Guests are welcomed to the first stop for the progressive, multi-venue event--the reception at the San Francisco War Memorial.
A longer view of the reception area. Some 1,800 guests attended the event.
Guests file into the elegant "Tribute Welcome Reception." The event team keys on the formal, Beaux-Arts style of the building by adding gilded residential-style furnishings.
Although the pieces added are few, they add up to decor drama.
The reception pays tribute to the various conductors of the San Francisco Symphony in its 100-year history. Backlit portraits of the conductors are accompanied by menus featuring foods from each maestro's birthplace.
The tribute to conductor Alfred Hertz, symphony music director from 1915 to 1930.
Another view of the tribute portraits.
Guests enjoy the reception.
Reception floral features a whimsical mix of elegant roses accented with feathers.
At the peak of the reception, a dozen trumpeters--bearing custom banners on their instruments--alert guests that it is time to move to the dinners.
One dinner--the "Symphony Supper Donor Gala"--serves 400 guests in the iconic rotunda of San Francisco City Hall.
Got Light? handled lighting design.
At the direction of the gala chairs, the event team creates a "champagne" environment with floor-length sequined fabrics dressing tables.
Another view of the "Supper" dinner.
The 11 grand archways of the rotunda space are draped with textured coral fabric.
A closer view of the coral drape at one of the archways.
The event team makes the most of the various levels in the venue for the 400 guests.
Restrained white floral holds sway in the "Supper" dining area,
A place setting in the "Supper" area.
At the same time 400 guests were dining in the rotunda, another 400 donors dined in the City Hall North Light Court at the "Symphony Symphonix Gala Celebration."
Symphonix guests dine in a room draped in tidewater blue silk.
A longer view of the "Symphonix" room.
Clouds of gypsophila (aka baby's breath) adorn a tabletop.
Each "Symphonix" guest receives a set of headphones as a token of the symphony's gratitude for their contributions. Photo by
Irja Elisa Photography.
Tidewater blue cushions adorn chairs.
After the dinners, concert superstars Itzhak Perlman and Lang Lang gave a performance, then high-level donors moved through a custom-made "tunnel of time" to the Zellerbach Stage at Louise M. Davis Symphony Hall for the after-party.
The after-party re-creates a turn-of-the-century carnival.
Elegant seating at the after-party.
The entire space is draped in scarlet fabric and vintage yellow and white "wallpaper" stripes.
The octagonal bar in the center of the room features a custom Ferris wheel piece and video screens playing Charlie Chaplin films.
Vintage carnival set pieces at the after-party.
For Blueprint Studios' work on the San Francisco Symphony's iconic Black and White Ball, click
here.
For more beautiful Photo Galleries, click
here.
