Carnaby Street to Van Ness Ave. Opera goes mod for new Brit general director

The ball, hosted by the San Francisco Opera Guild, was a celebration of the Opera’s General Director Designate, Matthew Shilvock, who assumes leadership of the 93 year -ld company on August 1 from outgoing General Director David Gockley.

“When you think of the mod era the first thing you think of is the British invasion,” Ball co-chair CJ Van Pelt (with Maryam Muduroglu) said of how the Guild arrived at the motif.

From the unflappable beefeater guards that stood at attention at City Hall’s entrance to the modular projections by McCalls (the event’s caterer and designer) to the Union Jack furniture and swinging ‘60s fashions, it was indeed a very “gab up” (well dressed in mod speak) affair.

Among the things he’s looking forward to in his first season as general director is the premiere of a new production of Verdi’s “Aida” designed by Los Angeles street artist Retna starring San Francisco Opera favorite Leah Crocetto.

“Matthew sat at my table at the Opera Ball and he was very understated, but excited,” said Littlefield Sobel, whose family foundation is funding the world premiere of “Dream of the Red Chamber” in the 2016-2017 season.

“It’s just an exciting time for the company,” former Guild president Karen Kubin offered, mentioning the new pop-up Opera Lab as one project bringing the company new fans.

After guests sat down to a meal of British ham and cheddar herb stuffing and trifle verrine for dessert, the beefeater guards took to the stage for a musical tribute to Shilvock to the tune of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Modern Major-General Song.”

Shilvock also quipped that he was wearing his “first and last” Carnaby Street (the birthplace of mod fashion in London) purchased cravat for the occasion which “evokes Mr. Darcy, which is always a good thing with Kate.”

Following an auction led by fellow Brit, KCBS “Foodie Chap” and host of “Eye on the Bay” Liam Mayclem, the miniskirted birds and Chelsea-booted lads took to the dance floor to twist and shout to the tunes of San Francisco band Notorious.

Funds raised from the ball support the Guild’s ongoing education programs which it says reaches more than 50,000 children in Northern California.