A gala night in the jungle

Everybody knows that Cincinnati Opera knows how to throw a party. But 550 revelers at "Una noche magica" were dazzled like never before by the rainforest spectacle that met them in Music Hall's Ballroom at the opera gala earlier this month. The Ballroom's west wall had a two-story waterfall that reminded me of Iguacu Falls in Brazil (it was projected) and patrons sipped cocktails while an aerialist dangled overhead. (Apparently the ever-savvy opera company has been visiting Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas for ideas, I kid you not.)

Tenor Mark Panuccio (pictured), who is surely "America's next great tenor," delivered a knock-out performance of opera arias and duets, including what is fast becoming his signature aria, "Nessun dorma." His soprano was Edlyn de Oliveria, who will star in this summer's company premiere of "Florencia en el Amazonas" by Daniel Catan.

Incidentally, the composer was there, too (pictured in yellow tie), with a few words about his upcoming opera for the audience. Catan is now at work on "Il Postino," an opera based on the 1994 movie about a young postman who delivers mail to the famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. Catan revealed that he is writing the role of Neruda for Placido Domingo, to be premiered in the fall of 2009 by LA Opera. (It's on my calendar!)

To conclude the first part of the gala affair, Terra Azul played wonderful sambas. Then, as the divinely-gowned and tuxedoed guests and their Dior party bags lined up for their cars, 250 of the young-and-hip set arrived for the after-party, to dance the night away into the wee hours.

What they raised: $250,000

Power couples: Opera board president Cathy Crain and board chairman Harry Fath (left); Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn (right)

What they wore: Pictured above with Patrick Korb, Melanie Chavez, a co-chair, was in midnight blue satin by Collette Dinnigan, with necklace by Debra Moreland for Paris and a Judith Leiber clutch; and co-chair Jeannine Winkelmann was in yellow Oscar de la Renta, featuring hand-embroidered flowers. Vintage Chanel shoes completed her look.

Photos: by Philip Groshong, courtesy of Cincinnati Opera