This Magical Musical Night Brings Many To Tears: A Voice From Heaven Graces Houston

What: An Evening of Opera, presented by UNICEF USA

Where: The Versailles Room of Chateau Carnarvon, the Memorial area estate of Marie and Ed Bosarge

PC Moment: Classical music lovers were over the moon with the evening that included not only an elegant dinner from Tony’s but also a sublime concert by Grammy Award winning soprano Ana Maria Martinez. The concert package, purchased during the live auction at the 2017 UNICEF gala, brought in $60,000 for UNICEF USA’s efforts to end child trafficking. Hosts making the evening possible were Margaret Alkek Williams, Brigitte and Bashar Kalai, Trini Mendenhall and Marguerite Swartz.

Guests swooned over Martinez’ lyrical selections featuring “Song to the Moon” from Rusalka, “Prés des ramparts de Seville” from Carmen and “Ava Maria.” Her repertoire included songs that showcased not only her vocal chords but also her fluency in the various languages of opera. Before night’s end, the soprano received a request from Dr. Antonio Merlot to perform an aria from an Italian opera. The hour was late and her pianist had already departed, so Martinez sang acapella the moving “O Mio Babbino Caro” from Puccini’s Il Trittico. The beautiful finale bringing several guests to tears.

Martinez also entertained the intimate gathering during the Q&A, which was conducted by her good friend Sofia Adrogué.

Who: UNICEF board chair Susan Boggio; board members Tony Bradfield, Sippi Khurana and Amy Pierce and honorary board member Margaret Alkek Williams; HGO’s Perryn Leech, Patrick Summers and Greg Robertson; HGO board members Jim Crownover, Astley Blair and Terrylin Neale; and Alley Theatre managing director Dean Gladden and Jane.