian Dances No. 1, 3 & 10, and Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15 in D minor—coupled with Schoenberg’s harmonically dynamic Chamber Symphony No. 1. The evening concluded with a champagne reception for the artists. Richard Lannamann and Kim Bleimann Of the recent concert, Bronfman said, “Brahms’ first piano concerto is such a symphonic partnership of equals between the piano and the orchestra. To play this piece with Orpheus, to really dig into the opposing forces in this amazing work, and to recreate Brahms’ inner journey to deal with the symphonic form was an amazing experience.” The Grammy Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra is internationally renowned for its fine artistry and distinctive approach to music-making, with a performing and recording legacy “full of the energy and intensity that have been Orpheus trademarks for 35 years” (Chicago Tribune). Performing with many of today’s most dynamic and esteemed soloists, Orpheus presents an annual concert series at Carnegie Hall that illuminates both classic orchestral repertoire and new works by contemporary composers. Noted by critics and audiences alike for its unsurpassed energy, sensitivity, and connection to listeners, Orpheus is considered one of New York’s cultural treasures. Orpheus tours on a regular basis throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia and offers education and outreach programs for children and adults from diverse communities. In the 2007-2008 season, Orpheus, whose musicians have been praised by The Washington Post for playing “with an intensity and attentiveness one wishes conventional orchestras could emulate,” collaborates with world-renowned artists, including pianists Yefim Bronfman and Christian Zacharias, soprano Dame Felicity Lott, and violinists Nikolaj Znaider and Sarah Chang.

Orpheus Musicians, Eriko Sato and Eric Wyrick

Tania Drinnon, Adja Diarra, and Amanda Homi

The Orchestra will premiere commissioned works by Christopher Theofanidis, Tania León and Charles Wuorinen. Mr. Theofanidis’ new work, titled Muse, will be the second installment of the New Brandenburgs commissioning project, a four-year project premiering six new orchestra works modeled on Bach’s “Brandenburg” concertos. Orpheus resumed recording in 2007, after a hiatus of more than six years. The orchestra releases its first disc on EMI Classics – a recording of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with Sarah Chang – in the fall of 2007. Founded in 1972 by cellist Julian Fifer and a group of fellow musicians who aspired to present musician-led performances of standard and contemporary orchestral repertoire, Orpheus is a self-governing organization. Central to its distinctive personality is its practice of sharing and rotating leadership roles. For every work, the members of the orchestra select the concertmaster and the principal players for each section.

Melissa Leapman, Kim Bleimann, and Katharine and Richard Lannamann

Meaghan Remshard, Claudia Kelly, Joan Brunelle, Ali Gibbs, and Kevin Kelly

Arthur Lindenauer, Eve Guernsey, and Richard Lannamann

David Veselsky, Cynthia Friedman, Ken Elias, and Kate Hughes Del Tufo

Andrea Miller, Karen Hsu, Nancy Brenner, and Yuka Fujita

Yefim Bronfman with Katharine and Richard Lannamann

Robert Del Tufo

Daisy Soros and Oz Elliott

Young Orpheus members, Juliana Pereira and Sebastien Cottrell

Yan Moati, Christina Lopes, Ambassador José Alfredo Graça Lima and Mariza Graça Lima, and Richard Lannamann

Cameron Brueckner, Susan Miniman, Laurie Brueckner, and Dave Herbst

Cynthia and John Whitehead with John and Kathleen Murphy

Aaron Smith, Lisa Simpson, Cariad Harmon, and Steven Alvarado

Harish Rraghavan, Kaushik Ghosh, and Stephanie Johnson

Kevin Roon and Simon Yates

Dogs in the Garden. Old Westbury Gardens and the Humane Society of New York presented Dogs in the Gardens, a joyous weekend on the beautiful grounds of Old Westbury Gardens for families and their family dogs.  A happy afternoon at Dogs in the Garden Dogs in the Gardens was inspired by, and paid tribute to the late Peggie Phipps Boegner’s enduring love of dogs, especially her beloved Yorkshire Terrier, Tilly. Cornelia Guest served as Event Chair; Co-Chairs were Mary Phipps (Chairman of the Board, Old Westbury Gardens); Virginia Chipurnoi (Chairman of the Board, Humane Society of New York) and Elizabeth Groves (Senior Vice-President, Humane Society of New York). Another Phipps who was a great animal lover, Cynthia, passed away last week (see NYSD 11.01.07) The weekend included something for every dog lover: art events, veterinary lectures, gourmet food and the chance to ramble with Fido over the endless green grounds surrounding the historic Phipps family home. Bill Berloni, the Humane Society of New York’s Director of Dog Behavior is also the nation’s foremost animal trainer for Broadway and film.  Bill shared behind-the-scenes training tales and gave demonstrations with one of his celebrity dogs (Buster, who played “Sandy” in Annie). Purebreds and glorious mix breeds from the Society’s adoption center were on hand to mingle with visitors. Art events included an exhibit of painting, photography and sculpture with notable works by “Blue Dog” artist George Rodriguez, and sculptor Susan Phipps Cochran.  Weekend activities included an organic buffet luncheon prepared by Chef Simo Kuusisto following a lecture by writer Patricia Woods; doggie fashion shows; High Tea with your dog Saturday and Sunday.

