Bellissimo!

AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

From a romantic Mediterranean cruise to an Italian Villa vacation to a shopping spree for luxury sportswear, it's all here for the bidding at the Symphony's season-opening gala.

UN FINE-SETTIMANA -
A Weekend Getaway
You will spend two nights at a beautiful pied-a-terre (una villetta in citta') on Fillmore Street in San Francisco. Your one-bedroom weekend hideaway has an attached private garage and exclusive use of the garden. Eat in or out, as you please, since you will have a modern kitchen. We saved the best for last - you will have two tickets to see Placido Domingo in "Cyrano de Bergerac" on Friday, November 12th. Your seats at War Memorial Opera House are in the exclusivie 'General Director's' box. We think you'll say, "Bravo!"

Date: By arrangement
Number of guests: 2
Opening bid: $700


UNA ROMANTICA CROCIERA NEL MEDITERRANEO -
A Romantic Mediterranean Cruise
You'll spend ten days, May 16-26, 2011, visiting some of the loveliest ports in the Mediterranean. Bask on your veranda as Ephesus, Santorini and Zaknythos come into view. Visit the ancient amphitheatre in Taormina, then on to the Amalfi coast, Rome, and visits to Florence and Pisa. On the last leg of your voyage you will visit Monte Carlo, Marseilles/Provence and end your trip in Barcelona. Board Member Emeritus Nancy Berto will be your guide on this adventure, and there will special touches just for you. Buon viaggio!

Date: May 16-26, 2011
Number of guests: 2
Opening bid: $4,500


CENA RUSTICA SOTTO LE STELLE -
Country-style Dinner Under the Stars
You'll have an amazing Texas barbecue at Ray and Amanda Haas' spectacular home. Brisket will be slow-roasted in a wood-fired oven for 24 hours using Ray's special blend of madrone and oak. Amanda's garden will provide seasonal trimmings. Ray's selection of craft-brewed beers and local estate vintages will be the perfect accompaniment to this fabulous feast. Music, too? You bet. Our own Quartet Rouge will give a private concert in Amanda's studio. Musica e la buona cucina - music and good food. Fantastico!

Date: September 11, 2011
Number of guests: 24
Buy-in party: $150 per guest


E' IMPORTANTE IL BICCHIERE GIUSTO -
The Right Glass Matters
This fun and informative evening will enable you to taste four wines in five glasses as you nibble on foods paired with the wine. As each wine is moved from glass to glass, we will discuss how the glass changes the wine and discover which glass best suits each wine. Your guide on this exploration is Paul Manchester of IntoWines. He has been in the wine business for over thirty years and has a wealth of knowledge about good glassware. You will use Austria's famous Reidel glasses for your tasting, which will take place in Knights Valley in a vaulted wine cellar built from limestone and antique Austrian brick. Salute - to your health!

Date: Within 1 year, to be confirmed by December 2010
Number of guests: 12
Opening bid: $1,200


A CENA CON IL MAESTRO -
Dinner with the Maestro
Eleven people will have the chance to enjoy an intimate dinner with our Maestro, Bruno Ferrandis, at a beautiful Healdsburg home. Karen and Jay Abbe are wonderful and gracious hosts. We promised not to tell you what delectable treats are in store for you, but we know you'll be pleased. Buon appetito!

Date: To be arranged
Number of guests: 11 plus Bruno
Opening bid: $1,200


UN CONCERTO DI CHITARRA A CASA VOSTRA -
Private Guitar Concert in Your Home
The Grammy award-winning guitarist, Sharon Isbin, will perform in your home for your guests. Up to 24 people will have the chance to enjoy a very special evening of music. After the concert you will be treated to sweets and savories provided by the Ladies of Note - Le Signore delle Note. And there is a further Italian connection: Sharon Isbin began her guitar studies in Italy.

Recital location must be in Sonoma County and have a piano. Alternatively, recital can be held in Diane Schoenrock's Wild Oak home.

Date: January 21, 2011
Number of guests: 24
Opening bid: $1,200


ABBIGLIAMENTO SPORTIVO DI LUSSO -
Luxury Sportswear
Have a lovely shopping experience at Susan Graf Limited in Healdsburg, admiring and trying on the high fashion - alta moda - clothes that Susan brings to Sonoma Country from all over the world. Ladies, you and five friends will have Susan's expert guidance as you try on clothes from such designers as Agnona, Max Mara, Tory Burch, Bogner and Fabrizio Gianni. Sip a glass (or two) of sparkling wine while you select something special for the Holiday Season. Each guest will receive a $100 store certificate. We say "Ciao, Bella" - Hey, beautiful!

Date and time: A weeknight in Dec. 2010, by arrangement
Number of guests: 6
Opening bid: $600


IL MEGLIO DEL MEGLIO -
The Best of the Best
We know you'll agree! Renowned wine judges from all over the country came together to award "Best of Class" at the 2010 Harvest Fair. We've made it so easy for you by shopping for a wide selection of these wines, some of which will be hard to find. This could be an important collection. Salute!

Opening bid: $500


UNA VACANZA IN UMBRIA -
A Holiday in Umbria
You'll fall in love with Villa La Pietra, a classically restored stone villa estate on the border between Tuscany and Umbria . Up to thirteen guests will relax for a week in the magnificent countryside and view castles, woods and farmland from its hilltop location. The location couldn't be better for visiting the ancient hill towns. This is a holiday you'll always remember. Rilassatevi e godetevela - relax and enjoy!

Date: By arrangement
Number of guests: 13
Opening bid: $2,500


UN CONCERTO DI VIOLINO A CASA VOSTRA -
Private Violin Concert in Your Home
Twenty-four people, you included, will have the pleasure of hearing renowned violinist Elina Vähälä in concert in your own home. Vähälä plays a 1678 Stradivarius belonging to the Finnish Cultural Foundation. While you are still in the afterglow of the music, you will be served delicious sweets and savories prepared for you by the Ladies of Note - Le Signore delle Note.

Recital location must be in Sonoma County and have a piano. Alternatively, recital can be held in Diane Schoenrock 's Wild Oak home.

Date: March 18, 2011
Number of guests: 24
Opening bid: $1,200


PIACERI SOFISTICATI -
Sophisticated Pleasures
Fantastico! You will enjoy five days and four nights at Board Member Charlie Schlangen's fantastic two-bedroom, two-bath apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side. While there you will enjoy tickets for two to a production at the Metropolitan Opera and passes to the Metropolitan Museum , the Morgan Library, the Frick Museum and the Asia Society. Oh, we almost forgot, you will also recieve 50,000 Frequent Flyer Miles on United Airlines. We think it's "un buon affare" - a great deal!

Date: To be arranged
Number of guests: 4
Opening bid: $2,500

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