Renée Fleming’s Spellbinding Performance Crowns Special Opera Ball Honoring Patrick Summers
Tania Kanga, Nancy Gonzalez, Denise Reyes, Ona Alicia Okeke and Destiny Fernandisse (photo by Dave Rossman)
By Jeff Gremillion
The Houston Grand Opera Brilliance Ball glowed with special significance this year, becoming not just a luminous white-tie celebration of light and legacy — but also a heartfelt sendoff to beloved Artistic and Music Director Maestro Patrick Summers. It raised over $1.8 million to boot.
On April 11 at the Wortham Theater Center, nearly 400 distinguished guests gathered for an evening of elegance and inspiration that perfectly captured HGO’s 2025-26 season theme, The Light We Hold. Chaired by devoted philanthropists John G. Turner and Jerry G. Fischer, the 2026 Opera Ball honored Summers’ more than 25 years of visionary leadership with the company’s Silver Rose award and culminated in a once-in-a-lifetime performance by internationally acclaimed soprano Renée Fleming.
In her remarks, HGO General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor thanked the evening’s chairs and generous donors, then paid tribute to Summers. His “unshakable vision,” she said, “has transformed our company and enriched our city.” Summers, visibly moved, told the crowd, “I thank you all for this long privilege of your support, friendship, and for our shared love of this company. I ask that you please continue to ensure that this company is a beacon in the arts world.”
Fleming, accompanied by HGO Chief Artistic Officer and Chorus Director Richard Bado on piano, held guests spellbound with an intimate program that included “I can smell the sea air” from André Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire, “O mio babbino caro” from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Andrew Lippa’s “The Diva,” and a stirring “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Rodgers and Hammerstein II’s Carousel.
The evening began with an elegant cocktail hour featuring caviar on freshly prepared blinis and a martini bar, while fashion sketch artists captured guests in their evening attire as personalized keepsakes. The live auction offered a show-stopping item: a Steinway Model M Spirio piano pre-loaded with recordings by Patrick Summers himself.
City Kitchen Catering served a refined dinner of seasonal asparagus salad, duck à l’orange with duchess potatoes, and a classic finish of Black Forest cake and floating islands. The Events Company transformed the space into a luminous wonderland of soft lighting, candlelight, gold accents, and elegant white floral arrangements — the perfect backdrop for dinner and dancing that lasted into the early morning hours with The Big Beyond.
Guests included James Gaffigan and Marta Wasilewicz-Gaffigan, Margaret Alkek Williams, Kristy and Chris Bradshaw, Zane and Brady Carruth, Theresa Chang, Anne and Albert Chao, Isabel and Danny David, Anna Dean, Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees, Elaine Finger, Brigitte Kalai, Beth Madison, Denise Monteleone, Beth Muecke, David Peck and Michelle Phillips, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Louisa Sarofim, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor and Jesse Tutor.
James Gaffigan, Khori Dastoor and Patrick Summers (photo by Michelle Watson)
Matt Healey and Denise Reyes take to the dance floor (photo by Dave Rossman)
Scott Wise, Huda and William Zoghbi and Khori Dastoor (photo by Michelle Watson)
Beth Muecke (photo by Michelle Watson)
Marilyn Ingham, Sid Moorhead and Lauren Hall (photo by Michelle Watson)
Neil Hershey and Carey Kirkpatrick (photo by Dave Rossman)
James and Marta Wasilewicz-Gaffigan (photo by Dave Rossman)
Valerie and Stephen Toups (photo by Dave Rossman)
Annie Labatt and Blair and Barbara Labatt (photo by Dave Rossman)
Terrylin Neale and Jane Cizik (photo by Dave Rossman)
BenJoaquín Gouverneur and Khori Dastoor (photo by Michelle Watson)