The Atlanta Opera is pleased to announce that its sold-out 2025 Bel Canto Gala raised more than $1.5 million in support of the company’s comprehensive campaign. Held on February 15, 2025, at Flourish Atlanta, the event honored Victoria and Howard Palefsky for their exceptional contributions to the arts and was co-chaired by Talia Murphy and Roxanne Varzi.

Proceeds from the gala will support the company’s artistic programming, educational initiatives, and community outreach efforts, ensuring continued access to world-class opera experiences. The evening featured performances by internationally acclaimed soprano Ailyn Peréz and the celebrated tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz.

“The Bel Canto Gala was a record-breaking achievement in attendance, fundraising, and new corporate partners. We extend our deepest gratitude to our all our supporters for embracing The Atlanta Opera as a cultural pillar for the city,” said Tomer Zvulun, the Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General and Artistic Director of The Atlanta Opera.

The Atlanta Opera is grateful to all sponsors, donors, volunteers, and attendees who made the Bel Canto Gala a success. Leading corporate sponsors included Delta Airlines, Coca-Cola, PWC, Rothschild & Co., Smurfit Westrock, KPMG, Southern Company, and UPS.

About The Atlanta Opera

Hailed by The New York Times as “Bringing Opera Back from the Brink,” The Atlanta Opera sets its mission to break the boundaries of opera to create exceptional experiences for audiences everywhere. Founded in 1979, the company works with world-renowned singers, conductors, directors, and designers who seek to enhance the art form. Under the leadership of internationally recognized stage director and Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun, The Atlanta Opera expanded from three to four mainstage productions at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and launched the acclaimed “Discoveries” event series, and the innovative 96-Hour Opera Project. In recent years, the company has been named among the “Best of” by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, was nominated in 2016 and 2023 for and International Opera Award, received an ArtsATL’s 2019 Luminary Award for Community Engagement in recognition of its successful Veterans Program in partnership with the Home Depot Foundation, the 2023 Governor’s Award for the Arts and Humanities recognized the excellence of the 96-Hour Opera Project. In addition, The Atlanta Opera was featured in a 2018 Harvard Business School case study about successful

organizational growth, and Zvulun presented a TEDx Talk at Emory University titled “The Ambidextrous Opera Company, or Opera in the Age of iPhones.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Atlanta Opera was one of the only companies in the world to create a full, alternative season, consisting of no less than 40 live performances in two different outdoor venues, including a revolutionary custom-designed circus tent. The critically acclaimed productions and concerts were streamed in HD on the newly created streaming platform “Atlanta Opera Film Studio,” which continues to allow The Atlanta Opera to reach a global audience. National media coverage of the “pandemic season” included features in the Wall Street Journal and PBS NewsHour. Reflecting on the company’s achievements over the past decade, Musical America declared, “The Atlanta Opera Has Arrived.”