On Wednesday, October 17, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts), one of the country’s largest performing arts centers and Miami’s most celebrated name in arts and entertainment, hosted its First Anniversary Gala, featuring the Miami debut of the internationally renowned Peruvian tenor, Juan Diego Flórez. The spectacular fundraising event, “Take Center Stage,” treated guests as stars for the evening, giving them a glimpse into a performer’s life—from the Cast Call (Champagne Welcome) to the Dress Rehearsal (Gala Dinner) and from the Performance to the Cast Party (Dessert Reception and After Party).

The exquisite celebration began with a candlelit dinner on the stage of the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House, presented by the Center’s exclusive caterer, Restaurant Associates. During dinner, NBC 6 news anchor Pam Giganti introduced the guests to a video tribute of the greatest tenors of all time. Following dinner, guests were escorted to the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall for Juan Diego Flórez’s one-of-a-kind performance, a series of brilliantly sung operatic arias by Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi, which culminated with a fourth encore, the popular Peruvian song “La Flor de la Canela,” in which Flórez accompanied himself with his guitar and brought delighted audience members to tears. After the performance, guests were treated to a dessert reception under the moonlit sky in the Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts. Coinciding with the dessert reception was the Next Generation After Party, featuring DJ Irie and hosted by Superstar Miss Elaine Lancaster. The After Party was held in the Peacock Foundation, Inc. Studio, which was transformed into a mod-inspired nightclub, where guests danced until the early morning hours.

Approximately 600 people from the business, arts and entertainment world attended the concert and Gala activities (1,400 more attended the concert only), including: Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez; Miami-Dade County Commissioners Carlos A. Gimenez and Dorrin D. Rolle; Ron Esserman and J. Ricky Arriola, new chairs of the Center’s Boards of Directors; philanthropists Sanford and Dolores Ziff; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation head Alberto Ibargüen and his wife Susana Ibargüen; Next Generation committee members Christina Getty-Maercks and Dr. Julio Gallo; Edie Laquer of Laquer Corporate Realty Group Inc.; Arsht Center Foundation Board members George Lindemann and Adrienne Arsht; and hotelier Horacio Rozenblum.

To learn more about ways to give to Arsht Center, visit www.carnivalcenter.org/join or call 786-468-2250.