Bess Hochstein reports from Annandale-on-Hudson.The fantastical Spiegeltent served as the appropriately festive setting for both the start and the conclusion of the Bard SummerScape 2012 Gala Celebration on Saturday, July 14. That the celebration took place on Bastille Day was in keeping with the francophile theme of year's SummerScape season, including the Bard Music Festival's focus on composer Camille Saint-Saëns. After gathering for cocktails and French-accented hors d'oeuvres, such as ratatouille tartlets and fennel bouchées, guests entered the magical mirror tent for dinner accompanied by wine from nearby Millbrook Vineyard. The ever-resplendent SpiegelMaestro Nik Quaife (left, flanked by Fisher Center board chair Jeanne Fisher and former Fisher Center director Tambra Dillon) emceed the affair, which continued with a performance of Moliere's Imaginary Invalid before winding up back at the Spiegeltent for the traditional make-your-own-sundae dessert and a special performance by French/Canadian cabaret crooner Jean Brassard.
President emeritus of NPRKevin Klose with attorney Deborah Ashford and Ramon Lascano ; Dr. Elisabeth Turnauer-Derow with Sarah Botstein and Bard president Leon Botstein.
Bard Music Festival assistant director Raissa St. Pierre with John Cage Trust'sEmy Martin; James Hamburg and Fisher Center board member Toni Sosnoff.
Barbara Haskell with Judy Gold; Aida Wilder, Alex Tuller, and Elizabeth Hart.
Claudine Brenner and Barbara Schreiber; Linda Hirshman and Barbara Kenner.
Writer Michael Dupree with Rhinebeck restaurateurs Patricia Panarella and Nick Rebraca; Bard's new director of theater programs Gideon Lester with Bryan Doerries and Yale Drama School professor Tom Sellar.
Ronnie and Allan Streichler; Carol Ebbecke, author James Conrad, and Chas Cerulli, director of dining for Chartwells at Bard College.
Jeanne Fisher greets gala guests over dinner in the Spiegeltent.
Author Cornelia Read and actor Peter Riegert; Emily Diggins and WAMC's Sarah LaDuke
The evening ended where it began, at the spectacular Spiegeltent.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
