Damion Matthews
Bulgari recently celebrated the 2012 San Francisco Opera Ball in their beautiful Union Square store at a private event hosted by Dede Wilsey and Bulgari’s US President, Alberto Festa.
At the event Bulgari also unveiled, for the first time in the United States, its collection of High Jewelry pieces made exclusively for the 2012 Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris. A gorgeous collection!
Inspiration for the imagery of some Bulgari’s latest creations is said to come from Cleopatra. For instance the Serpenti necklace, with emeralds, turquoise and diamonds, was created for the Biennale des Antiquaires as a tribute to the legendary queen, and is meant to convey her power, charm and sensuality.
Other pieces were designed in homage to Elizabeth Taylor, one of the great connoisseurs of Bulgari’s jewelry.
Soprano Nadine Sierra performed, accompanied by Sun Ha-Yoon on the piano, both from the Opera’s Adler Fellows. Sierra, the second-year Adler Fellow, made her San Francisco Opera debut in 2011 creating the roles of Juliet and Barbara in the world premiere of Heart of a Soldier.
A percentage of proceeds from the evening’s sales went to the educational programs of the San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Opera Guild.
Willie Brown, Sonya Molodetskaya – Tom Barrett, Belinda Berry
Susan Malott, Alisa Burgess-Blajwas – Jacqueline Jacoby, John Rosin, Tanya Powell
Charlot Malin, Greg Malin – David Gockley, Lonna Wais
Amanda Miller, Tatiana Sorokko – Afsaneh Akhtari, Daniel Diaz, Lisa Alexander
Charles Githler, Mai Shiver – Gayla Wood, Walt Wood