HONORING WERNER

As for the first time in many many years, Werner Walbröl, a longtime supporter, is unable to attend the Gala due to illness, it seems appropriate to include him somehow and to recognize his contributions.

Born in Bonn, Germany and having lived in Paris, Karachi, Boston and Tokyo, Werner Walbröl, my stepfather, arrived in New York in 1972 to head the German American Chamber of Commerce to promote German American business relations. Soon he found a trusted friend in Dixy Drechsler, a passionate supporter of the arts and a co founder of the then named American Berlin Opera Foundation.

When in 1994, Dixy had to hand the Opera Foundation responsibilities over, she found a willing and good friend in Liz Walbröl, by then Werner’s wife and my mother. For my stepfather, his efforts in the business world to build bridges between Germans and Americans now had an important parallel cultural dimension.

Throughout the subsequent decades, Werner has continued to lend unwavering multi dimensional support to the Opera Foundation, a significant and ongoing contribution to the art of opera and one based on the foundations of international communication and friendship.  A life long opera lover himself (especially of Wagner, to which he was exposed at a young age in Bayreuth and which he loved to play very late and very loudly), he and my mother were to be found at the Met in black tie once or twice a week during the season throughout my childhood.

A firm believer in diplomacy (over a delicious meal preferably), a consummate traveler and a cosmopolitan in the truest sense of the word, Werner has invited his many friends, colleagues and mentees into the Opera Foundation community. Notably, his very good friend Hayes Kavanaugh always provides amazing world class jazz music for the event!

At the University Club tonight, where Werner is a long standing member since 1975, we can celebrate my stepfather, who has done much to create a sense of international community and to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the arts, supporting young American artists abroad so that they can realize their own international dreams.

Charlotte Cousins