Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Manley hobnob's at Nation Arts Centre Gala

February 21, 2006

All there in black and white



NAC soiree raises record $345,000


By CAROLINE PHILLIPS, OTTAWA SUN



Sonya Singh of A-Channel is joined by friends Saad Al-Hakkak and Joanne Woo at her farewell party Friday at the Velvet Room. Singh is to start her new job March 6 with Global TV. (Caroline Phillips SUN)

It was music that enriched the soul at the 9th Annual Black & White Opera Soiree and, in return, the National Arts Centre Orchestra and Opera Lyra Ottawa were left enriched themselves to the tune of $345,000 -- the largest amount in the history of the benefit fundraising concert.

The near sold-out crowd of 2,000-plus at the NAC sat enraptured through the performances of soprano Adrianne Pieczonka, baritone Russell Braun, the NAC Orchestra with conductor Richard Bradshaw and the Opera Lyra Ottawa Chorus with chorus master Laurence Ewashko.

The concert was hosted by actor Colm Feore, who, following Braun's well-received performance from The Barber of Seville joked: "Whether it's performed by Russell Braun or Bugs Bunny, it's just always good." (Feore was referring to the rascally rabbit's classic 1950 parody).

The Black and White Opera Soiree was chaired by Lawson Hunter, also executive vice-president of Bell, the main sponsor. He greeted guests upon their arrival to the $275-per-ticket gala, as did NAC president and CEO Peter Herrndorf; Opera Lyra general director Elizabeth Howarth and chair Russell Mills; NAC Foundation CEO Darrell Louise Gregersen; and Dr. David Leighton, chair of the NAC board of trustees.

Mingling in the glamorous crowd during dinner and throughout the night were ambassadors, business leaders and politicians, including Ottawa businessman and philanthropist Michael Potter with wife Veronique Dhieux, former deputy prime minister and finance minister John Manley, Speaker of the House of Commons Peter Milliken and Mayor Bob Chiarelli. Also on hand was Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson and Cyndi Edwards, who has scored a new job starting March 6 co-hosting a show for an NBC affiliate in Tampa, Fla.

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