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SYMPHONIC SUITES, BIRTHDAY CAKE AND A STRADIVARIUS ANNE LEE PHILLIPS REPORTS ON A EUPHONIOUS EVENING. PHOTOGRAPHY JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON. OCTOBER | PAGE 12 | 2015 A STRADIVARIUS VISITS HOUSTON Joshua Bell, fresh off a plane from South Africa, toted his violin on his shoulder as he mingled with guests at the gala. It's not surprising that he wouldn't want to let it out of his sight, as the prized instrument has quite a history. Known as the Gibson ex Huberman, the instrument is only one of five or six instruments made in 1713 by Antonio Stradivari himself (he is credited with 1,116 in his lifetime). It was stolen from a previous owner in 1936, celebrated musician Bronislaw Huberman, by young freelance musician Julian Altman, who confessed to the crime on his deathbed. The story resonated with Bell. Fortuitously, in 2001 he was buying strings at a violin shop and the owner showed him the Strad, which was to be sold to a wealthy German industrialist. Bell couldn't bear the thought of the instrument not being played, so he purchased it for himself and played it that night at Royal Albert Hall. When asked where he keeps his prized possession when he sleeps, he teased (or was he being serious?) that he spoons with it. WILSON PARISH I t was the most beautiful sound ever heard — not the name Maria, but Joshua Bell playing William David Brohn's arrangement of the West Side Story Suite (written especially for Bell) on his multi- million-dollar Stradivarius violin, with the Houston Symphony conducted by Andrés Orozco-Estrada. The performance was one of the many high notes of the Houston Symphony Opening Night Concert and Gala. The evening began at The Corinthian with champagne and an excited buzz in the air, as the event marks the kickoff of both the Symphony's programming and the fall social season. Seven hundred supporters in black- tie then traversed to Jones Hall for the concert. First up was a birthday tribute to honoree Margaret Williams, who turned 80 this year — the long-time benefactor of the Symphony donated an impressive $5 million in the spring. The petite Williams lit up the stage with a big smile in her glittering emerald-green gown as she extolled the importance of the Symphony. Orozco-Estrada, the renowned music director whose tenure with the Symphony began last year, commenced the performance with Gershwin's An American in Paris Suite and closed with The Firebird Suite from Stravinsky. Guests were then whisked back to The Corinthian, which was lavishly decorated by Bergner and Johnson, for a multi-course seated dinner catered by Jackson and Company. A champagne toast and celebration of Miz Williams followed, along with birthday cake — generous slices of dark chocolate cake layered with apricot and raspberry, each glazed with chocolate ganache and garnished with an edible chocolate candle. It didn't end there: Guests danced to the tunes of the Richard Brown Orchestra, which played everything from Motown hits to new releases. The evening raised a record- breaking $800,000 benefitting the Symphony's education and community programming. On the scene: chair Janet F. Clark, honorary chair Vicki West, underwriting chair David Wuthrich, director Mark Hanson with wife Christina, Houston Symphony president Steven Mach; symphonic supporters Jana and Scotty Arnoldy, Betty and Jess Tutor, Cora Sue and Harry Mach, and Candace and Brian Thomas. Aerin Williams Quentin Smith Divya Brown Frances Marzio Gretchen McFarland Andrew McFarland Betty Tutor Billy McCartney Meredith Stilwell Michael Love Dagney Pruner Alie Pruner Dave Pruner John Stilwell Brian Thomas Candace Thomas Tommy Atkins Brenda Atkins Benjamin Frazier Sarah Frazier Joshua Bell Pilar Colvin Richard Colvin Patrick Miller Allison Miller Gina Bhatia Devinder Bhatia Andrés Orozco- Estrada David Wuthrich Honoree Margaret Williams Honorary chair Vicki West Chair Janet Clark Christina Hanson Mark Hanson Jana Arnoldy Scotty Arnoldy Susan Hansen Dick Hansen Cora Sue Mach Ting Bresnahan John Bresnahan Hallie Vanderhider Fady Armanious Harry Mach Lisa Frantz Frank Bay Annemieke Bay Kelli Cohen Fein Christie McCartney Jess Tutor Steven Mach Joella Mach David Denechaud Joanne King Herring Richard Yates Viviana Denechaud John Barron Jennifer Barron