SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH MEROLA
An afternoon of wine, food, and song to benefit the programs and artists of Merola Opera Program.
Sunday, May 21, 2023
3:00-6:00 PM
Join us for a memorable spring afternoon strolling through beautifully landscaped gardens, drinking some of California’s finest wines, and visiting with new and old friends. This special event will include great food, wine tastings, performances by Merola alumni, an auction, and more, all in the idyllic Marin Art and Garden Center in the heart of Marin County. It promises to be a day to remember and will be made all the better if you are there!
Sunday in the Park with Merola
Sunday, May 21, 2023
3:00-6:00 PM
Marin Art and Garden Center
30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Ross, CA 94957
Tickets
(admission to the event for one, unlimited wine tasting)
Tickets will be available on Eventbrite through Saturday, May 20, 2:00 pm PDT.
Walk up tickets will be available on the day of the event, May 21, starting at 2:30 pm.
ENTHUSIASTS:
$1,000 Vintner's Duet
(Two tickets and name recognition in event program*)
$500 Vintner's Choice
(Single ticket and name recognition in event program*)
*Deadline for name recognition in the event program is April 17, 2023.
WINE LOVERS (event attendance):
$195 Late Harvest
(Single ticket)
$60 First Crush
(Single ticket: 40 years of age or under)
Event Details
Wine and Hors d'Oeuvres
Concert by Merola Alumni
Live Auction/Fund-the Future
Signature Events
DANIELA MACK AND MATTHEW PIATT IN RECITAL
Daniela Mack enchanted Merola audiences in 2007 as Angelina in La Cenerentola. In 2023, she returns to San Francisco Opera in her role debut as Frida Kahlo in Gabriela Lena Frank and Nilo Cruz’s El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego. Hear this brilliant mezzo-soprano in recital with multi-talented fellow Merola alum Matthew Piatt ('05). After the recital, talk with the artists over wine and hors d'oeuvres in the lovely San Francisco home of Betty Newman.
RESTRICTIONS: 25 spaces available
DATE: Monday, June 19, 2023, 6:00 pm
VALUE: Priceless · GUARANTEED BID: $300
DONORS: Daniela Mack, Matthew Piatt, Betty Newman, and Carol A. Weitz
ROLANDO VILLAZÓN AND CARRIE-ANN MATHESON IN RECITAL
Since his Merola summer in 1998, Rolando Villazón has firmly established himself as one of the music world’s most critically acclaimed and beloved stars and as one of the leading opera artists of our day. This summer he returns to Merola to work with the 2023 Merolini. Hear this phenomenal tenor and renowned collaborative pianist (and San Francisco Opera Center Artistic Director) Carrie-Ann Matheson in recital in the beautiful San Francisco home of Jennifer and Chris Brahm. After the recital, talk with the artists over wine and hors d'oeuvres.
RESTRICTIONS: 25 spaces available
DATE: Sunday, August 6, 2023, 2:00 pm
VALUE: Priceless · GUARANTEED BID: $300
DONORS: Rolando Villazón, Carrie-Ann Matheson, and Jennifer & Chris Brahm
THREE TENORS IN RECITAL
An evening with Merola's own three tenors! Adler Fellows Victor Cardamone ('21), Edward Graves ('21), Moisés Salazar ('22), and pianist Yang Lin ('22) will display their bountiful talents in a dynamic recital in the beautiful San Francisco home of James Heagy. After the recital, chat with the artists over wine and hors d'oeuvres.
RESTRICTIONS: 30 spaces available
DATE: Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 6:00 pm
VALUE: Priceless · GUARANTEED BID: $250
DONORS: Victor Cardamone, Edward Graves, Moisés Salazar, Yang Lin, James Heagy, and the Amici di Merola
GABRIELLE BETEAG AND MARIKA YASUDA IN RECITAL
Praised as a “showstopper” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Gabrielle Beteag made an indelible impression on Merola audiences in 2021. Enjoy this brilliant mezzo-soprano, and multi-talented pianist Marika Yasuda ('21), both now Adler Fellows, in recital in the lovely San Francisco apartment of Merola Executive Director Jean Kellogg. After the recital talk with the artists over wine and hors d'oeuvres.
RESTRICTIONS: 12 spaces available
DATE: Sunday, October 22, 2023, 5:00 pm
VALUE: Priceless · GUARANTEED BID: $250
DONORS: Gabrielle Beteag, Marika Yasuda, Greer & Thayer Hopkins, and Jean Kellogg
NOTE: There are 2 flights of stairs up to Ms. Kellogg’s apartment
JULIE ADAMS AND JOHN CHURCHWELL IN RECITAL
Julie Adams ('14), praised by the New York Times for possessing a voice that is “rich, full and slightly earthy in an expressive way," returns to San Francisco Opera this fall as Elsa in Lohengrin. Witness this brilliant soprano and brilliant collaborative pianist (and San Francisco Opera Head of Music Staff) John Churchwell (’96) in recital in the beautiful home of Antonia Cross in Redwood City. After the recital, enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres with the artists.
RESTRICTIONS: 20 spaces available
DATE: Sunday, October 29, 2023, 6:00 pm
VALUE: Priceless · GUARANTEED BID: $300
DONORS: Julie Adams, John Churchwell, Antonia Cross, and James Cross & Charles Antonen
Sponsors
(as of March 19, 2023)
Premier Cru
Ms. Amy Roth and Mr. Robert Epstein
Carol A. Weitz
Special Reserve
Robert H. Beadle
Jennifer and Chris Brahm
Camille Chan
Culinary Excellence
Bernice Lindstrom
Sponsorships are available at $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500.
