|
November 27, 2005, When the guest list includes former President Bill Clinton, Elizabeth Hurley, Live 8 organizer Sir Bob Geldof and pop legend Sting, with live performances from Sir Elton John and Tina Turner, you know the event is going to be something very special. Add to the mix the magical setting of Catherine the Great's Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, and free-flowing Cristal champagne with buckets of the finest caviar, and it soon becomes the evening of the finest caviar, and it soon becomes the evening of a lifetime. The light snow that fell gently throughout the night was simply icing on the cake. There was a very good reason behind such a decadent affair. British businessman and philanthropist Richard Caring organized this incredible ball to benefit British good cause The Children's Charity. The money raised will go toward building a center in london to help victims of pedophilia. The evening was a huge success, raising more than $20 million for the cause. Guests, including businessman Philip Green (owner of Arcadia Group) and his wife, Tina, lent their support by bidding in the after dinner auction and using pledge cards to make donations. OK! spoke with Bill Clinton, who gave a big thumbs up to his time spent in St. Petersburg.He said, "I'm having a really great evening and I'm going to keep on having a great evening!" As Elton John pounded away on the piano on stage Bill added, "I'm enjoying Elton's performance. We're old friends actually, we go way back, so hopefully I'll be catching up with him later. The guests were flown to Russia by private jets and welcomed with a party in the Yusupov Palace, where they enjoyed an evening of opera and vodka. The main event, however, was the ball itself the following evening. The formal-dress theme was 19th century, but if that conjures up images of demure ladies in Little Bo Peep-style dresses, you'd be very much mistaken. The beautiful costumes were all loaned from the Hermitage Museum (the largest art gallery in Russia) and tailored to fit each guest. Dapper gents in military garb, sporting sideburns and bushy moustaches, danced and mingled with ladies who swished about in oceans of jewel-colored fabric, their ringlets festooned with ostrich feathers, pearls and tiaras. Supermodel Elizabeth Hurly was the belle of the ball in a beautiful, frothy Elizabeth Emanuel creation. She told us she was thrilled with the result and said she was having a wonderful evening. "Richard Caring is such a wonderful and generous host," she said. When asked by OK! about her forthcoming nutials to fiance Arun Nayar, she smiled: "There's nothing to report yet, by when there's something to say I will let you know!" The evening began when a fleet of coaches swept guests up the driveway to the palace. The building was bathed in blue light and the weather obliged with a winterwonderland blanket of snow. Armed guards lanked the driveway and a red carpet beckoned everyone inside. Guests were then led through corridors housing orginal paintings and clothes worn by Russian nobility into the breathtaking Amber Room. It's here that OK! caught up with Bob Geldof. He told us: "I'm most looking forward to enjoying the beauty of our surroundings." As the guests sipped champagne, they were ushered into the Throne Room that was glimmering with gold leaf and decorated with masses of white roses. At each table setting was a Faberge egg containing a pledge card for guests to make donations. The first course was served from trays of miniature ice sculptures shaved into the shape of distinctive Russian church domes. The seven-course dinner began with Beluga caviar and was followed by classic ruby borscht. then came delicately flavored Baltic herring, nestled on a bed of potatoes and herbs, followed by a palate-cleansing gratin of Russian pepper vodka. The main course was beef Stroganoff. Dessert came in the form of rich white and dark chocolate on a caramel platter. Between courses guests enjoyed excerts from Swan Lake, performed by dancers from the Mariinsky Theatre accompanied by the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra. Next followed a speech from host Richard Caring, who welcomed everyone to St. Petersburg. He said, "You all look absolutely fabulous! It's amazing what 60 dressers, 46 hairdressers, 50 tailors, 70 seamstresses and 130 waiters can do-- and that was just for Elton John!" On a more serious note, he added: "Thank you for your compassion and understanding. I appreciate your concern. Tonight everyone in this room has the ability to help make a real difference to young, innocent lives." Caring's words were followed by speeches from businessman Philip Green and Bill Clinton. Then Elton John performed a rocking set, which ahd guests including Clinton, Geldof, Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler, on their feet. Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar twirled together during Elton's beautiful performance of his classic ballad "Your Song." Next up was Tina Turner, who took to the stage in black leather. The room exploded as she performed a medley of her favorite hits. Three costume changes later, the dancing diva was presented with flowers to mark her 66th birthday, which she was celebrating that day. Guests carried on dancing until 4 a.m., before coaches whisked them away into the snowy night. They were no dought reflecting on an evening that was-- to quote the birthday girl, Tina Simply the Best!!!
OK!Magazine
|
