Cal Performances Hosts Annual Gala with a Viennese Twist

On March 7, Cal Performances was thrilled to host the world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic for an exceptional performance at Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall. The event celebrated the commencement of the Philharmonic’s tenure in the Maria Manetti Shrem and Elizabeth Segerstrom California Orchestra Residency. The performance program for the evening included Richard Strauss’ epic Ein Heldenleben and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3.

The festive night–which began with a buzzy cocktail gathering at UC Berkeley’s Lower Sproul Plaza–went from the concert hall to a performance stage when nearly 300 gala guests gathered in Zellerbach Playhouse for an elegant dinner onstage, with a Viennese-inspired menu by award-winning chef Paul Canales. Diners were joined by members of the Vienna Philharmonic, who raised a glass to their new residency, during which they’ll perform in the Bay Area and Orange County. The gala raised more than $1 million in all to help support Cal Performances’ artistic initiatives and education programs.