“Music is played on a canvas of silence. We cannot do this if you chat.”
That quote is printed on a serving platter at the home of Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Maestro Lucas Richman and his wife, Debbie. The Richmans generously opened their home Sunday night as part of the Knoxville Symphony League‘s “Elegant Dining” series. The Richmans teamed with KSO Executive Director Rachel Ford and her husband, Terry, and singer Katy Zahn and her hustand, Glenn, to host one of the popular fund-raisers.
It was a huge success. As he has done in years past, Lucas took to the baby grand piano in his den and accompanied anyone in attendance who wanted to sing a pop or Broadway song. Right off the bat, Debby Fox brought several of the guests to tears with her rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Miserables.” You couldn’t help but think of this past week’s Web sensation Susan Boyle.
Chicken curry, which Lucas said was the only dish his culinarily-challenged mother ever served to dinner guests, was the main course. It was fantastic with all the condiments from which guests could choose to personalize the dish. The signature drink of the evening: Scarlett O’Haras.
Another tradition at these gatherings at the Richmans’ is the hostess belting out the song, “Vodka,” which always brings down the house in peals of laughter. Lucas finished out the evening singing popular standards by Irving Berlin and Cole Porter, among others.
Among those in attendance: Susan Brown; Mark Mamantov and his mother, Charmaine; Betsey Bush; Bill and Debby Fox; Jackie Newman; Willene Chalmers; Rose Moseley; John and Sandra Butler; Jimmy Key and Carolyn Montgomery; Frank and Jane Venable; and Elizabeth and Rudy Koester.
