It was tough figuring out which was more entertaining, watching the nominees perform or the winners accept their awards at the 9th Annual Tribute to the Classical Arts luncheon, held Feb. 5 at the Monteleone Hotel. The awards celebrate achievement in opera, classical music and dance.
Angela Mannino of the nominated Loyola Opera Workshop started off the entertainment at the luncheon with a hilarious rendition of "The Laughing Song" from Die Fledermaus, all the while flirting with Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Loyola music professor and fellow nominee David Morelock as the audience howled its approval. Morelock, who won the award as director of Best Opera Production for the New Orleans Opera Association's Ariadne auf Naxos, later accepted his Lifetime Achievement Award by describing how he used to stage operas as a preteen.
The crowd also was delighted when young Joseph LeDasma III performed his nominated piece, Hornpipe & Jig Set from the New Orleans School of Irish Dance, and moments later accepted the award for Best Ethnic Dance Performance.
Dr. Arnold Lupin of the Lupin Foundation accepted the Classical Arts Patron Award from master of ceremonies and Gambit Communications Inc. Chairman Clancy DuBos, while University of New Orleans Music Department Chairman Jeff Cox received the Special Recognition Award for his work on the Musical Excursions Concert Series. UNO's Chancellor Greg O'Brien was on hand to present this year's Arts Education Award to Jefferson Performing Arts Society Executive Director Dennis Assaf, for a multitude of community arts education programs.
Other performances included nominated choreographer Gabrielle Pickard's piece, Medussa, and the American Dreamers' closing excerpt from their nominated performance at the From Twilight's Last Gleaming, Til the Dawn's Early Light program at the Trinity Artist Series.
Gambit Weekly Publisher Margo DuBos and WWNO's Fred Kasten handed out the classical-music awards. The Tribute to the Classical Arts Awards luncheon is sponsored by Gambit Weekly, the Monteleone Hotel, Werlein's for Music, Coleman E. Adler & Sons, WWNO 89.9 FM Radio, Uptown Costume & Dancewear, and new for 2002, Smith & Wollensky Restaurant and CC's Coffee came aboard as sponsors of the event.
9TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE TO THE CLASSICAL ARTS AWARD WINNERS
Lifetime Achievement Award
David Morelock
Classical Arts Patron Award
The Lupin Foundation
Arts Education Award
Jefferson Performing Arts Society
Special Recognition Award
Musical Excursions Concert Series
University of New Orleans Music Department
Jeffrey Cox, chairman
Best Classical Music Performance
The Resurrection Symphony (Mahler Symphony No. 2)
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO)
Klauspeter Seibel, conductor, and the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans
Best Chamber Music Performance
The American Dreamers
Pete Wolbrette, director
Trinity Artist Series' Independence Day Program, From Twilight's Last Gleaming, Til the Dawn's Early Light
Best New Classical Music Performance
A Creole Mass
Wardell Quezergue, composer and conductor
New Orleans Symphony Chorus at St. Louis Cathedral
Best Opera Production
Ariadne auf Naxos
David Morelock, director
Klauspeter Seibel, conductor
New Orleans Opera Association
Creative Achievement in Opera
Die Walkure
Jay Lesenger, director
Robert Lyall, conductor
Best Choral Arts Presentation
Saint & Scribe
Loyola University Choirs
Meg Hulley, director
Best Ballet Production
Sleeping Beauty
Delta Festival Ballet with the LPO
Best Modern Dance Production 2001
New Orleans Dance and New Orleans Dance Collective
Anniversary Concert -- Contemporary Arts Center
Best Ethnic Dance Performance
Joseph LeDesma III
Hornpipe & Jig Set (Ireland)
New Orleans School of Irish Dance
Komenka Ethnic Dance & Music Ensemble Spring Concert
Best Choreography (new work)
Anne Burr
Fly
Confederacy of Dances III