Jeff and Mary Phipps

Event Chair Cornelia Guest with a few of her many dogs

Elizabeth Groves and Arthur C. Liese

Grace Mirabella, Jade Albert, and Jade Hobson

Cornelia Guest's dog, Cassidy

The late Peggie Phipps Boegner's beloved Tilly

Pupcorn

Cornelia Guest, Virginia Chipurnoi, and Mary Phipps

Jake

The Davison family enjoying High Tea

A quiet moment for Godfrey the basset and Buster

A fireman's holiday

Playtime

Humane Society of New York's "Willis" waiting

Meredith Brokaw and Sally Bedell Smith I first heard of Sally Bedell Smith in the late 1980s when she published her voluminous biography of William Paley “In All His Glory.” It was a riveting piece of research and exposition that painted the character of the man with depth and clarity. I later came to know a good deal about the man from my own research and relationships that I’d formed after that time. I learned that her characterization of the man was very accurate. Now it’s several books later, including a biography of Pamela Harriman, of Diana Princess of Wales, and there's a new book to add to that list: “For Love of Politics: Bill and Hillary Clinton: The White House Years” (Random House). Susan Magrino gave a book party for her at Le Cirque.

Allyn Magrino, Rufus Albermarle, Ariane Romano, and Stanley Rosenfeld

Andrew Martin, Parker Ladd, Susan Magrino, and Arnold Scaasi

Tom Brokaw and Sally Bedell Smith

Pamela Fiori, Jennifer Gould Keil, Braden Keil, Susan Magrino, and Allyn Magrino

Annalu Ponti, James Dunning, and Geoffrey Hoguet

Graydon and Anna Carter

Beth Rudin de Woody and Carter Pottash

Reinaldo Herrera, Sally Bedell Smith, Carolina Herrera, and Steve Smith

David Monn, Arnold Scaasi, and Scott Currie

Peggy Noonan and Joe Armstrong

Movado Celebrated 60 Years of Modern Design and the 2007 Future Legends Award Recipients. On Wednesday, October 24th, Movado, in partnership with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and Baryshnikov Arts Center celebrated 60 years of modern design and the 2007 Future Legends Awards recipients. Quite the fashionable crowd: Kerry Washington, Mia Maestro, Natalie Cole, Neva Anton, Hope Atherton, Debbie Bancroft, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Muriel Brandolini, Patricia Duff, Somers Farkas, Suzanne Farrell, Valesca Guerrand Hermes, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Alexandra Kramer, Ghislaine Maxwell, Marcia Mishaan, Gilles Mendel, Patty Raynes, Renee Rockefeller, Kalliope Karella Rena, Christine Schwarzman.

Efraim Grinberg, Mia Maestro, Doug Letheren, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Suzanne Farrell, Kirk Henning, Kerry Washington, and Wynton Marsalis

And with an equally stellar Host Committee: Efraim Grinberg (CEO of Movado), Celerie Kemble,  Carol McFadden, Richard Meier, Gilles Mendel, Karim Rashid, Aby Rosen and Samantha Boardman Rosen, Paul Warwick Thompson, Bronson Van Wyck, Kerry Washington, Mia Mastro, Wynton Marsalis, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Rufus Albemarle, John Barrett, Suzanne Farrell and Genevieve Jones. So the whole town turned out (of course it’s hyperbole, but you get the point) for Movado.

Colleen Caslin and John Barrett

Efraim Grinberg, Natalie Cole, and Jason Binn

Kerry Washington and Mia Maestro

L. to r.: Celerie Kemble; Kirk Henning, Suzanne Farrell, and Efraim Grinberg; Jonathan Batiste and Wynton Marsalis

Genevieve Jones

Mia Maestro, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Kerry Washington, and Wynton Marsalis

Natalie Cole

Christine Schwarzman and Kalliope Karella

Christian Leone, Valesca Geurrand Hermes, Jennifer Creel, and Alex Kramer

Jackie Astier and Douglas Friedman

Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien

Richard Meier

Suzanne Farrell and Kirk Henning

Somers Farkas

Patty Raynes

Wynton Marsalis

Debbie Bancroft

Fashion designer Douglas Hannant celebrated his 10th anniversary in business at the Bon Appetit Supper Club surrounded by his closest and mostest and fashionable friends such as: Paula Abdul, Douglas Hannant, and Lorrraine Bracco Lorraine Bracco, Paula Abdul, Valesca Guerrand-Hermes, Debbie Bancroft, Alexandra Lind Rose, Annie Churchill, Eva Lorenzotti, Dayssi Olarte de Kanovos, Dana Hammond Stubgen, Pamela Gross, Patty Raynes, Vanessa von Bismarck, Peggy Siegal, Maggie Katz, Serena Boardman, Felicia Taylor, Levin Rambin, Olivia Palermo, Gillian Miniter, Ann Caruso, Somers Farkas, Francesca Cecil, Janna Bullock, Katrina Pavlos, Nick Raynes, Doug Friedman and Roopal Patel. Following the cocktail party, Doug and his partner Fred Anderson hosted a dinner created by Chef Michael Mina.

Valesca Guerrand-Hermes and Annie Churchill

Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos

Dana Hammond Stubgen

Debbie Bancroft

Fred Anderson and Gillian Miniter

Janna Bullock and Tatiana Platt

Paula Abdul and Douglas Hannant

Alex Lind Rose and Caroline Berthet

Jackie Astier

Peggy Siegal

Olivia Palermo and Francesca Cecil

Leven Rambin and Nick Raynes

Serena Boardman and Pamela Gross

Photographs by ©Patrick McMullan.com.

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