by R. Couri Hay<\/strong><\/p>\n NORMA\u2019S DEBUT<\/strong><\/p>\n Bill de Blasio surprised many by appearing at the 133rd opening of the Metropolitan Opera. The mayor told the glittering crowd, \u201cWhen we all have social media attention spans, the energy and the concentration that you put\u00a0into the opera is more than rewarded.\u201d The night showcased a stunning new production of Bellini\u2019s bel canto tragedy Norma, staring the dazzling sopranos Sondra Radvanovsky and Joyce DiDonato and tenor Joseph Calleja. Anyone who loves classical music will enjoy this performance, made possible by a gift from gala chair Veronica Atkins. Supporters included Mercedes Bass, Daisy Soros, Ariana Rockefeller, and Marie-Jos\u00e9e and Henry Kravis. Also present were Jerry Hall, Georgina Chapman, Jamie Tisch, Nancy Chemtob, F. Murray Abraham and Valery Jour. The event raised $4.9 million. Metopera.org<\/p>\n FASHION & BALLET<\/strong><\/p>\n Prabal Gurung, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Jill Kargman, Nicky Hilton Rothschild, Peter Martins and FIT director Valerie Steele led the parade of fashionistas to the opening of the New York CIty Ballet. Sarah Jessica Parker, who attended with her husband, Matthew Broderick, co chaired the fashion focused night, which has raised $13 million since 2012. Participating designers have included Alexander McQueen, Dries Van Noten, Carolina Herrera, Olivier Theyskens and Valentino. This\u00a0 year, designer Tsumori Chisato\u2019s witty surrealist costumes for Justin Peck\u2019s inspired Pulcinella Variations stole the night. Parker said, \u201cI admire these dancers for their lean, sculpted muscles and limber bodies.\u201d The committee included Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece, Mario Testino, Amy Astley and Diane von Furstenberg. Among those sipping the divine Dom Ruinart champagne were the stars of The Americans, Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, as well as Andy Cohen, Fe Fendi,\u00a0 Judith Hoffman, Youth America Grand Prix\u2019s Larissa Saveliev, Jean Shafiroff, dancers Zachary Catazaro, Tiler Peck and Lauren Lovette, and art consultants Libbie Mugrabi and Kenny Ackerman. nycballet.com<\/em><\/p>\n THE PHIL SOARS<\/strong><\/p>\n Alec and Hilaria Baldwin walked the red carpet at the 176th opening of the New York Philharmonic. Baldwin who is both a board member and radio host of the Phil\u2019s concerts, said, \u201cWhen I go to the movies, I\u2019m often disappointed, but when I go to the Philharmonic I\u2019m never disappointed. We would go twice a week if we could, but it\u2019s hard because we have two young children.\u201d Leading the applause for Mahler\u2019s celestial Fifth Symphony were Jenny and John Paulson, Karen and Richard LeFrak, Sharon Bush, skin care visionaries Rochelle and June Jacobs and the Phil\u2019s chairman, Oscar Schafer. nyphil.org<\/p>\n CEOS OF GOOD WORKS<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The ladies who lunch for a good cause were out in full regalia for the launch of Audrey Gruss\u2019 new perfume, Hope\u00a0<\/span>at Saks Fifth Avenue. Hilary Geary Ross, Sharon Loeb, Muffie Miller, Jamee Gregory, Barbara Bancroft, Candace Bushnell, Susan Gutfreund, Yaz Hern\u00e1ndez, Serena Boardman, Lorraine Bracco, Coralie Charriol Paul, Jackie Drake, Nicole Miller, Jessica Gruss, Liz Peek and Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos sat at tables festooned with lilyof- the valley, tuberose, jasmine and gardenias\u2014the flowers that make up the perfume\u2019s primar notes. Gruss announced that 100 percent of the profits from the fragrance will go to the Hope for Depression Research Foundation, which she founded 11 years ago. \u201cMy mother, whose name was Hope, suffered from depression, but loved white flowers and the sense of joy they brought her,\u201d Gruss told the crowd. \u201cThis glorious fragrance stands on its own, but the charitable message empowers you to give back with a product that keeps on giving.