“I Loved Him on ‘Frasier,’ Even If He Is a Yalie.”

Our intrepid society columnist reports from Boston’s swankiest affairs, including galas for the Boston Lyric Opera and Fenway Health.

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A man and a woman smiling and posing together in front of red curtains. The man is wearing a brown textured suit jacket with a black shirt and dark tie. The woman is wearing an off-the-shoulder black dress and a statement necklace with dark stones. The background includes blurred lights and a purple sign.

BLO general director Bradley Vernatter and artistic director Nina Yoshida Nelsen. / Photo by Nile Scott Studios

It must be all those GLP-1s, because there was no fat lady singing at the Boston Lyric Opera’s Opera Gala featuring Ride of the Valkyries! and held at the SoWa Power Station.

The evening began with cocktails and schmoozing and continued with a delicious sit-down dinner of salad, short ribs, and a fig-and-pear pavlova. Awards were presented to the evening’s honorees: megadonors Jane and Steven Akin; Boston Foundation chief Lee Pelton; snappy, crackling Pops conductor Keith Lockhart; and mezzo-soprano Mary Kray. On hand to give them a standing O were such soigné socialites as über opera lovers Suki and Miguel de Bragança; philanthroposaurus Rex Bill Poduska and the comme il faut Susan; BLO board chair Alicia Cooney and board president Wayne Davis; the stunning Willa Bodman and her patrician other half, Taylor; benefactors Katie and Paul Buttenwieser; and stalwart supporters Ray and Maria Stata.

Following dinner, temporary walls fell away to reveal auditorium seating and a stage, where the company performed Ride of the Valkyries!—a Wagnerian mash-up full of bad puns and corny opera jokes, narrated remotely by David Hyde Pierce.

“I loved him on Frasier,” whispered a guest who presumably went to Harvard, “even if he is a Yalie.”

The performance featured some sublime singing and elicited delighted chuckles from the opera buffs. In short, it was a music lover’s dream, although there was one guest who muttered, “Personally, I liked the Bugs Bunny version better.”

Two women are pictured against a dark background with red lighting. The woman on the left has dark hair pulled back and is wearing a black outfit with a red beaded necklace and matching earrings. The woman on the right has blonde hair styled up with a gray bow and is wearing a white blouse with floral embroidery and pearl earrings, along with a gold chain necklace. Both women are smiling.

Svetlana Evdokimova and Willa Bodman. / Photo by Nile Scott Studios

A formal indoor event with a large audience seated at round tables adorned with glowing spherical centerpieces. On stage, a group of musicians and singers perform in front of a large screen displaying a scenic image of a snowy mountain landscape. The room is dimly lit with warm lighting focused on the stage and tables.

Ride of the Valkyries! / Photo by Nile Scott Studios

Three people smiling at the camera in an indoor setting with warm lighting. The person on the left has short curly gray hair and is wearing a white top with black stripes on the sleeves and large earrings. The person in the middle is bald, wearing a dark suit jacket, white shirt, and black tie, with a pin on the lapel. The person on the right has light blonde hair, glasses, and is wearing a patterned gold and beige top with earrings.

BU President Melissa Gilliam, BLO chief philanthropy officer Ishan Johnson, and gala cochair Alicia Cooney. / Photo by Nile Scott Studios

Two women smiling at the camera in a warmly lit indoor setting. The woman on the left has light skin, long blonde hair, and is wearing a red textured top. The woman on the right has light skin, short wavy light brown hair, red lipstick, and is wearing a sparkly silver top with a small red pin. The background features a red wall with a grid of round white lights.

Jillian McGrath and Janika LeMaitre. / Photo by Nile Scott Studios

A man and a woman smiling at the camera in a formal setting. The man is wearing a black tuxedo with a white shirt and a red bow tie, while the woman has blonde hair and is wearing a black and white dress. The background features red curtains and other people dressed in formal attire.

Keith Lockhart and City Councilor Sharon Durkan. / Photo by Nile Scott Studios

A man wearing a green sweater with Mickey Mouse faces is standing and speaking into a microphone on stage, with musicians playing string instruments in the background. The setting appears to be a concert or performance with red lighting.

Charlie Davies. / Photo by Michael Blanchard

Music to Our Ears

The Company Celebration at Pops brought out the big guns—from captains of industry to titans of finance—who filled Symphony Hall for an evening of handshakes, back-slapping, air kisses, and music. Special guest Samara Joy and sports broadcaster Charlie Davies, who narrated the event, knocked it out of the ballpark, as attendees such as honorary chair Barbara Hostetter and cochairs Linda Henry, Lisa Murray, and Robin Kramer quite literally let their hair down (apparently, it wasn’t an updo kind of evening). The corporate supporters ponied up northward of $1 million, which is nothing to sneeze at, unless, of course, you’re allergic to money.

A woman in a bright red dress with long sleeves is singing into a microphone. She has long black hair styled in a high ponytail and is wearing dangling earrings. Behind her, several musicians are playing string instruments, including violins and a cello, and are dressed in formal black attire. A grand piano with sheet music is visible in the foreground.

Samara Joy performing. / Photo by Michael Blanchard

A musician in a dark suit playing a trumpet, viewed from behind, with a blurred orchestra and music stands in the background.

Trumpeting. / Photo by Michael Blanchard

A smiling elderly man wearing a red cable-knit sweater over a checkered shirt stands next to a smiling woman in a shiny teal blouse with button details and decorative earrings. The background features warm lighting and festive garlands with small yellow lights.

Barbara and Amos Hostetter. / Photo by Michael Blanchard

Two older men are standing closely together in front of an orange wall with partial text reading "OSEPH J. ... ON LOBBY." The man on the left has short gray hair and is wearing a dark blazer over a striped shirt. The man on the right has a white beard, glasses, and is dressed in a checkered jacket with a patterned scarf. Both men are smiling, and the man on the left has his hand on the other man's shoulder.

Harry Collings and Richard Giglio. / Photo by Shana Sureck Photography

Gay in Gala

Few nonprofits are as under siege from both the cultural zeitgeist and the federal government as Fenway Health, which provides equitable healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community. So it was with a profound sense of gratitude that the Fenway Gala, held at the SoWa Power Station, raised beaucoup bucks to support its mission, thanks to such guests as eminence grise Harry Collings; real estate titan Tim Harrington; and the indomitable Bobby Kelley. The Heroes in Action award went to Representative Aaron Michlewitz, who has proved himself a staunch ally.

This article was first published in the print edition of the April 2026 issue, with the headline,“Hold on to Your Helmets.”

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