On Friday, September 5th, the San Francisco Opera celebrated its 92nd season with a grand black-tie soirée welcoming Bravo! Club members to the storied War Memorial Opera house for the opening night performance of Bellini’s masterpiece Norma. While the traditional gala swung into action in the main atrium downstairs, Bravo! Club members gathered on the marble-and-brass outdoor balcony, sipping champagne as they looked out over the hustle and bustle of Van Ness and the colorful lights outside City Hall.

The guest light was wonderfully eclectic, with opera newbies rubbing elbows with fine arts aficionados and board members. Bravo! co-chairs Benjamin Osgood and Hadley Wilson mingled with the crowd, tempting guests with hints about what they could expect during soprano Sondra Radvanovsky’s stunning performance as the title role of Norma. The evening's performance stunned the crowd, with Radvanovsky brilliantly tackling her demanding role. With a dramatic love triangle and a slightly shorter than average runtime, Norma meshed well with the progressive, youthful vibe of the Bravo! Club.

Following the performance, guests walked the red carpet on their way to a private after-party at Jardinière, Chef Traci Des Jardins' California-French hotspot. Attendees were treated to refreshments and dancing that lasted throughout the evening. Guests sipped a variety of specialty cocktails and free-flowing champagne and munched on late-night fare such as french fries with aioli and a heaping charcuterie platter.

The San Francisco Opera Bravo! Club is an organization of over 500 Bay Area young professionals ages 21-40 who are dedicated to building a new audience for the SF Opera. Members gain access to exclusive discounted tickets for opera performances throughout the season, as well as educational opportunities and meet-and-greet events with the performers. // sfopera.com/Bravo-Club.aspx

Images courtesy of Drew Altizer.