Metropolitan

Peter Gelb Yannick Nézet-Séguin General Manager Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer Music Director

Board of Directors

OFFICERS MANAGING DIRECTORS ADVISORY DIRECTORS MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION Ann Ziff Mrs. Veronica Atkins M. Beverly Bartner Chairman Mercedes T. Bass Ellen S. Berelson Mahmoud M. Abdallah Dr. Frayda B. Lindemann Frank A. Bennack, Jr. Stephen Berger Dr. Joan Taub Ades President and C. Graham Berwind, III Stanley M. Bergman Agnieszka R. Balaban Chief Executive Officer Susan S. Braddock Ms. Angela Chao R. Joseph Barnett Mercedes T. Bass Noreen Buckfire Daniel C. Cochran Jane Beasley Vice Chair Alexa Bator Chae Carol E. Domina Eleanor N. Caulkins William C. Morris Nabil N. Chartouni Gordon P. Getty Dr. Patrizia A. Cavazzoni Chair of the Executive Committee Betsy Cohen Richard Gilbert Betsy Cohn Robert J. Cubitto Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer Leonard S. Coleman, Jr. Nancy A. Green Secretary Judith-Ann Corrente H. Alexandra Kauka Hamill Robert G. Edge Beatrice Esteve Betsy Cohen Rena De Sisto Howard W. Hunter Treasurer Elizabeth M. Eveillard Linda E. Johnson Bryan M. Fabiano Sanford H. Fisher Tod Johnson Kenneth R. Feinberg Dr. Herbert G. Kloiber Vice President Marina Kellen French Dr. David G. Knott Heather H. Georges Rosalind Glaser Christine F. Hunter Beth A. Grosshans Theodore A. Kurz Honorary Chair Ekkehart Hassels-Weiler Dominique Laffont G. Morris Gurley James W. Kinnear Rolf Heitmeyer Marguerite L. Lee Barbara Guss Honorary Chair Marlene Hess Helen Y. Little Mrs. Randolph H. Guthrie Paul M. Montrone H. M. Agnes Hsu-Tang, Ph.D. Andrew J. Martin-Weber O. Delton Harrison, Jr. President Emeritus Christine F. Hunter Dafna Meitar-Nechmad Erik Hartmann Frederick Iseman Richard J. Miller, Jr. Ronnie S. Hawkins David Henry Jacobs Linda Mirels Matthew G. Hurd EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Tod Johnson Franci Neely Vikas Kapoor Mercedes T. Bass James W. Kinnear Marta Nottebohm Mrs. Martin S. Kimmel Frank A. Bennack, Jr. Bruce Kovner Ellen F. Oelsner Klaus Kleinfeld Betsy Cohen Camille D. LaBarre Katharina Otto-Bernstein Meyer G. Koplow Judith-Ann Corrente Harry T. Lee Miss C. Thomas Kunz Elizabeth M. Eveillard Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer Dr. Steve Prystowsky Sandra Ourusoff Massey Ekkehart Hassels-Weiler Dr. Frayda B. Lindemann Donna Kesselman Raggio, M.D. John L. McGraw Christine F. Hunter Frances Marzio Mark H. Rosenberg Mrs. Peter H. Nicholas Tod Johnson Kathryn A. Miller Winthrop Rutherfurd, Jr. Thomas J. Reid Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer William R. Miller Jacqui Smith Cynthia D. Sculco Dr. Frayda B. Lindemann William C. Morris Daisy M. Soros Paul J. Sekhri William C. Morris Sana H. Sabbagh Kimberly V. Strauss Mrs. William F. Sondericker THE GERSHWINS’ Robert L. Turner Marc I. Stern John J. Veronis Jackson Tai Ann Ziff Hon. David A. Straz, Jr. Arete S. Warren Barry Tucker Ambassador George L. Van Amson Nicholas F. Taubman Sharon Wee Douglas Dockery Thomas Michael J. Woods Robert I. Toll YOUNG ASSOCIATE PORGY Robert L. Turner DIRECTORS Ann Ziff Amanda S. Brainerd HONORARY DIRECTORS Jordan A. D. Fudge Bruce Crawford Robert M. Iommazzo AND BESS Edgar Foster Daniels So-Chung Shinn Lee BY GEORGE GERSHWIN, DUBOSE AND DOROTHY HEYWARD, Pedro Magalhães Emily Fisher Landau AND IRA GERSHWIN Mrs. Walter J. Laughery, Jr. Julie Warner McAskin Mrs. Alexander M. Laughlin Maxwell J. Murphy Paul M. Montrone Evelyn M. M. Popp Howard Solomon Chad J. Shampine OPENING NIGHT GALA Itai Shoffman Siddhartha Shukla MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 Kevin M. Tagami Bee Tham Eric S. Wei Satoko Yahata House Lincoln Center COVER: ERIC OWENS AND ANGEL BLUE AS , PHOTOGRAPHED BY PAOLA KUDACKI Gala Chairman The Met’s Board of Directors and Sheila C. Johnson General Manager Peter Gelb invite you to the opening night of the honorary Gala Chairman Metropolitan Opera’s 2019–20 season Douglas Dockery Thomas THE GERSHWINS’

