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WILSON PARISH, PRISCILLA DICKSON Enter, Aida! Zandra Rhodes, Lynn Wyatt H ouston Grand Opera's season opened with Giuseppe Verdi's Aida, an epic portrayal of love and death during Egypt's Old Kingdom. After the operatic performance, guests walked like Egyptians to Wortham Theater Center's Ray C. Fish Plaza, where a golden sphinx held court among towering palms. Patrons were transported into a world of gold and lapis lazuli as they dined with cast members in a charming tent erected on the plaza, where chairman Frances Marzio orchestrated honors for stalwart opera patroness Beth Madison. The night was HGO's most successful opening to date, raising close to half a million dollars to fund community projects, commission new works and ensure that more than 142,000 Houstonians can continue to experience superlative opera. Egyptians for the evening: Lynn Wyatt, Bobbie-Vee and Jerry Cooney, John Turner and Jerry Fischer, Donna and Robert Bruni (she, conducting the national anthem, baton in hand, in advance of Aida's debut), Zandra Rhodes, Diane and Harlan Stai, and Katie Flaherty. Elizabeth Benavides Jerry Fischer, chairman Frances Marzio John Turner, honoree Beth Madison Margaret Williams, Jim Daniel Philip & Denise Bahr David & Estela Cockrell Manolo & Daniela Sanchez Cynthia Petrello, Pat Breen Michael & Carol Linn Robert & Donna Bruni Sri & Raj Yalamanchili Anne & John Mendelsohn JANUARY | PAGE 37 | 2014 Genevera Allen, Tiffany Sanders Courtney Fretz, Katie Flaherty Gina & Mark Metts Perryn Leech