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26 A SEDUCTIVE NIGHT OPERA SHELBY HODGE SINGS ALONG. PHOTOGRAPHY JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON, PRISCILLA DICKSON, WILSON PARISH. I n 1987, legendary tenor Plácido Domingo headlined Houston Grand Opera's Wortham Theater Center grand opening as the romantic lead in Aida. This fall, he returned to Houston for the reopening of the Wortham, the city's premier performing arts theater, after its recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. The glorious sounds of Domingo, soprano Ana María Martínez, and the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra swept over the black-tie ensemble that filled the theater to capacity. The masterful resurrection of the Wortham was glori- fied in the two-tiered soirée dubbed "HGO & Plácido, Coming Home." Petite philanthropist Margaret Alkek Williams presided over the magical evening that raised $1.5 million for HGO coffers and that found the well-heeled congregation joining in a sing-along of "Besame Mucho." Following the concert, high-ticket holders adjourned to the Post Oak Hotel for a late-night dinner in a ballroom flush with red roses and a mariachi band saluting the Latin heritage of both opera stars. WHO: HGO music and artistic director Patrick Summers; HGO managing director Perryn Leech; former HGO general director David Gockley, who was at the helm when the Wortham first opened; incoming board chair Janet Carrig; Houston First chairman David Mincberg; Lynn Wyatt; Steve Wyatt; Dian and Harlan Stai; Barbara Van Postman; Louisa Stude Sarofim; Tony Bradfield; Isla and Tommy Reckling; Donna Kaplan and Richard Lydecker, and Nicole and Evan Katz. See more Shelby Hodge at papercitymag.com. at the PLÁCIDO DOMINGO AND ANA MARÍA MARTINEZ STAR IN THE WORTHAM HOMECOMING Margaret Williams Placido Domingo Steve Wyatt, Lynn Wyatt Diane Lokey Farb, Ceron Ron Franklin, Janet Gurwitch Patrick Summers David Gockley Sue & Lester Smith Terry Wayne Jones, Jay Jones Susanne & Bill Pritchard Jim & Dancie Ware Ginni Mithoff Nicole & Evan Katz Lucinda & Javier Loya Drs. Vivek & Ishwaria Subbiah Donna Kaplan Richard Lydecker Jr. Carroll Robertson Ray Hugh Ray