New Orleans Friends of Music opened its 60th season with a performance by the husband and wife duo of cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han at Tulane University’s Dixon Hall. The duo, called “Chamber music’s power couple” by the Wall Street Journal, opened the 2014-’15 season with pieces by Strauss, Messaien, Albeniz, Glazunov and Chopin.
The festive evening continued with “A Celebration of Music and Art” at the nearby home of Dr. Siddarth Bhansali. Beneath a canopy of starry lights, guests enjoyed a multi-course repast by Borgne with mouth-watering entrées and a selection of decadent desserts. The lush setting of Dr. Bhansali’s courtyard was further accented by tropical floral arrangements by Ginja Moseley of A Beautiful Life. While listening to classical guitar strings by John Rankin, guests sipped specialty cocktails by William Grant and Sons, in addition to wines provided by Diane and Alan Franco.
Dr. Bhansali’s home, filled with his renowned collection of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain bronzes from the Indian subcontinent, was another attraction for guests, who included Scott and Janet Howard, Drs. Ranney and Emel Mize, Barbara and Hugo Wedemeyer, Alex and Maureen Gershanik, Cara McCool, Sun Kim and Kee Lee, Kim Glazer, Teri Wittenburg, Fred and Ivy Kushner, Larry Zaslow, Shirney and Orlin Corey, Richard and Anna Harrison and Margaret Shields, President of FOM, with her husband Wade.
Regions Bank was the presenting sponsor of the concert and gala, and guests departed with gifts from Regions Bank, as well as from Saks Fifth Avenue, Crown Products, Earthsavers, Blue Frog Chocolates and West Jefferson Medical Center.
EVENT AT A GLANCE
What: “60 Years Gala” benefiting Friends of Music
When: Tuesday, October 21
Where: Dixon Hall, Tulane University and the home of Dr. Bhansali
