Pittsburgh Opera’s annual season-ending Maecenas gala is going digital this year.
Historically held at venues such as the Benedum Center or Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters, the 36th annual fundraiser will instead be broadcast online on June 14.
From 7-7:30 p.m. that evening, Pittsburgh Opera will broadcast a live pre-show hosted by syndicated columnist Natalie Bencivenga, which can be viewed free on the opera’s Facebook page. This virtual red carpet will look back at the glitz and glamour of past Maecenas galas, preview the virtual event and offer some special surprises to count down to Maecenas XXXVI.
At 7:30 p.m., Pittsburgh Opera will release a “pay-per-view”-style, 45-minute video presentation featuring new content. The video will encompass components of in-person Maecenas galas, including three musical performances by Pittsburgh Opera’s acclaimed Resident Artists.
The main event also will include these award presentations:
• Lifetime Achievement Award to Vincent Sarni, former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of PPG Industries Inc., in honor of his professional career and his philanthropic history.
• Renaissance Award to Pittsburgh Opera General Director Christopher Hahn, honoring his accomplishments through 20 years with the organization.
The video presentation will include testimonials and a virtual presentation ceremony with each winner. To showcase some of Hahn’s most notable achievements with Pittsburgh Opera, the video also will include a retrospective with long-lost performance footage from the opera’s archives.
“Just because we can’t be together in person doesn’t mean we don’t have a lot to celebrate,” says Pittsburgh Opera Director of Development Michael Braxton. “Through this online event, which we are calling the Maecenas Mask-erade, we will be able to honor these two distinguished people and enjoy this vibrant, resilient art form, while still raising money for one of Pittsburgh’s most venerable arts organizations.”
Tickets to watch the video presentation are $25, and are available online at pittsburghopera.org/maskerade. Ticket buyers will receive a link via email to watch the video presentation, which will remain available for viewing from June 14 through June 21, for purchasers’ convenience.
Details: pittsburghopera.org
