TULSA HOSTS ACCLAIMED ARMENIAN OPERA SINGER
Danna Sue Walker World Scene Writer
Tulsa World (Oklahoma)
June 20, 2007 Wednesday
Final Home Edition
Tulsa Opera gave internationally acclaimed Armenian opera tenor
Yeghishe Manucharyan a standing ovation during its "Celebrity Recital"
at the home of Lea and Hans Helmerich. People traveled from as far
as San Diego and Zurich to attend the recital and hear Manucharyan,
who was accompanied by Tulsa Opera’s principal pianist and vocal coach
Mark Armstrong. The event raised some $50,000 for Tulsa Opera’s Young
Artist and Education Programs.
Patrons also enjoyed a pre-recital reception with the guest artist.
Event co-chairs were Mary and Dr. Frank Shaw. Chef Bill Harris of
Thyme Bistro provided the wine and hor d’oeuvres. Special guest
Lemuel Bardguez, the community arts program director of the Oklahoma
Arts Council, said he is pleased to learn of Tulsa Opera’s efforts to
broaden the diversity of its audiences by surtitling dress rehearsals
in Spanish and inviting Spanish-speaking members of the community.
The only "person" displaced for the evening was the Helmerichs’ dog,
Jack, who al ways lies on the floor under the piano when Lea plays.
He could not understand why he wasn’t allowed to do so during the
recital. Divo patron sponsors included the Shaws, Scott and Margee
Filstrup, Tulsa Opera Director Carol Crawford, and the Gay & Lesbian
Fund for Tulsa. Individual patrons were Kristin Bender, David and
Pattie Bowman, Philip and Donna Diggdon, Jim and Nancy Dominy, Edward
Dumit, Steve and Carol Gaede, Allen Hamilton, Don and Polly Hamilton,
Alvina Hart, Brent Johnson, Stan and Marci Johnson, Chuck Kappedahl,
Cliff Kappedahl, Joe and Bonnie Klein, Mike and Gina Lodes, Franklin
and Kay Miller, Bobbye Potter, Jim and Beth Rainey, Bruce and Linda
Stoesser, Marilyn Strange, Dave and Barbara Sylvan, Lyle and DeMaris
Turner and Patricia Wheeler. Also attending were Rober Aikman and
Barbara Gardner-Anderson, Dr. Tom and Carole Ashcraft, Mary Athens,
Lemuel Bardeguez, Howard and Billy Barnett, Fred and Rousa lana
Black, Harold and Myrna Calhoon, Doyle and Ann Cotton, Kyle Daniels,
Jay DeMuynck, Levi Drain, John and Natalie Fischer, Dr. Munson and
Vaughndean Fuller, Elizabeth Geer and Frank Palmieri, Andrew Gottehrer,
Beth Khoundara, Dr. Frank Letcher, Carl Morrison, Arno and Inge Kahn,
Werner and Helena Lehnert, John McConnel, Lucy Rooney, Nina Luxenburg,
Burl and Nita Watson, Fred and Randi Wightman, Henry and Susanna Will,
Scott D. Williams and Rusty Kidd, and John Yankee.