Testimonials

Victoria Hillebrand

Miss Kirsten as Manon, at the old Met.

One night in the early 1940’s, opera fan and Met standee Victoria Hillebrand attended a performance at New York City Opera. A friend took her backstage to meet Dorothy Kirsten, who was at the beginning of her career and several years away from her 1945 Metropolitan Opera debut. They soon became fast friends, and a few years later Vicki became Miss Kirsten’s personal assistant as well.

Vicki has many recollections of Miss Kirsten’s artistic triumphs during her 30-year career at the Met, as well as personal memories of Dorothy and her husband, Dr. John French.

Last year, Vicki made a contribution to the Metropolitan Opera Gift Annuity Program to honor and memorialize Dorothy’s Met career. “I know that Dorothy would be so happy that I did this. After all, the Met was her artistic home. I have so many wonderful memories of Dorothy and the time we spent together at both the old Met and the Met at Lincoln Center.”

Vicki, who is in her 80’s, receives a gift annuity rate of over 11%, most of which is tax-free. She also received an income tax deduction. (Gift annuity rates are based on age at the time the gift is made. Please contact us to find out what rate you could receive.)

If the Met has been part of your past, please join Vicki and be a part of its future. There are so many ways to do so - by will, in a trust or, like Vicki, in an annuity, among others. The Met can help you find the plan that works best for you. To learn more, please write or call 212-870-7388.

The Encore Society
The Metopolitan Opera
Lincoln Center, New York, NY 10023
212-870-7388
e-mail: encoresociety@mail.metopera.org.