\u201d hopefordepression.org.<\/span><\/p>\n INSIDE STUDIO 54<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Cornelia Guest, Patrick McMullan and other denizens of\u00a0disco\u2019s glamorous nights of yore\u00a0hosted a book party for Mark\u00a0Fleischman\u2019s Inside Studio 54.\u00a0It was a mix of old and new\u00a0that saw Village People cowboy\u00a0Randy Jones jump on a\u00a0banquette and sing \u201cYMCA\u201d as\u00a0Mariah Kennedy Cuomo struck\u00a0a pose and millennial beauties\u00a0Meredith \u00a0and Whitney\u00a0Schott ruled the dance floor,\u00a0while Carolina Herrera\u2019s\u00a0husband, Reinaldo, gossiped\u00a0with George Wayne.\u00a0The explosive expos\u00e9 by\u00a0Fleischman\u2014who bought\u00a0the club from Ian Schrager\u00a0and Steve Rubell\u00a0after they were sent\u00a0to the big house\u00a0for hiding garbage\u00a0bags full of cash in\u00a0the club\u2019s ceiling\u2014\u00a0gives the inside\u00a0dope on Andy Warhol,\u00a0Liza Minnelli,\u00a0Robert De Niro,\u00a0Mick Jagger, David\u00a0Bowie, Roy Cohn, Robin\u00a0Williams, John Belushi\u00a0and all the other VIPs from\u00a0that decadent era. \u201cDrugs\u00a0and celebrities were what\u00a0made Studio 54 fabulous,\u201d\u00a0Fleischman recalled. He ran\u00a0the club until 1986, eventually\u00a0adopting a healthy lifestyle he\u00a0learned at Rancho La Puerta Spa\u00a0in Tecate, Mexico. The book is a\u00a0wistful look back that will strike\u00a0a chord with the revelers who\u00a0remember partying under the\u00a0moon with a spoon\u2014and with\u00a0everyone who wishes they had.\u00a0rarebirdbooks.com<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n CENTRAL PARK HORSE SHOW<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Bill and Melinda Gates\u2019 daughter Jennifer glided over the jumps to win $25,000 at the Rolex Central Park Horse Show at Wollman Rink. Kent Farrington, the number one show jumper in the world, took\u00a0home the $216,000 Grand Prix\u00a0purse and donated a substantial\u00a0part of it to Direct Relief,\u00a0which helps families impacted\u00a0by natural disasters. Farrington\u00a0said, \u201cI\u2019m a resident of Florida.\u00a0I\u00a0was lucky to dodge a bullet but a\u00a0lot of people weren\u2019t as fortunate.\u00a0I wanted to do something\u00a0for them.\u201d The glamorous event,\u00a0which has attracted everyone\u00a0from Bruce Springsteen\u00a0to model Ashley Moore, was\u00a0founded by Mark Bellissimo\u00a0four years ago and features some\u00a0of the world\u2019s best dressage riders\u00a0and show jumpers. Among those applauding the riders were\u00a0Martha Stewart and Michael\u00a0Bloomberg. cphs.coth.com<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n RACE TO JUDGMENT<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Dianne Bernhard hosted a book\u00a0party for Race To Judgment,\u00a0Frederic Block\u2019s novel, at the\u00a021 Club. The tome fictionalizes\u00a0mob related cases the judge has\u00a0overseen during his 23 years on\u00a0the bench. fredericblock.com<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Festive Season Met Opera, NYC Ballet, The Phil, Saks & Studio 54 by R. Couri Hay NORMA\u2019S DEBUT Bill de Blasio surprised many […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9291,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1973],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorials"],"acf":{"full_width":false,"header_transparent":false,"header_white":false},"yoast_head":"\n