The return of Jose Carreras to the American opera stage in the North American premiere of Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari’s opera Sly (Milan, 1927) in March was an occasion for much celebration among opera lovers and Carreras fans. To help celebrate the historic event and to raise money for the Friends of the Jose Carreras International Leukemia Foundation (the Friends), a group of fans gathered on Saturday, March 13th for a luncheon and silent auction at Las Tapas Restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia’s historic Old Town.

Amidst traditional tapas dishes, centerpieces of miniature Catalan flags surrounded by red and yellow carnations, and animated conversation – the forty or so attendees bid on items of interest to music lovers and Carreras fans. Auctioned items included CDs and videos, custom velvet evening bags, musical scarves, copies of Singing from the Soul and Plane Good Cooking, and photos galore, all donated by generous fans and the Friends.

A second luncheon and sale of remaining items was held in a private dining room at Phillip’s Flagship Restaurant across the Potomac River in Washington on Thursday, March 18th. Together, the two events raised over $1,600 dollars in donations to the Friends.

In addition to raising money, the two events gave Carreras fans from near and far – Virginia, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Florida, California, British Columbia, the U.K. and Australia – a rare opportunity to get together and meet each other face-to-face.

Thanks to everyone associated with these events: first and foremost, Nancy Smith who organized both of the luncheon events; my silent auction co-coordinator, Sybil Summers, whose knowledge and experience with holding similar events was a great Linda Perez, whose creativity gave us the lovely Catalan flag floral centerpieces and the elegant velvet evening bags; Barbara Lawless for her “chauffeuring services” and last, but certainly not least, all those who donated items and those who bid on them. It was a cooperative effort on the part of all concerned.

And Sly? I attended five of Mr. Carreras’s six performances and each night there was a standing ovation. The crowds outside the stage door after each performance were unprecedented in the five years that I’ve been attending the Washington Opera. Many in the crowd were sporting fundraising badges that Diane Sturiale has made, which the Washington Opera graciously agreed to sell at their table in the Kennedy Center foyer. I think the Washington Opera production of Sly can safely be deemed a success.