Sweet Sopranos & Notes of Support

It was an evening of decidedly high note – not to mention a few in between – when Opera Santa Barbara hosted its annual La Dolce Vita gala for 155 guests dying to be in the right aria at the Montecito Club, raising around $150,000.

The gala committee was co-chaired by Karen Knight and Carol Vernon with Joan Rutkowski, Sandra Urquhart, Monica Williams, and Diana Wold.

Singers, all OSB artists accompanied by pianist Timothy Accurso, were soprano Oriana Falla, tenor Xavier Prado, and baritone Matthew Peterson, with the finale sung by baritone Colin Ramsey with the “Toreador Song” from Bizet’s Carmen.

Artistic director Kostis Protopapas led the Stand Up for Opera fundraiser.

Among the throng of supporters were Richard and Kathy Abbott, Todd and Allyson Aldrich, Minos and Tracey Athanassiadis, Derek and Kara Beaulieu, Mahri Kerley, Lynn Kirst, Ken and Nancy Beisser, Rodney Baker and Robert Ooley, Robert Weinman, Barbara Burger, Robert Adams and Nancy Caponi, Nina Dunbar, and Mary Dorra.