Tuesday evening on the Upper East Side, sipping champers and shopping. A lovely way to celebrate the glorious dance career of New York City Ballet's Darci Kistler. The kick-off event for the NYCB's Annual Luncheon, Saying Goodbye to Darci, was held at the Valentino Boutique on Madison Ave. The cocktail party hosted gorgeous guests, including several NYCB dancers all dressed from head to toe in Valentino.

Ms. Kistler, known as the last of the "Balanchine ballerinas", will be retiring after 30 years years with the Company. Peter Martins, Ballet Master-in-Chief, and the Annual Luncheon 2010 Chairmen will host the NYCB Annual Luncheon on Wednesday, February 10th at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. The luncheon will tribute Ms. Kistler's remarkable life as a dancer, Mother, and teacher.

The afternoon program will include dance selections with Ms. Kistler and students of The School of American Ballet, as well as excerpts from Anne Belle's 1989 film, Dancing for Mr. B: Six Balanchine Ballerinas.

The Luncheon will also recognize this year's Janice Levin Dancer, Kaitlyn Gilliland.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the New York City Ballet Annual Luncheon 2010, please call the Special Events Office at 212.870.5585

To view more photos from Kick-Off event, please click HERE

Dignitaries, scholars, family dynasty members, artists, editors (including the stunning Devorah Rose of Social Life Magazine), an heir apparent or two, and socialite ingenues such as Tinsley Mortimer and Stephanie Newhouse, gathered at Lincoln Center to celebrate New York City Opera's Theater Debut.

Opening night of the David H. Koch Theater, renamed in honor of Mr. David H. Koch’s $100 million lead gift to the joint capital campaign, unveiled the state-of-the-art renovations, and welcomed General Manager and Artistic Director George Steel for his inaugural season. This landmark evening honored David H. Koch, whose extraordinary generosity has provided a new home for New York City Opera and New York City Ballet.

After a spin on the red carpet, guests were escorted up to the grand promenade to sip some Dom and have a look at the much buzzed about installation by E.V. Day, best known for transforming clothing into sculpture material. The artist was given free reign to rummage through the theater's closets, which resulted in 13 works. A cast of Opera characters from Don Giovanni to Mimi, suspended from the promenade catwalks using dozens of pieces of fishing line attached to the cloth with fishing-tackle connectors (called swivel snaps).

Act II: Around 7pm, the familiar bells chimes, and guests filed into the auditorium for the opening concert, American Voices. This gala concert, marked the company’s return to the stage, the start of the 2009/2010 season, and the first under the direction of Mr. Steel. American Voices showcased performances from great American opera and musical theater performed by world-renowned New York City Opera stars including; Amy Burton, Joyce Castle, Anna Christy, Joyce DiDonato, Lauren Flanigan, Anthony Dean Griffey, Marc Kudisch, Samuel Ramey, Julius Rudel, and a special performance by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright and by the New York City Ballet.

FYI: New York City Ballet will hold its Opening Night Benefit in the David H. Koch Theater on November 24, 2009, when it will mark its first performance in the renovated theater with a world premiere ballet by Peter Martins to a score by John Adams.

Following American Voices, guests returned to the promenade, which had been gloriously transformed into elegant table seating, to dine, chat, and participate in the live auction. Auction Chairman, Luziah Ismail-Hennessey, paired luxury items and priceless experieces such as; An African Fishing Adventure, a trip to Jordan, a Greek Art Trip, and an Italian Grand Tour, to be auctioned off by Chairman of Sotheby's North and South America, Jamie Niven.

Encore: All proceeds from the Theater Debut Celebration support City Opera's mission to produce innovative productions of new and classic work, reach a wide audience with affordable ticket prices, and bring music into the lives of thousands of students each year through its acclaimed education programs in New York City public schools.

SEEN: Alex McCord, Amy Fine Collins, Annette Mcevoy-Bronheim, Arie Kopelman, Ashleigh Sekoski, Atilla Tetik, Bassima Ghawi, Bianca Kawecki, Carolina Herrera, Catherine Farley, Coco Kopelman, David Koch, Devorah Rose, Diana Picasso, E.V. Day, Edmee Firth, Elaine Sargent, Elizabeth Peek, Emre Tetik, George Steel, Gilles Hennessey, Gillian Miniter, Habib Ghawi, Harold Bronheim, Jeffrey Peek, Jesse Newhouse, Jorn Weisbrodt, Julia Koch, Lorry Newhouse, Luziah Hennessey, Margo Langenberg, Mark Newhouse, Michael Lynch, Nicholas Firth, Nicolas Mirzayantz, Paula Zahn, Princess Alexandra of Greece, Rachel Roy, Reinaldo Herrera, Reshma Shetty, Robert Meya, Robert Vacca, Rufus Wainwright, Sarah Steele, Simon van Kempen, Stephanie Newhouse, Stephanie Stokes, Susan Baker, Sylvester Miniter, Terry Clark, Tinsley Mortimer, Wyndham Lewis, and Xavier Hermes.

To view more Gala Photos, please visit the SBS DHKT Debut Gallery

Please visit New York City Opera for season performance tickets and information

*All photos by Nick McGlynn

*photo 1: Rufus Wainwright and Jorn Weisbrodt

*photo 2: Tinsley Mortimer and Julia Koch

*photo 3: Richard Taylor and Mark Newhouse