For more information, contact Nancy Petrisko at npetrisko@merola.org or call (415) 936-2312.
Special thanks to Kristen Loken Photography.
Event Committee
Carol A. Weitz, chair
Robert H. Beadle
Maurice Bizzarri
Jennifer Brahm
Barbara Bruser Clark
Sylvia R. Lindsey
Carlos Penikis
Patrick Wilken
Christopher Wiseman
Performing Artists
Leah Crocetto (Merola ‘08), soprano
Ronny Michael Greenberg (Merola ‘14), piano
Live Auction
Auctioneer:
Markus Beam (Merola ‘02), San Francisco Opera Center General Manager
Prizes:
WEEK AT A MEXICAN VILLA
Seven days and nights in La Punta gated, secure community near Manzanillo, Mexico. The villa has five bedrooms each with en suite bathrooms, two swimming pools, dining room, great room, game room, bar and card area, kitchen, informal dining area, and palapa with bar and kitchen. Delightful maid, cook, and bellboy are available to attend to your every need. Take advantage of La Punta’s private beach with full pool, lounging area, and beachside restaurant. Private tennis courts with tennis coach are within steps of the villa. All these amenities are within the security of the meticulously gardened one-hundred villas that is La Punta—play yard to the rich and famous! And the view from the balconies, and throughout the villa!
The Santiago Bay stretches into the Pacific Ocean with the Sierra Madre Mountains in the distance framing the gorgeous sunsets each evening!! Day trips to the volcano, the rum factory from sugar cane to distillery, restaurants tucked away in quaint villages…or just relax with a healthy walk/jog around the unique villas bathed in bougainvilleas of every color, all within La Punta!
Restrictions: Blackout dates, November 16, 2023– May 14, 2024. Expiration date, November 15, 2024.
VALUE $7,000
OPENING BID $3,500
DONORS Drs. Richard and Pamela Rigg
Exclusive Dinner with Jake Heggie and Tickets to the World Premiere of Intelligence
Go behind the scenes of the next opera sensation. The winner bidder can gather up to seven friends and talk with renowned composer Jake Heggie about his new opera, Intelligence, over a fabulous dinner at the stunning art-filled San Francisco home of James Noe. This exclusive package includes spaces for eight guests (including the winning bidder) at the dinner and four tickets to the world premiere of Intelligence at Houston Grand Opera. A priceless opportunity to glean insights into a new work that is sure to take the opera world by storm.
Restrictions: Dinner for up to 8 guests (including the winning bidder) and 4 tickets to Intelligence at Houston Grand Opera on October 20, 22, 28, or November 1 or 3, 2023. Winning bidder must notify Houston Grand Opera of requested ticket date by June 15, 2023
DATE Monday, June 26, 2023
VALUE Priceless
OPENING BID $2,500
DONORS Jake Heggie, James A. Noe III, and Houston Grand Opera
A WEEK IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA
A one-week stay in a two-bedroom apartment at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club, SeaWorld, in Orlando, Florida. The apartment features a full kitchen and separate living and dining areas with plenty of room to relax. This 33-acre Bermudastyled resort is close to Universal Studios, Epcot Center, Disneyworld, and water parks. Perfect for a family getaway or reunion.
Restrictions: Subject to availability. Must be booked by December 31, 2023.
VALUE $2,000
OPENING BID $1,000
DONOR Carol A. Weitz
SIX BOTTLES OF RIDGE MONTE BELLO CABERNET
Enjoy six vintages of one of California’s elite cabernets. This lot includes bottles of the RIdge Monte Bello Cabernet from 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015. Ridge relies on nature and tradition, rather than technology, to draw their grapes distinctive character and richness into their wines. Winemaker Paul Drapier’s knowledge of fine wines and traditional methods complement the straightforward “hands off” approach pioneered at Ridge. The Bordeauxstyle Monte Bello, from vineyards nestled in the northern reaches of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Is one of the region’s finest and longest-lived wines.
Restrictions: Six bottles, from 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015, 750 ml. each.
VALUE $2,000
OPENING BID $1,000
DONOR Carol A. Weitz
TWO TICKETS TO A EUROPEAN RECITAL WITH CARRIE-ANN MATHESON AND BENJAMIN BERNHEIM OR ROLANDO VILLAZÓN
Enjoy premium tickets to your choice of one of six European recitals featuring Merola’s own Carrie-Ann Matheson in recital with either rising star Benjamin Bernheim (who recently made a sensational Metropolitan Opera debut) or acclaimed Merola alum Rolando Villazón (’98). Get behind-the-scenes insights over an exclusive brunch with Carrie-Ann Matheson (scheduled around the recital on a mutually agreed-upon date). Package also includes autographed CDs by the artists. The perfect opera-insider’s addition to a European trip—or the perfect excuse to plan a whole new trip!
Restrictions: Two premium tickets to winning bidders choice of one of six recitals in 2023: July 19 (Munich, Germany–Bernheim); July 24 (Verbier, Switzerland–Bernheim); September 17 (Millstatt, Austria–Villazón); September 24 (St. Gallen, Switzerland–Villazón); September 29 (Münster, Germany–Villazón); October 5 (La Scala, Milan, Italy–Bernheim). Brunch with Carrie-Ann Matheson to be scheduled on a mutually agreed-upon date close to the recital.
VALUE Priceless
OPENING BID $400
DONOR Carrie-Ann Matheson
FUND THE FUTURE
Support Merola’s world-class training program and spark the future of opera by donating to our Fund the Future. All donations are fully tax-deductible, and count toward Merola membership for 2023. Thank you for your generosity!
COVID PROTOCOLS: Under current Merola protocols, no masks or vaccine checks will be required for this event.
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