Gala Co-Chairmen Veronica Atkins PORGY C. Graham Berwind, III AND BESS Betsy and Ed Cohen by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin Marlene Hess and James D. Zirin NEW PRODUCTION PREMIERE Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer and Joseph Neubauer CONDUCTOR David Robertson Dr. Frayda B. Lindemann BESS Angel Blue William C. and Susan F. Morris CLARA Golda Schultz Ann Ziff SERENA Latonia Moore MARIA Denyce Graves SPORTIN’ LIFE Frederick Ballentine* Corporate chairman PORGY Eric Owens CROWN Alfred Walker Robert L. Thornton JAKE Ryan Speedo Green President, First Republic Private Wealth Management PRODUCTION James Robinson* SET DESIGNER Michael Yeargan The Metropolitan Opera is grateful to First Republic COSTUME DESIGNER Catherine Zuber for its underwriting support of the Opening Night Gala LIGHTING DESIGNER Donald Holder PROJECTION DESIGNER Luke Halls CHOREOGRAPHER Camille A. Brown*

Monday, September 23, 2019 Production funders Cocktail reception at 5 pm on the Mercedes T. Bass Production a gift of The Sybil B. Harrington Endowment Fund Grand Tier. The performance will begin at 6 pm. and Douglas Dockery Thomas Dinner with the cast will be served afterward in the

A co-production of the Metropolitan Opera; Promenade of the David H. Koch Theater. Dutch National Opera, Amsterdam; and Black tie GERSHWIN is a registered trademark of Gershwin Enterprises. Porgy and Bess is a registered trademark of Porgy and Bess Enterprises. *Debut Metropolitan Opera

Peter Gelb Yannick Nézet-Séguin General Manager Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer Music Director

