The SF Symphony Gala happened two weeks ago, but that won't stop us from going all Us Weekly on you with pictures of the well-heeled at the glamorous party. These patrons dropped up to $10,000 for a dinner seat and a concert, but it's for a good cause: all proceeds benefit the SF Symphony's education programs, which annually reach over 75,000 Bay Area children. The pretty outfits probably cost at least as much, but only benefit the children of Salvatore Ferragamo.
There was a concert as well with the orchestra backing up Yuja Wang joyous romp through the "Rhapsody in Blue." Singer Bonnie Raitt came up for three songs and got all emotional on a tune from a father, but the rest of her set, including a delightful "That's my weakness now" with witty orchestral quotes from Mozart or Stravinsky, provided plenty of good hearted fun. It was almost cruel to keep the high society from hobnobbing through a rather long program that also included Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture and more scenes from Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev. MTT's 20th season as music director was off and running. All pictures courtesy of Moanalani Jeffrey Photography for SF Symphony.