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24 A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC WITH DINNER By Shelby Hodge. Photography Priscilla Dickson. W hat better prelude to Houston Grand Opera's opening-night gala than Donizetti's playful The Elixir of Love. The happy ending — an operatic rarity — inspired high spirits as the chic black-tie crowd moved from Wortham Theater Center to the elaborately deco- rated party tent on Fish Plaza. As HGO managing director Perryn Leech wryly noted, "Not such a big body count this year." Rather than murder and broken hearts, one might say that love was in the air as Mary and Mark D'Andrea shared their roles as chairs with Valerie and Tracy Dieterich. In homage to the hot-air balloon that provided transport for the opera's protagonist, The Event's Co.'s decorative theme included rose-covered hot-air balloon topiaries that practically fl oated as centerpieces, and a video of a hot-air balloon wafting through the clouds streamed across a tent wall. Raising their glasses to honorees Anne and John Mendelsohn before raising their forks for dinner catered by Tony's, were HGO artistic and music director Patrick Summers, Michelle and Frank Hevrdejs, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Robin Angly and Miles Smith, Margaret Alkek Williams, Molly and Jim Crownover, Birgitt van Wijk, Yvonne and Rufus Cormier, and Princess Tatiana Galitzine with fi ancé Guillermo Sierra. Stan Lane, Nicole Heaston George & Irene Hricik Tony Bradfi eld, Marguerite Swartz, Kevin Black Betty & John Hrncir Larissa & Scott Ipsen Judith Oudt John Mendelsohn Frances Marzio, Beth Madison Beau Miller Divya & Chris Brown Patrick Summers Princess Tatiana Galitzine, Guillermo Sierra Yvonne & Rufus Cormier Gerry Cooney, Meredith Hedemann Monica & John Blaisdell Sverre & Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl Judy & Wayne McConnell Kristina Somerville Lindley Arnoldy Jana Arnoldy Michelle Hevrdejs Richard Flowers Pat Breen