Board of Directors

OFFICERS MANAGING DIRECTORS ADVISORY DIRECTORS MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION Ann Ziff Mrs. Veronica Atkins M. Beverly Bartner Chairman Mercedes T. Bass Ellen S. Berelson Mahmoud M. Abdallah Dr. Frayda B. Lindemann Frank A. Bennack, Jr. Stephen Berger Dr. Joan Taub Ades President and C. Graham Berwind, III Stanley M. Bergman Agnieszka R. Balaban Chief Executive Officer Susan S. Braddock Ms. Angela Chao R. Joseph Barnett Mercedes T. Bass Noreen Buckfire Daniel C. Cochran Jane Beasley Vice Chair Alexa Bator Chae Carol E. Domina Eleanor N. Caulkins William C. Morris Nabil N. Chartouni Gordon P. Getty Dr. Patrizia A. Cavazzoni Chair of the Executive Committee Betsy Cohen Richard Gilbert Betsy Cohn Robert J. Cubitto Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer Leonard S. Coleman, Jr. Nancy A. Green Secretary Judith-Ann Corrente H. Alexandra Kauka Hamill Robert G. Edge Beatrice Esteve Betsy Cohen Rena De Sisto Howard W. Hunter Treasurer Elizabeth M. Eveillard Linda E. Johnson Bryan M. Fabiano Sanford H. Fisher Tod Johnson Kenneth R. Feinberg Dr. Herbert G. Kloiber Vice President Marina Kellen French Dr. David G. Knott Heather H. Georges Rosalind Glaser Christine F. Hunter Beth A. Grosshans Theodore A. Kurz Honorary Chair Ekkehart Hassels-Weiler Dominique Laffont G. Morris Gurley James W. Kinnear Rolf Heitmeyer Marguerite L. Lee Barbara Guss Honorary Chair Marlene Hess Helen Y. Little Mrs. Randolph H. Guthrie Paul M. Montrone H. M. Agnes Hsu-Tang, Ph.D. Andrew J. Martin-Weber O. Delton Harrison, Jr. President Emeritus Christine F. Hunter Dafna Meitar-Nechmad Erik Hartmann Frederick Iseman Richard J. Miller, Jr. Ronnie S. Hawkins David Henry Jacobs Linda Mirels Matthew G. Hurd EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Tod Johnson Franci Neely Vikas Kapoor Mercedes T. Bass James W. Kinnear Marta Nottebohm Mrs. Martin S. Kimmel Frank A. Bennack, Jr. Bruce Kovner Ellen F. Oelsner Klaus Kleinfeld Betsy Cohen Camille D. LaBarre Katharina Otto-Bernstein Meyer G. Koplow Judith-Ann Corrente Harry T. Lee Miss Leontyne Price C. Thomas Kunz Elizabeth M. Eveillard Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer Dr. Steve Prystowsky Sandra Ourusoff Massey Ekkehart Hassels-Weiler Dr. Frayda B. Lindemann Donna Kesselman Raggio, M.D. John L. McGraw Christine F. Hunter Frances Marzio Mark H. Rosenberg Mrs. Peter H. Nicholas Tod Johnson Kathryn A. Miller Winthrop Rutherfurd, Jr. Thomas J. Reid Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer William R. Miller Jacqui Smith Cynthia D. Sculco Dr. Frayda B. Lindemann William C. Morris Daisy M. Soros Paul J. Sekhri William C. Morris Sana H. Sabbagh Kimberly V. Strauss Mrs. William F. Sondericker THE GERSHWINS’ Robert L. Turner Marc I. Stern John J. Veronis Jackson Tai Ann Ziff Hon. David A. Straz, Jr. Arete S. Warren Barry Tucker Ambassador George L. Van Amson Nicholas F. Taubman Sharon Wee Douglas Dockery Thomas Michael J. Woods Robert I. Toll YOUNG ASSOCIATE PORGY Robert L. Turner DIRECTORS Ann Ziff Amanda S. Brainerd HONORARY DIRECTORS Jordan A. D. Fudge Bruce Crawford Robert M. Iommazzo AND BESS Edgar Foster Daniels So-Chung Shinn Lee BY GEORGE GERSHWIN, DUBOSE AND DOROTHY HEYWARD, Pedro Magalhães Emily Fisher Landau AND IRA GERSHWIN Mrs. Walter J. Laughery, Jr. Julie Warner McAskin Mrs. Alexander M. Laughlin Maxwell J. Murphy Paul M. Montrone Evelyn M. M. Popp Howard Solomon Chad J. Shampine OPENING NIGHT GALA Itai Shoffman Siddhartha Shukla MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 Kevin M. Tagami Bee Tham Eric S. Wei Satoko Yahata Metropolitan Opera House Lincoln Center COVER: ERIC OWENS AND ANGEL BLUE AS PORGY AND BESS, PHOTOGRAPHED BY PAOLA KUDACKI OPENING NIGHT GALA PORGY AND BESS NEW PRODUCTION PREMIERE

