They could have danced all night at SF Symphony gala

As the sweltering September heat engulfed the Civic Center, it felt appropriate hearing selections from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “South Pacific” as the San Francisco Symphony celebrated the opening of its 104th season with a salute to the Broadway musical. Maestro Michael Tilson Thomas, who just returned from the Symphony’s European tour, smiled coyly as he welcomed the audience.

“What did you do this summer?” he joked, then used a showbiz anecdote to relay how warmly the band was welcomed across the pond.

“Marlene Dietrich invited Judy Garland over to hear recordings from her concert tour,” Thomas said. “She put on a record and there was just screaming and clapping. Then Marlene turned and said to Judy, ‘Ja, that’s from Berlin. That is Paris,’ and so on. She recorded applause in each city, but I think the ovations we received in Europe were just as strong.”

The tour pushed the season’s opening night back a few weeks from its traditional Labor Day week Wednesday, but for fans and patrons, it was worth the wait.

Fresh off tour

“There hasn’t been any time to catch our breath,” Symphony Executive Director Brent Assink said. “What you’ll hear tonight is an orchestra that has just played many great houses in Europe coming home to their own stage.”

Symphony President Sako Fisher was so eager to hear the evening’s selections that she attended an early rehearsal.

“They were playing some of my favorites from ‘My Fair Lady,’” Fisher said, resplendent in one of the night’s standout looks: a tulle and net bustled skirt by gala sponsor Valentino that playfully illustrated constellations. “Every night I’m here at the Symphony, I feel like Eliza Doolittle.”

Gala Chairwomen Dagmar and Natasha Dolby, who are mother and daughter-in-law (Natasha is married to Dagmar’s son David), received high praise from Fisher.

“We stayed the course,” Dagmar said modestly, before sharing a personal connection to the repertoire. “The first musical I attended was as a little girl in Germany in 1962 — it was ‘My Fair Lady,’ all sung in German. With my being German and Natasha being from Brazil, I can just imagine what Henry Higgins would say about our accents!”

When asked what it was like helming a major gala with a member of the family, Natasha joked, “It could have gone either way,” before adding, “Actually, I think we really played to each other’s strengths as chairs. If anything, the experience brought us closer.”

The night’s many venues from Davies to City Hall (where the Symphonix Dinner and Symphony Supper were held) to the “Lake Louise” patron tent were designed by Blue Print Studios. The setting for the Patrons’ Dinner was envisioned as an homage to Botticelli's “The Birth of Venus” with billowing taupe curtains reminiscent of the goddess’ tumbling tresses, Mediterranean blue accents and wave-like chandeliers. Tickets to the sold-out Patrons’ Dinner ranged from $1,750 for a single seat to $100,000 tables. Proceeds from the gala benefit the Symphony’s education and community programs.

As the temperature continued to rise, Symphony Board of Governors member Michael Anders of Iconiq Capital set the mood for the men at his table, who included Tatcha president Bradford Murray, Airbnb co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk and Apple App Store senior director Matt Fischer, by taking off his jacket and dining in his shirtsleeves (others followed suit). He expressed appreciation for the “innovative, intellectual conducting of Michael Tilson Thomas,” and said that as someone who grew up surrounded by classical musicians, “I wanted to help create a cultural emphasis here that celebrated music. This is an entrepreneurial city — our Symphony should be a disruptor.” McCalls Catering & Events served dinner to 730 in the patrons tent, which included Maine lobster salad, an herbed lamb entree with gouda gratin and peach Melba for dessert.

Grammer as Higgins

The performance opened with Respighi’s “Roman Festivals,” followed by selections from Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals “South Pacific” and “Carousel” sung by baritone Nathan Gunn, soprano Alexandra Silber and a special surprise performance by Stephanie Blythe, who is currently singing Mrs. Lovett in “Sweeney Todd” at the San Francisco Opera. The evening’s tribute to Lerner and Loewe’s “My Fair Lady” featured five-time Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer, a last-minute substitution for Sir Patrick Stewart (who had to bow out due to filming conflicts), singing the role of Henry Higgins. The part fit both Grammer’s rich baritone and urbane persona so perfectly that no one lamented Stewart’s absence.

“I’ve always loved the role,” said Grammer, who also sang Higgins in a 2007 concert with the New York Philharmonic. “Clive Davis currently owns the rights to the musical and has another vision in mind for who should do it, but I’ll straighten him out.” Symphony patrons Paula and Bandel Carano surprised Grammer, a former neighbor of theirs, backstage in his dressing room.

“He gave a wonderful performance,” Bandel said.

“I also love that Michael wanted to take risks,” Paula said, “It was really playful the way he used the spoons,” played on his cheeks during the song “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?”

Honorary chair Michael Nguyen confessed that Grammer was his boyhood celebrity crush and said he lived up to his elegant onscreen presence in person.

Following the performance, the crowds descended to the afterparty on Grove Street and in the rearranged patron tent. Symphony Chorus member John Vlahides was ready to dance to Michael Jackson tribute band Foreverland in a red jacket embellished with colorful faux fur and Hindu symbols designed by San Francisco artist/designer Billy Bowers. Friends Suzanne Sperry and Michelle White twirled to San Francisco band the Sam Chase on Grove Street as their gowns caught the breeze that brought relief from the heat. Toward the end of the night, the Dolby chairwomen took to the dance floor to celebrate their success. Even after midnight, the throng showed little sign of fatigue.

Like Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins, they could have danced all night.