On March 7, 2024, Festival Napa Valley presented composer Gordon Getty with the Angels of the Arts award, its highest honor, celebrating outstanding contributions to the arts. The gala event took place at San Francisco’s War Memorial Green Room, with a dinner prepared by Sarah and Evan Rich, paired with select wines from Festival Napa Valley partner wineries. Alexandra Armantrading, David Barnett, Curt Branom, Lisa Delan, Nathan Granner, Jake Heggie, Lester Lynch, Kevin Korth and Frederica von Stade offered performances of some of Getty’s favorite songs. He was toasted by fellow vintners Michelle and Robin Baggett, and Darioush Kahledi, and he received tributes from California Governor Gavin Newsom, Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, composer John Corigliano, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, and Francisco J. Núñez and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City. Rick Walker, President/CEO of Festival Napa Valley, made the award presentation. As a finale, Lisa Delan read her poem entitled “December 20, 1933” (Getty’s birth date), a tribute commissioned by Festival Napa Valley for the occasion, and all the singers joined Jake Heggie at the piano for a rousing performance of “For Gordon” set to “Mame” with words by Curt Branom.
Photos:
Top row: Paul Pelosi, Maria Manetti Shrem and Gordon Getty; London Breed and Gordon Getty
Bottom row: Lisa Delan and David Barnett: Alexandra Armantrading, Jake Heggie, Curt Branom, Frederica von Stade, Nathan Granner and Lester Lynch
Photographer: Drew Altizer