Monday, September 23, 2019

GALA COMMITTEE

GALA CHAIRMAN PRIME BENEFACTORS Sheila C. Johnson Stanley and Marion Bergman Henry Schein, Inc. HONORARY GALA CHAIRMAN Frank and Marianne Diassi Douglas Dockery Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Green GALA CO-CHAIRMEN Hearst Veronica Atkins Mrs. Allan J. Riley C. Graham Berwind, III George and Lydia Weiss Betsy and Ed Cohen BENEFACTORS Marlene Hess and James D. Zirin Marco Antonio Achón Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer Head of Santander Corporate & and Joseph Neubauer Investment Banking, U.S. Dr. Frayda B. Lindemann CEO Santander Investment Securities, Inc. William C. and Susan F. Morris General Manager of New York Branch Ann Ziff BNY Mellon Amparo Espinosa and Manuel Espinosa GALA VICE CHAIRMEN Seifi and Ellen Ghasemi Katherine Farley and Jerry I. Speyer/ Tishman Speyer Linda E. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. John B. Hess Anne Welsh McNulty Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis Lynn C. Schneider

CORPORATE CHAIRMAN PRINCIPAL SPONSORS Robert L. Thornton Samantha and Nabil Chartouni President, First Republic Daniel C. Cochran and Private Wealth Management Gregory B. Sutphin Valerie and Harry Cooper Judith-Ann Corrente and Wim Kooyker Beth and Gary Glynn Dr. David G. Knott and Ms. Françoise Girard Frances Marzio Franci Neely Molly K. Heines and Thomas J. Moloney Sana H. Sabbagh David Hirsch Barbara and Donald Tober Judith M. Hoffman Lauren and John Veronis David C. Howse PRIME SPONSORS Samuel Kendall and Georgia Pask Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Braddock Marguerite Lee and Perk Hixon Noreen and Ken Buckfire Mark Loewen Marina Kellen French Dr. Ernest R. Marrone Rolf Heitmeyer Matthew and Julie McAskin Bertita and Guillermo L. Martínez Joel Robert Melamed MD Andrew J. Martin-Weber Mr. and Mrs. Corbin R. Miller AnnMarie and Jim McCaughan Yasuko Noguchi and George Shelden Mr. and Mrs. Antonio Pargana The Prince Family Fund Matthew Christopher Pietras Ruth B. Schwinge Donna Kesselman Raggio, M.D., Trisha D. Scudder and John J. Raggio Nancy S. Smith Allen and Heidi Roberts James H. Theodore Paul J. Sekhri and Mark Duvall Gude Debra Therit Mr. Jake and Mrs. Helene Marie Shafran Ida Tjeknavorian Daisy M. Soros Wendy and George Van Amson David Warren and Helen Lee-Warren SPONSORS Sharon Wee and Tracy Fu Hugh A. Andrews Dr. and Mrs. Douglas P. Zipes Steven and Betsy Bush David Chou COMMITTEE MEMBERS Reverends Nilcelia and Roger Davidson Dr. Joan Taub Ades Carol E. and David A. Domina Prof. Daniel I. A. Cohen Bryan M. Fabiano Eliot Keele Kenneth R. Feinberg and Christian Keesee Camille S. Biros Dr. Anne Kolker Earl Franks C. Thomas Kunz and Renata and Claudio Garcia Rosemarie Sweeney Mr. Sergey Generalov Miriam Mangot Rosalind and Eugene J. Glaser Jacqueline Badger Mars Dr. Beth Grosshans and Dr. Carol D. Morris Mr. Dennis Stattman Helen H. Thompson Stanley and Nancy Grossman Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Gund Barbara Guss (committee in formation)