San Francisco society came out to celebrate Gordon Getty on March 7 at Festival Napa Valley’s Angels of the Arts Gala. Set against the gilded walls of the Green Room in the War Memorial Veterans Building, Dede Wilsey sparkled in her signature pink and Maria Manetti Shrem held court next to Getty, while the brilliant Goretti Lo Lui talked politics and Arlene Inch was as bubbly and vivacious as ever. Mayor London Breed and Chief of Protocol Maryam Muduroglu kicked off the night, announcing that City Hall had been lit up in Getty’s favorite colors in honor of the festivities.
“We were honored to celebrate Gordon Getty’s extraordinary achievements as a composer and philanthropist at the Angels of the Arts ceremony,” said Festival Napa Valley president and CEO Rick Walker of Getty’s award. “The evening included intimate musical performances, heartfelt tributes and, in true Festival Napa Valley fashion, an elegant dinner curated by award-winning chefs Sarah [Rich] and Evan Rich paired with some of Napa Valley’s best wines.”
Performances of “Danny Boy” and Stephen Sondheim’s “No One Is Alone” made the night memorable, while the room was rapt for Alexandra Armantrading and Lester Lynch’s breathtaking rendition of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “If I Loved You.”
Gazette owners Clint Reilly and Janet Reilly mingled with Athena Blackburn and Timothy Blackburn, Paul Pelosi, Hilary Newsom Callan and Geoff Callan. Apple executive Payam Mirrashidi announced that Apple Music launched a Getty playlist, and tributes abounded by Frederica von Stade, Jake Heggie and others as they joined in chorus singing “For Gordon,” set to the tune of “Mame.”
The evening was magical for its permeating sensibility that guests were at a 1980s dinner party in Getty’s home. This intimate feeling was underscored when Getty himself stood up to sing “If I Loved You” a cappella at the head of the table. The attendees were sent home with a copy of Lisa Delan’s commissioned poem in Getty’s honor, as well as an impression that they had just been a tiny part of a legendary San Francisco night with one of the City’s great icons.
