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More than 200 young professionals filled the Mark Hopkin’s Peacock Court to hear an artistic conversation with Robin Sutherland, Principal Pianist, San Francisco Symphony, and John Kieser, General Manager, San Francisco Symphony, in anticipation of the annual Opening Night Gala. Symphonix Opening Night Gala co-chairs, Christopher Contos and Michelle Curtis joined Kieser and Sutherland in club chairs onstage while engaging in an informal interview.

Keiser provided a preview of the Opening Gala program, which features pianist Lang Lang, named one of the “sexiest men in the world” by People Magazine. The classical phenom will play Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto #3. Sutherland amused the audience with antidotes of Perokofiev’s first visit to San Francisco in 1918 during which he was detained on a ship at Angel Island because of tensions with the Bolsheviks. When asked by Barry Shotts to identify his favorite recording of the Goldberg Variations, Sutherland candidly replied ‘My own recording of course.” Guests were then treated to a further surprise, when at the audience’s urging Robin Sutherland agreed to play one of the Goldberg Variations to conclude the evening.

Guests including past Presidents Roberta Economidis and Barry Shotts, and host committee members Kathryn Pellegrini, Kelly Grimes, Lee Gregory, Kelly Murphy, Anderson Purgash, Joe Garcia, Erik Noland, Wheeler & Millen Griffith, Hooman and Elyssa Cahill Thorp enjoyed wine and hors d’oeuvres at a reception following the conversation.

Symphonix will hold its Opening Night Gala and Dinner on Wednesday, September 9 at San Francisco City Hall. For more information about the event and to learn how you can support the Symphonix and the San Francisco Symphony, please visit http://www.sfsymphonix.com/emails/20090909_Gala/index.html