Just a month ago today, Opera Philadelphia celebrated its 40th Anniversary season with a spectacular evening of performances entitled “From the Stage to the Stars.”

The black tie event began with a cocktail reception at the Academy of Music, an historic arts venue that was built in 1857 and which is the oldest opera house in the United States. The more than 400 well-heeled guests, including opera superstars Nathan Gunn, David Daniels, Eric Owens, Isabel Leonard, Ailyn Pérez, and Stephen Costello, as well as actor David Hyde Pierce, the gala’s Honorary Chairs Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and his wife Lisa, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composers Kevin Puts and Jennifer Higdon, sat on the stage of the Academy of Music for an intimate recital by Soprano Ailyn Pérez and Tenor Stephen Costello, and then dined and danced in a tented ballroom constructed on the Avenue of the Arts. In this time lapse video shared below, you can see the amazing tented ballroom as it was installed on Broad Street aka Avenue of the Arts. The tent itself was beautifully and efficiently constructed by Select Event Rental with air-conditioning provided by Priority Rental.

Attendees were seated in a clear tent “under the stars” for dinner with special guest performances, a lively “live auction” and plenty of dancing. And if that wasn’t enough celebration, guests were invited to continue the party with dessert and dancing back in the Academy of Music lobby. We had a ball creating a glamorous event design to honor the momentous occasion.

The Gala proceeds of $500,000 will benefit Opera on the Mall, Opera Philadelphia’s annual broadcast to Independence National Historic Park.