Clad in their finest evening wear, supporters of The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra [CPO] filled the posh Petroleum Club last week for the final evening of Cork & Canvas, a fundraising wine and art festival.
Pillars of cultural philanthropy were among the guests, including Tibor and Livia Fekete, Jim and Barbara Palmer, Dick Matthews, Conrad and Mary Porth, Brien and Peggy Perry, Sandra Gajic of the Epcor Centre, Jim Mugford, VP at Siemens Canada, Raj Agrawal, president of NRG Engineering, and Irene Besse.
Following an intimate champagne reception in the McMurray Room, where members of the CPO preformed, guests poured upstairs and into a three-tiered dining room for a delightful five-course meal and live auction.
Alison Geskin, director of development for the CPO, acted as “mistress of ceremonies” with enthusiasm and charm. While guests found their tables and scanned the silent auction items, Geskin introduced Gerald Uhlen, the export director for Joseph Drouhin Vineyard in Burgundy. Uhlen’s charming accent and impressive expertise had the entire room settling in their seats and raising a glass.
The first wine was a 2005 Drouhin Chablis Vausesir Grand Cru, light in colour and lingering in the palette. With rapt attention, his audience swirled, sipped, and pondered. A marinated grilled squid salad was served, with olives, capers and roasted red peppers adding a sweet balance to the wine. And then there was the 2002 Clos des Mouches Blanc; a rich, slightly smoky chardonnay evoking damp forests and honey. It was a good start.
Before the next course was served, Geskin hosted a round of live auction. Tony Luppino, executive director of the Art Gallery of Alberta (and the husband of Ann Lewis-Luppino, president of the CPO) provided some comments on the first painting available for auction - Nicolas de Grandmaison’s Winter Evening. The bidding was fierce, with no signs of slowing down for the next two items; an interactive cooking experience with top chef Fabio Centini, Maestro Roberto Minczuk, and radio talk show host “The Coach”, followed by two bottles of Chateau Lafite (‘83 Rothschild Bordeaux Red & ‘89 Bordeaux Bend).
The menu included rabbit confit ravioli, Alberta beef tenderloin with bison short rib, a selection of fine cheeses, and tiramisu in a chocolate cup. Each course was preceded by Uhlen’s tasting notes, Luppino’s comments on a painting, and a round of live auction.
A package of 100 tickets to the CPO, to be donated to a charity of one’s choosing, was sold twice at $2500 to each bidder. Winner Trent Stangl, VP marketing and investor relations for Crescent Point Energy Trust, will donate his prize to YMCA Strong Kids. Two tickets for the luxurious Mountains, Music and Masterpieces event at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise was sold to five separate bidders. Other donated prizes included Olympic hockey tickets, a chance to rehearse and perform with the CPO, many fine works of art including pieces by Amy Dryer and Robert Bateman, and over a dozen vintage wines, including a 1985 Chateau Margaux Bordeaux Blend.
Published in National Post, April 11, 2009
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